Oklahoma State junior Jordan Oliver (in orange) is seeking his third Big 12 title. Larry Slater photo.

The Big 12 Conference is down to four wrestling schools this season.

But the league still features plenty of firepower.

The Big 12 Championships are scheduled for Saturday at the University of Missouri in Columbia.

Nebraska left the Big 12 for the Big Ten following the 2010-11 season, and Missouri will leave the Big 12 for the Southeastern Conference next season. West Virginia will join the Big 12 next year.

Oklahoma State is ranked fourth nationally by InterMat, with Iowa State 10th, Missouri 13th and Oklahoma 15th.

The Cowboys have won 10 conference tournaments, including the last two, since the Big 12 was formed in 1997. Iowa State has won three league titles and Oklahoma two.

“I feel good about where our team is,” Oklahoma State coach John Smith said during the Big 12 coaches’ teleconference Wednesday. “With four teams, you can’t make a lot of mistakes and expect to win. If we wrestle as well as we have, we can control our destiny. Our kids are confident.”

The Big 12 has earned 31 automatic qualifying spots for the NCAAs, set for March 15-17 in St. Louis. An additional 40 at-large berths from all conferences will be awarded on March 7.

All four Big 12 wrestlers at 125 pounds and 165 have already earned automatic spots at nationals. The top three finishers at 133, 141, 149, 157, 174 and 197 will qualify with the top two at heavyweight earning spots at nationals.

Oklahoma State is led by two-time Big 12 champion Jordan Oliver, a junior who won the 2011 NCAA title at 133. The past Junior World bronze medalist in freestyle wrestling is ranked No. 1 in the country at 133.

The Cowboys also feature returning league champions in Jamal Parks (149) and Chris Perry (174). Perry won the Big 12 at 184 last year before dropping down a weight class this year. Parks is ranked No. 2 nationally and Perry No. 3. Perry is a past Junior World bronze medalist in freestyle.

The Cowboys are coming off a second-place finish at the National Duals.

Smith said Wednesday that senior transfer Cayle Byers will be the Big 12 entry for the Cowboys at 197. Byers, a two-time NCAA qualifier for George Mason, and returning starter Blake Rosholt have split time in the OSU lineup this year. 

The Cowboys suffered a big setback when junior heavyweight Alan Gelogaev, an All-American in 2010, suffered a season-ending injury earlier this month. Freshman Austin Marsden, a top recruit who has excelled in USA Wrestling age-group events, has been pulled out of his redshirt to replace Gelogaev at heavyweight.

“It was a blow to us to lose Gelogaev,” Smith said. “Heavyweight is going to be important for us. We have a young heavyweight who needs to win some matches to go to nationals.”

Iowa State is led by Andrew Sorsenson (165) and Chris Spangler (174), who are both ranked fourth nationally. Cyclone Jerome Ward placed second at the 2011 Big 12 tournament at 197. ISU heavyweight Matt Gibson is ranked 10th nationally.

“We have a group of young men who are moving in the right direction,” Iowa State coach Kevin Jackson said. “We expect them to be at their best and we expect them to perform at a very high level. We look forward to having our best performances as we move toward the end of the year.”

Missouri is led by Alan Waters (125), Nathan McCormick (133) and Brent Haynes (197). Waters is ranked third in the nation with McCormick ninth and Haynes sixth.

“I feel we are prepared and focused, and there is a lot of confidence in our room,” Missouri coach Brian Smith said. “It’s going to be a very competitive tournament.”

The Tigers will not have to leave the state in the postseason with the NCAA tournament in nearby St. Louis.

“It is a positive for our team to stay at home,” Brian Smith said. “We competed well at home this year and we are looking forward to competing in front of our fans. We call it the perfect storm, with Big 12s at home and NCAAs just down the road in St. Louis. We are looking forward to it.”

Oklahoma’s Jarrod Patterson won a league title at 125 in 2010 before placing second last year. The Sooners also have one of the nation’s best wrestlers in sophomore Kendric Maple, who is ranked No. 2 in the country at 141. Maple beat past NCAA runner-up Montell Marion of Iowa in the Midlands finals this season.

“We are excited about our first Big 12 championship under this staff and with this team,” Oklahoma coach Mark Cody said. “We are going into the tournament healthy, which is a big plus this time of year. I don’t think there is a weak team in the conference. It’s going to be a great tournament.”

With Missouri leaving the conference, more changes are in store for the Big 12 next year.

“We have to get together with our athletic directors and do what’s best for the sport and best for the conference,” Cody said. “With West Virginia coming in next year, at least we will still have four teams. We will see who we can bring in.”

The National Wrestling Coaches Association has proposed a regional format for next season, where conferences like the Big 12 may be paired with another conference for NCAA tournament qualifying.

Missouri will need to find a conference or regional to compete in next year since no other Southeastern Conference school competes in wrestling.

“We are trying to figure out what is going to happen,” Brian Smith said. “Something definitely needs to change in Division I wrestling with how we run conferences. (NWCA executive director) Mike Moyer has been working tirelessly to come up with a solution.”