Five Big 12 games with the highest stakes in 2017

It’s a an overused opinion to suggest that the Big 12 has a lot at stake in 2017. It’s also true.

We’re less than six months from Thanksgiving as the league’s spring meetings commence this week in Dallas, and there's no doubt about the importance of the next 180 days for the Big 12. If the conference enters championship week without a viable contender for the College Football Playoff, well, has hope been lost for the Big 12 to remain in step with its Power 5 brethren?

The Big 12 can’t afford to miss the playoff for the fourth time in five years. More notably, it can’t afford to go missing during the season-long chase that drives daily conversation.

With that in mind, here’s a look at five…