In keeping with the regional custom, it's pronounced "Big iks."
Actually "Big 12" is correct. Wikipedia says so:
According to the Big 12 Conference's website, the use of the alternate names "Big Twelve" and "Big XII" are incorrect. The trademarked name of the conference is "Big 12 Conference", notwithstanding the Roman numeral XII featured on the conference logo.
...corrected, but I guess there's a problem with your branding if the name in your logo is not actually your name.
I think it's a fantastic idea. They can sign the agreement at a press conference and then go out back and light money on fire.
mainly because it will piss me off when I hear how ironic it is that the B10 has 12 teams and the B12 has 10 teams... for the hundredth time.
no. A thousand times, no.
Im gonna go against the grain on this thread and say....
NO
I don't think they should switch names, but I think that they should come up with different ones. Here's a thought, use one that doesn't include a number so it doesn't become an issue every time the makeup of the conference changes.
I think they should keep the Big Ten name no matter what happens with the expansion in the future. We have 11 schools for awhile, so why change it now?
no, not ever, none, never, navarre, john navarre, BRAYLON EDWARDS!
I can't wait until when the Big Ten has 16 teams and still called the Big Ten!
If the Big 10 and Big 12 swapped names it would be confusing as hell. Nobody would ever know which one you were talking about without adding adjectives like the "old" Big Ten or the "original" Big 12, or the "modern" Big 12, etc.
It's like changing the names on computer files, then you can't tell which was the original, it confuses the shit out of you and eventually you have to erase everything and start over from scratch.
Definitely a bad idea.
However, despite my best efforts, our conference will inevitably be known as "The conference formerly known as 'The Big Ten.'"
Hail No. Still Champions of the West.
For the lawyers. I have to think a lot of them would need to be involved with this sort of a name swap--more so than would be involved with a name change, anyway.