The Big 12 has approved a plan to play a nine-game conference schedule with one nonconference game, according to a report from The Athletic. The board of directors met on Monday night to discuss scheduling decisions. 

The conference schedule will become at some point in September, and the teams will have flexibility to schedule nonconference matchups before it. The Big 12 championship game will take place on either Dec. 12 or Dec. 19. 

Enacting this schedule gives the conference a big window to adjust to the COVID-19 pandemic if necessary. The title game adjustment means the conference has 17 available Saturdays to play 11 weeks of games. Having extra bye weeks available could be critical if a school were to have multiple positive COVID-19 tests that forced it to postpone games. Six free weeks would allow space for those matchups to be rescheduled. 

"We believe this change provides the best opportunity going forward," Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. "However, we will undoubtedly need to be flexible as we progress through the season in order to combat the challenges that lie ahead." 

The Big 12 was the final Power Five conference to approve a schedule. It joins the ACC as conferences with one nonconference game, while the Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12 all confirmed a schedule without nonconference matchups. 

The decision means that the conference will cancel around 20 nonconference games. There are no clear plans of which nonconference games will be on the chopping block. At this time, the Group of Five leagues plan to go ahead with games. Big 12 nonconference games must be on Big 12 campuses. 

Here's where the decision likely leaves each school: 

• Texas will choose between either UTEP or South Florida, though keeping the money in the UT system might be a priority. A nonconference matchup against LSU (SEC) was canceled. 
• Baylor will choose between Incarnate Word (FCS Southland) and Louisiana Tech (Conference USA). The Bears lost a neutral site matchup against Ole Miss (SEC) after nonconference was canceled. 
• Texas Tech will face off against UTEP after Arizona (Pac-12) and Alabama State (SWAC) canceled games against the Red Raiders. The game could move to Lubbock – it's currently scheduled in El Paso.
• TCU has a game scheduled against SMU, but 247Sports reported that the game is off. The Horned Frogs lost matchups against Cal (Pac-12) and Prairie View A&M (SWAC), leaving TCU with an open nonconference slot. 

This story will be updated.