The 2021 Big 12 Conference football season was the 26th season of the Big 12 Conference football and took place during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The season began on September 4, 2021, with non-conference play. Conference play began on September 18. The entire schedule was released on February 11, 2021.
The 2021 season was the tenth season for the Big 12 since the early 2010s conference realignment brought the Big 12 membership to its current form.
The 2021 Big 12 Championship Game was played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on December 4, 2021.
Preseason Big 12 media days The 2021 Big 12 media days were held on July 14–15 in Frisco, Texas. The teams and representatives in respective order were as follows:
Big 12 Commissioner – Bob Bowlsby Baylor – Dave Aranda (HC), Connor Galvin (OL) & Terrel Bernard (LB) Iowa State – Matt Campbell (HC), Breece Hall (RB) & Greg Eisworth II (DB) Kansas – Lance Leipold (HC), Kwamie Lassiter II (WR) & Kenny Logan Jr. (S) Kansas State – Chris Klieman (HC), Skylar Thompson (QB) & Jahron McPherson (DB) Oklahoma – Lincoln Riley (HC), Jeremiah Hall (FB) & Nik Bonitto (LB) Oklahoma State – Mike Gundy (HC), Spencer Sanders (QB) & Malcolm Rodriguez (DE) TCU – Gary Patterson (HC), Max Duggan (QB) & Ochaun Mathis (DE) Texas – Steve Sarkisian (HC), Bijan Robinson (RB) & Keondre Coburn (DT) Texas Tech – Matt Wells (HC), Dawson Deaton (OL) & Riko Jeffers (LB) West Virginia – Neal Brown (HC), Leddie Brown (RB) & Dante Stills (DL)
Preseason poll The preseason poll was released on July 8, 2021. +Big 12 1 Oklahoma 365 (35) 2 Iowa State 351 (4) 3 Texas 273 4 Oklahoma State 266 5 TCU 255 6 West Virginia 185 7 Kansas State 163 8 Baylor 124 9 Texas Tech 103 10 Kansas 39
First place votes in ()
Preseason Watch Lists
Award Head coach/Player School Position Link Lott TrophyMike RoseIowa StateLB Tre'Vius Hodges-TomlinsonTCUCBJosh ThompsonTexasCBDodd TrophyMatt CampbellIowa StateHCLincoln RileyOklahomaHCMaxwell AwardBrock PurdyIowa StateQB Breece HallIowa StateRBSkylar ThompsonKansas StateQBDeuce VaughnKansas StateRBSpencer RattlerOklahomaQBMarvin MimsOklahomaWRMax DugganTCUQBBijan RobinsonTexasRBErik EzukanmaTexas TechWRJarret DoegeWest VirginiaQBLeddie BrownWest VirginiaRBBednarik AwardJalen PitreBaylor DBTerrel BernardBaylorLBWill McDonald IVIowa StateDEMike RoseIowa StateLBNik BonittoOklahomaLBIsaiah ThomasOklahomaDEMalcolm RodriguezOklahoma StateLBKolby Harvell-PeelOklahoma StateSOchaun MathisTCUDETre'Vius Hodges-TomlinsonTCUCBKeondre CoburnTexasDTColin SchoolerTexas TechLBDavey O'Brien AwardBrock PurdyIowa StateQBSpencer RattlerOklahomaSpencer SandersOklahoma StateMax DugganTCUDoak