The only reason noncon games have less value is theyre often against lesser teams. I wouldnt've minded an 8 game schedule with a requirement to schedule a certain number of P5 opponents. If just 1 we'd already have iowa but it would force some teams (KSU, Tech, baylor typical) to stop scheduling entirely creampuff noncons. If 2 we'd be no worse than now, probably better as we could schedule weaker P5s than our average big 12 game that it'd replace.
The problem with the 9 game schedule is, often your average fan and commentator only looks at the number of wins. And this on the whole makes our league look bad as we add several guaranteed losses by having the extra game, whereas we could be out beating other conferences as the conference often does during its noncon slate
I would agree historically, we might have looked bad, but starting this year the Big10, Pac12 and Big12 will all play 9 conference games. I would be willing to bet that by the time the ACC Network goes live in 2019, they will be at 9 conference games. They have already announced they will play 20 ACC games in MBB. The SEC will be forced to go to 9 games.
It kind of meaningless because the Networks are paying for inventory based on 9 Big12 games. I think the bigger issue is the Big 12 should vote to require all teams play at least one P5 in their non-conference. Baylor's scheduling is laughable for a team that wants to be considered a national power.