IRVING, Texas • Despite the skepticism that may exist about the future of the Big 12 after tumult that commissioner Dan Beebe compared to being down 21 points with four minutes left in a football game, Beebe on Tuesday said that which didn't kill the conference made it stronger.

"I think what we went through is like any kind of exploration of relationships as to whether you want to continue or not continue," he said during Big 12 football media days. "There was full and considered judgment by a number of our institutions about what they were going to do, what their future was.

"And, fortunately, 10 members decided that the best situation for them was to continue together. I think after that kind of exploration there's a renewed sense of commitment, there's a renewed sense of belonging and a greater appreciation for each other.

"I don't think in the course of human affairs that you go through this type of very careful exploration of your future and perhaps consider going to other places, conclude that you're going to be together and then turn around and do it again in 24 months. I think there's just so much time, energy, effort, even some difficulty, that doesn't lend itself to just quickly doing it again."

Even so, Beebe understands why Nebraska and Colorado's defections to other conferences and talk of several Big 12 South teams doing the same last month still resonates.

"I guess we could get all the athletics directors and board members up here and sing 'Kumbaya' and maybe that would help some of you," he said. "I'm not sure that's going to happen until we just observe it for a few years."

Beebe addressed several topics about the new-look Big 12, starting with whether the name should remain with 10 members while the Big Ten will have 12.

"I'm in communication with (Big Ten) commissioner Jim Delany now about a swap," he joked, but he expected to discuss the question seriously over the next year on many levels. "It may be our brand is significant enough that we don't have to change it.

"I think we need to look at not just whether we change our name or our brand (but) what are the messages we want to convey going forward?"

The most immediate question involves a timetable for Colorado's move to the Pacific-10. Nebraska has decided to move to the Big Ten next year. In a perfect world, Colorado would leave after this year, too, but there are withdrawal fees to consider among other matters.

"I know it's in Colorado's interest to try to move on along with Utah into the Pac-10; it's our interest to move on," he said. "I don't think it helps anybody to linger in a lame-duck status."

When both are gone, a new competition format will be instituted. Beebe said there is "absolutely no interest" among members to "repopulate" the conference.

With only 10 members, the Big 12 no longer will have a football championship game unless it chooses to petition for one. The NCAA mandates a 12-team conference minimum to have a championship.

While not committing to letting go of the title game, Beebe spoke of altering the Big 12 schedule to have several high-profile games on the first weekend of December when the conference title game has been scheduled.

That scenario, which he said would not result in Oklahoma and Texas moving their game, would help replace the loss of a televised title game while also appeasing most league coaches.

"The coaches have, in the past, unanimously and then at least overwhelmingly not been favorable toward it," Beebe said. He emphasized the value of a round-robin schedule with nine league games in football and double round-robin in basketball because of "the type of cohesion and familiarity you get" with that.

For that matter, Beebe trumpeted the virtues of a smaller conference — backed by assurances of hefty new TV contracts — only weeks after the debut of a jumbo conference seemed imminent.

"I think you get beyond 12, you really don't have a conference anymore; you have an association," he said. "You don't even see those programs on the other side very often. So how are you put together? How are you cementing those relationships?"

He added, "We're going to 10 and doing it the old-fashioned way. Maybe it should be the Old-Fashioned Conference?"

Anything beats what appeared to be the alternative a few weeks ago.