History of Big 12 Championship Game in Timeline
The Big 12 Championship Game is an annual college football game organized by the Big 12 Conference. Established in 1996, the game was played continuously until 2010, then went on hiatus before returning in 2017. Originally, the game featured the champions of the Big 12's North and South Divisions. Since 2017, it has been contested by the top two teams with the best conference records.
1992: SEC Championship Game Precedes Big 12
In 1992, the SEC Championship Game was established, serving as a model for the later Big 12 Championship.
1996: First Big 12 Championship Game
Following the merger of the Big Eight and four Southwest Conference teams, the first Big 12 Championship Game was played in 1996, matching division winners.
1996: Big 12 Championship Game Format: North vs. South
From 1996 to 2010, the Big 12 Championship Game featured the champions of the North and South divisions.
1996: Big 12 Championship Game Inauguration
In 1996, the Big 12 Championship Game was established, featuring the North and South division champions.
1996: Start of North-South Division Rivalry in Big 12 Championship
The first Big 12 Championship Game marked the start of the annual competition between the North and South division champions. In 1996, the North and South divisions began their rivalry in the Big 12 Championship Game.
2008: Controversy Surrounding South Division Representative
The 2008 Big 12 Championship Game saw controversy in selecting the South Division representative due to a three-way tie, ultimately resolved by BCS rankings.
2009: Oklahoma Advances to BCS National Championship
After winning the 2008 Big 12 Championship, Oklahoma secured a spot in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.
2009: Big 12 Championship Game Moves to Cowboys Stadium
From 2009 through 2013, the Big 12 Championship Game was planned for Cowboys Stadium (now AT&T Stadium).
2010: Temporary Discontinuation of the Big 12 Championship Game
In 2010, the Big 12 Championship Game was temporarily discontinued due to conference realignment and NCAA rules requiring 12 members for a championship game.
2010: End of Divisional Format
In 2010, the Big 12 discontinued the divisional format for the championship game.
2013: End of Cowboys Stadium Contract
The Big 12's contract with Cowboys Stadium for the Championship Game ended in 2013.
December 2014: Controversy over Big 12 Co-Champions and Playoff Exclusion
In December 2014, controversy arose as Baylor and TCU were declared co-champions despite Baylor's head-to-head win, leading to both teams being left out of the playoffs.
2014: College Football Playoff Begins
The College Football Playoff system was introduced in 2014, impacting the significance of conference championship games.
April 2015: Proposal to Deregulate Conference Championship Games
In April 2015, the ACC and Big 12 proposed legislation to deregulate conference championship games, aiming for implementation by the 2016 season.
January 14, 2016: NCAA Deregulates Conference Championship Games
On January 14, 2016, the NCAA deregulated conference championship game rules, allowing conferences with fewer than 12 teams to hold a title game.
2017: Big 12 Championship Game Returns
After a seven-year hiatus, the Big 12 Championship Game returned in 2017 following the deregulation of conference championship game rules.
2017: New Format: Top Two Seeds
Starting in 2017, the Big 12 Championship Game adopted a new format, featuring the top two teams in the conference standings.
2017: Reinstatement of the Big 12 Championship Game
The Big 12 Championship Game was reinstated in 2017 with a new format featuring the top two teams in the conference.
2030: Big 12 Championship Game Contract Extension
The Big 12's contract to hold the championship game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas extends until 2030.
