The decision of Iowa State and the Big 12 Conference to schedule non-conference football games should prioritize strategic advantage over perceived prestige. A less challenging early-season schedule is, in fact, the most prudent approach for the conference and its teams, offering four distinct benefits. Firstly, the College Football Playoff committee often downplays the significance of early-season losses, a fact that can be exploited by securing victories against less-heralded opponents. These games are frequently eclipsed by later conference matchups, making early losses easily forgotten by the time rankings are finalized.Secondly, if these losses are not forgotten, the Big 12 is