Walker AwardAbram SmithBaylorRB Breece HallIowa StateKennedy BrooksOklahomaEric GrayOklahomaLD BrownOklahoma StateJaylen WarrenOklahoma StateZach EvansTCULeddie BrownWest VirginiaFred Biletnikoff AwardTyquan ThorntonBaylorWRXavier HutchinsonIowa StateWRCharlie KolarIowa StateTEMarvin MimsOklahomaWRMichael Woods IIOklahomaWRXavier WorthyTexasWRErik EzukanmaTexas TechWRKaylon GeigerTexas TechWRJohn Mackey AwardBen SimsBaylor TEChase AllenIowa StateCharlie KolarIowa StateAustin StognerOklahomaCade BrewerTexasTravis KoontzTexas TechMike O'LaughlinWest VirginiaRimington TrophyColin NewellIowa StateCMike NovitskyKansasDanny GodlevskeOklahoma StateSteve AvilaTCUDawson DeatonTexas TechButkus AwardTerrel BernardBaylorLBMike RoseIowa StateBrian AsamoahOklahomaNik BonittoOklahomaMalcolm RodriguezOklahoma StateDeMarvion OvershownTexasColin SchoolerTexas TechOutland TrophyColin NewellIowa StateCDerek SchweigerIowa StateGMarquis HayesOklahomaGTyrese RobinsonOklahomaGPerrion WinfreyOklahomaDTJosh SillsOklahoma StateGDawson DeatonTexas TechCDante StillsWest VirginiaDTBronko Nagurski TrophyTerrel BernardBaylorLB Jalen PitreBaylorSGreg EisworthIowa StateSWill McDonald IVIowa StateDEMike RoseIowa StateLBNik BonittoOklahomaLBIsaiah ThomasOklahomaDEPerrion WinfreyOklahomaDTMalcolm RodriguezOklahoma StateLBTre'Vius Hodges-TomlinsonTCUCBOchaun MathisTCUDEDante StillsWest VirginiaDTLou Groza AwardGabe BrkicOklahomaKAlex HaleOklahoma StateCameron DickerTexasPaul Hornung AwardTrestan EbnerBaylorRBKenny Logan Jr.KansasSPhillip BrooksKansas StateWRMarvin MimsOklahomaWRDerius DavisTCUWRD'Shawn JamisonTexasCBMyles PriceTexas TechWRWinston WrightWest VirginiaWRWuerffel TrophyByron Hanspard Jr.BaylorDB Brock PurdyIowa StateQBKwamie Lassiter IIKansasWRSkylar ThompsonKansas StateQBPat FieldsOklahomaDBObinna EzeTCUOLTony Bradford Jr.Texas TechDLEvan StaleyWest VirginiaKJarret DoegeWest VirginiaQBSean MahoneWest VirginiaDBWalter Camp AwardBreece HallIowa StateRBCharlie KolarIowa StateTEBrock PurdyIowa StateQBMike RoseIowa StateLBSpencer RattlerOklahomaQBBijan RobinsonTexasRBManning AwardBrock PurdyIowa StateQBSkyler ThompsonKansas StateSpencer RattlerOklahomaMax DugganTCUEarl Campbell Tyler Rose AwardTrestan EbnerBaylorRBDaniel JacksonIowa StateWRDeuce VaughnKansas StateRBKennedy BrooksOklahomaRBMarvin MimsOklahomaWRSpencer SandersOklahoma StateQBMax DugganTCUQBZach EvansTCURBQuentin JohnstonTCUWRBijan RobinsonTexasRBErik EzukanmaTexas TechWRJarret DoegeWest VirginiaQBRay Guy AwardIsaac PowerBaylorPTy ZentnerKansas StateMichael TurkOklahomaTom HuttonOklahoma StateCameron DickerTexasRyan BujcevskiTexasAustin McNamaraTexas TechTyler SumpterWest VirginiaPolynesian College Football Player Of The Year AwardSiaki IkaBaylorOLJaylen WarrenOklahoma StateRBJunior AngilauTexasOLJohnny Unitas Golden Arm Award Brock PurdyIowa StateQBSkylar ThompsonKansas StateSpencer RattlerOklahomaMax DugganTCUCasey ThompsonTexasTyler ShoughTexas TechJarret DoegeWest Virginia
