What Is 2019 Big 12 Championship Game

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2019 Big 12 Championship Game was played on December 7, 2019, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, where No. 6 Oklahoma defeated No. 8 Baylor 30–23 in overtime to win their fourth consecutive Big 12 title.

Key Facts

Game date: December 7, 2019
Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Final score: Oklahoma 30, Baylor 23 (overtime)
Oklahoma won its 4th straight Big 12 Championship
Held annually since 2017 after Big 12 reinstated the championship game

Overview

The 2019 Big 12 Championship Game marked the return of the conference title game for the second consecutive year since its reinstatement in 2017. It featured the top two teams from the Big 12 Conference standings: the No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners and the No. 8 Baylor Bears.

Played on December 7, 2019, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, the game was a hard-fought contest that extended into overtime. Oklahoma claimed its fourth straight conference title with a 30–23 victory, cementing its status as the dominant program in the Big 12 during the College Football Playoff era.

Teams: The matchup featured the Oklahoma Sooners (11–1, 8–1 Big 12) and the Baylor Bears (11–1, 8–1 Big 12), both co-champions of the regular season.
Date and venue: The game was held on December 7, 2019, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, home of the Dallas Cowboys, which has hosted every Big 12 title game since 2017.
Final score: Oklahoma defeated Baylor 30–23 in overtime, overcoming a 17–3 halftime deficit to secure the win.
Championship significance: This victory gave Oklahoma its fourth consecutive Big 12 Championship, extending its streak from 2016 to 2019.
Television broadcast: The game was televised nationally by ESPN and drew an average of 7.2 million viewers, one of the highest ratings for a conference championship game that season.

How It Works

The Big 12 Championship Game is an annual postseason college football game that determines the conference champion. Since the 2017 season, the Big 12 has used a round-robin format to determine the top two teams based on conference winning percentage.

Qualification:Top two teams in the Big 12 standings qualify for the championship game based on conference win percentage, with tiebreakers applied if needed.
Format: The game follows NCAA football rules, including four 15-minute quarters and overtime if the score is tied after regulation.
Location: Since 2017, the game has been held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, under a multi-year contract with the Cowboys’ ownership.
Timing: The game is played the first Saturday in December, typically the weekend before conference championships in the SEC, ACC, and others.
Impact on CFP: The winner receives the Big 12’s automatic bid to a New Year’s Six bowl, though only conference champions are considered for the College Football Playoff.
History: The Big 12 eliminated its championship game from 1997 to 2016 due to lack of divisions but reinstated it in 2017 with a single-division, top-two format.

Comparison at a Glance

Here’s how the 2019 Big 12 Championship compares to previous editions since the game’s return:

Year	Winner	Score	Runner-up	Location
2019	Oklahoma	30–23 (OT)	Baylor	AT&T Stadium
2018	Oklahoma	45–41	Texas	AT&T Stadium
2017	Oklahoma	41–17	Texas Tech	AT&T Stadium
2003	Oklahoma	35–24	Kansas State	Arrowhead Stadium
2002	Oklahoma	27–21	Kansas State	Reliant Stadium

The 2019 edition was notable for being the first of the modern era to go into overtime, highlighting the competitive balance in the conference. While earlier versions like 2018 and 2017 featured high-scoring shootouts, the 2019 game was more defensively intense, with Baylor’s strong defense pushing Oklahoma to its limits.

Why It Matters

The 2019 Big 12 Championship Game had significant implications for the College Football Playoff and conference prestige. Oklahoma’s victory secured its spot in the playoff for the third time in four years, underscoring the program’s consistency.

College Football Playoff berth: Oklahoma earned a No. 4 seed in the CFP, advancing to the semifinals where it lost to LSU in the Peach Bowl.
Program dominance: The win gave Oklahoma four straight Big 12 titles, a feat unmatched in conference history since its realignment.
Baylor’s resurgence: Despite the loss, Baylor’s appearance marked its first championship game since 2014 and signaled a major turnaround under coach Matt Rhule.
Conference stability: The game reinforced the Big 12’s relevance amid expansion rumors, proving it could produce high-stakes, nationally televised matchups.
Player legacy: Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts had a standout performance, throwing for 217 yards and rushing for 127, enhancing his Heisman Trophy runner-up campaign.
Future matchups: The close score suggested the Big 12 was becoming more competitive, setting the stage for future title games with multiple contenders beyond Oklahoma.

The 2019 Big 12 Championship Game was a pivotal moment in modern conference history, combining drama, national implications, and the rise of new contenders—all of which continue to shape the Big 12’s identity.