In a format similar to the annual ACC/Big Ten Challenge, the Big 12 and Pac-10 conferences will go head-to-head for at least the next four basketball seasons, pitting teams from the conferences against each other.

“The Big 12 basketball coaches wanted to increase the quality of their nonconference schedule, and the Pac-10 coaches felt the same way, so we just go forward with it,” said Bob Burda, assistant commissioner of communications for the Big 12.

“It was something I was very much in favor of when the concept was introduced at about this time last year,” said men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott.

The Cyclones will square off against the Oregon State Beavers at their home in Corvallis, Ore., next season; the following season will bring the Beavers to Ames.

“It’s a good opponent for us,” McDermott said. “They’re rebuilding somewhat, as are we, but their coach has done a great job everywhere he’s been prior to Oregon State, so it should be competitive.”

The Beavers’ head coach, John Jay, appreciates the strength-of-schedule boost and especially the chance to go against McDermott and the gang.

“This will be a good thing from a scheduling standpoint; to have a Big 12 team on your schedule is always a good thing. Sometimes it’s hard to get quality opponents on your schedule,” Jay said. “As far as playing Iowa State, McDermott did a wonderful job at UNI, and is doing it again at Iowa State. They have some upperclassmen with a lot of experience, and now he’s bringing in his own recruits. There’s no question they will have a good team next season.”

The event will span four days and include 10 games in that time. It begins Nov. 29 and will end Dec. 1. Since there are two more teams in the Big 12 than the Pac-10, there will be two additional games played outside the 10-game time frame. Stanford and Arizona will play two Big 12 opponents each.

“I don’t think the event will contain any one marquee matchup, but instead we have several of them,” Burda said. “All the matchups are going to be very good ones.”

The matchups for the event weren’t determined via a scientific formula, but more on what the two conferences’ commissioners felt would be the best matchups.

“We just wanted to have an even distribution of home and away games for each conference,” Burda said. “I don’t think there was any specific reason we chose Iowa State to play Oregon State, but we knew Iowa State had a lot to bring to the table – they have great fans and a great coach, with McDermott.”

The contract between the two conferences currently runs through the 2010 season, with the second batch of opponents to be determined. Television contracts for the upcoming season are also to be determined, but Burda is confident it will make for exciting TV.

“This will bring lots of exposure to the two conferences” Burda said. “The majority of the games will be televised, with the Big 12’s home games on ESPN and the Pac-10’s home games on FOX.”

Look for the Cyclones and Beavers to square off from Corvallis, Ore., on a FOX station Nov. 30.

Big 12/Pac-10 Men’s Basketball Series:

Nov. 29

Oregon at Kansas State

Oklahoma at USC

Nov. 30

Washington State at Baylor

Iowa State at Oregon State

Dec. 1

Washington at Oklahoma State

Missouri at California

Dec. 2

Arizona State at Nebraska

Stanford at Colorado

Texas at UCLA

Texas A&M at Arizona

Outside the 10-game series window:

Nov. 25

Arizona at Kansas

Dec. 22

Stanford vs. Texas Tech (neutral site to be determined)