Preseason All-Conference teams 2021 Preseason All-Big 12
Offensive Player of the Year: Spencer Rattler, QB, Oklahoma Defensive Player of the Year: Mike Rose, LB, Iowa State Newcomer of the Year: Eric Gray, RB, Oklahoma
+ All-Big 12 Offense Position Player Class Team QB Spencer Rattler So.Oklahoma RB Breece Hall Jr.Iowa State RB Bijan Robinson So.Texas FB Jeremiah Hall Sr.Oklahoma WR Xavier Hutchinson Sr.Iowa State WR Marvin Mims So.Oklahoma WR Erik Ezukanma Jr.Texas Tech TE Charlie Kolar Sr.Iowa State OL Trevor Downing Jr.Iowa State OL Colin Newell Sr.Iowa State OL Marquis Hayes Sr.Oklahoma OL Wanya Morris Jr.Oklahoma OL Josh Sills Sr.Oklahoma State OL Dawson Deaton Sr.Texas Tech PK Gabe Brkic Jr.Oklahoma KR/PR Phillip Brooks Jr.Kansas State + All-Big 12 Defense Position Player Class Team DL Will McDonald IV Jr.Iowa State DL Isaiah Thomas Sr.Oklahoma DL Perrion Winfrey Sr.Oklahoma DL Ochaun Mathis Jr.TCU DL Dante Stills Sr.West Virginia LB Terrel Bernard Sr.Baylor LB Mike Rose Sr.Iowa State LB Nik Bonitto Jr.Oklahoma DB Kolby Harvell-Peel Sr.Oklahoma State DB Jalen Pitre Sr.Baylor DB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson Jr.TCU DB Greg Eisworth Sr.Iowa State DB DShawn Jamison Sr.Texas P Austin McNamara Jr.Texas Tech
Head coaches There were two head coaching changes in the conference following the conclusion of the 2019 season. On January 2, 2021, Texas announced that head coach Tom Herman would be departing the team, and that he would be replaced by Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. In addition, on March 8, 2021, Kansas announced they had fired Les Miles. On March 11, Emmett Jones was named interim head coach. On April 30, Kansas announced that Lance Leipold, formerly head coach of the Buffalo Bulls, would take over the position.
Team Head coach Years at school Overall record Record at school Big–12 recordBaylor Dave Aranda 2 2–7 2–7 2–7Iowa State Matt Campbell 6 70–42 30–25 26–19Kansas Lance Leipold 1 146–39 0–0 0–0Kansas State Chris Klieman 3 84–24 12–11 9–9Oklahoma Lincoln Riley 5 41–8 41–8 34–5Oklahoma State Mike Gundy 17 137–67 137–67 83–55TCU Gary Patterson 21 178–74 178–74 115–52Texas Steve Sarkisian 1 46–35 0–0 1–2*Texas Tech Matt Wells 3 52–48 8–14 5–13West Virginia Neal Brown 3 46–27 9–10 7–10
Schedule Index to colors and formattingBig 12 member wonBig 12 member lostBig 12 teams in bold All times Central time.
† denotes Homecoming game
Regular season schedule Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Date Bye WeekSeptember 18 TCU
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Date Bye WeekOctober 9 Iowa State Kansas Kansas State No. 12 Oklahoma State
Week 7
Date Bye WeekOctober 16 West Virginia
Week 8
Date Bye WeekOctober 23 No. 20 Baylor Texas
Week 9
Week 10
Date Bye WeekNovember 6 No. 4 Oklahoma Texas Tech
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Championship Game
Head to head matchups Head to head Source: TeamBaylorIowa StateKansasKansas StateOklahomaOklahoma StateTCUTexasTexas TechWest Virginia Baylor — W, 31-29 W, 45-7 W, 20-10 W 27-14 L, 14-24 L, 28–30 W, 31–24 W, 27-24 W, 45-20 Iowa State L, 29-31 — W, 59-7 W, 33-20 L, 21-28 W, 24-21 W, 48-14 W, 30–7 L, 38-41 L, 31-38 Kansas L, 45–7 L, 7-59 — L, 10–35 L, 23-35 L, 3-55 L, 28-31 W, 57-56 L,14-41 L, 28-34 Kansas State L, 10-20 L, 20-33 W, 35-10 — L, 31-37 L, 20–31 W, 31–12 L, 17-22 W, 25-24 W, 34-17 Oklahoma L, 14-28 W, 28-21 W, 35-23 W, 37-31 — L, 31-37 W, 52-31 W, 55-48 W, 52–21 W, 16-13 Oklahoma State W, 24-14 L, 21-24 W, 55-3 W, 31-20 W, 37-31 — W, 63-17 W, 32-24 W, 23-0 W, 24–3 TCU W, 30-28 L, 14-48 W, 31-28 L, 12-31 L, 31-52 L, 17-63 — L, 27-32 W, 52-31 L, 17-29 Texas L, 24-31 L, 7-30 L, 56-57 W, 22-17 L, 48-55 L, 24–32 W, 32-27 — W, 70-35 L, 23-31 Texas Tech L, 24-27 W, 41-38 W, 41–34 L, 24–25 L, 21–52 L, 0-23 L, 31–52 L, 35-70 — W, 23–30 West Virginia L, 20-45 W, 38-30 W, 34-28 L, 17-34 L, 13-16 L, 3-24 W, 29–17 W, 31-23 L, 20-23 — Updated with the results of all regular season conference games.
Postseason Bowl games
Legend Big 12 win Big 12 loss
For the 2020–2025 bowl cycle, The Big-12 will have annually eight appearances in the following bowls: Sugar Bowl (unless they are selected for playoffs filled by a Big-12 team if champion is in the playoffs), First Responder Bowl, Liberty Bowl, Alamo Bowl, Guaranteed Rate Bowl, Cheez-It Bowl and Texas Bowl. The Big-12 teams will go to a New Year's Six bowl if a team finishes higher than the champions of Power Five conferences in the final College Football Playoff rankings. The Big-12 champion are also eligible for the College Football Playoff if they're among the top four teams in the final CFP ranking.
Bowl gameDateSiteTime (CST)Television Big-12 teamOpponentScoreAttendance Liberty BowlDecember 28, 2021 Liberty Bowl • Memphis, TN 5:45 p.m. ESPN Texas Tech Mississippi StateW, 34–748,615 Guaranteed Rate BowlDecember 28, 2021 Chase Field • Phoenix, Arizona 9:15 p.m. ESPN West Virginia MinnesotaL, 18–621,220Cheez-It Bowl December 29, 2021 Camping World Stadium • Orlando, FL 4:45 p.m. ESPN Iowa State ClemsonL, 20–13 39,051Alamo BowlDecember 29, 2021Alamodome • San Antonio, Texas8:15 p.m.ESPN Oklahoma OregonW, 47–3259,121Texas BowlJanuary 4, 2022 NRG Stadium • Houston, TX 7:45 p.m. ESPN Kansas State LSUW, 42–2052,207 New Year's Six bowl gamesSugar BowlJanuary 1, 2022Caesars Superdome • New Orleans, Louisiana7:45 p.m.ESPN Baylor Ole MissW, 21–766,479Fiesta BowlJanuary 1, 2022State Farm Stadium • Glendale, Arizona12:00 p.m.ESPN Oklahoma State Notre DameW, 37–3549,550 Rankings are from CFP rankings. All times Central Time Zone. Big-12 teams shown in bold.
Big 12 vs other conferences Records against other conferences
Regular Season
Power 5 ConferencesRecordACC1–1Big Ten1–2BYU/Notre Dame1–0Pac-122–0SEC0–1Power 5 Total5-4Other FBS ConferencesRecordThe American3–1C–USA2–0Independents (Excluding BYU & Notre Dame)0–0MAC0–0Mountain West3–0Sun Belt2–1Other FBS Total10-2FCS OpponentsRecordFootball Championship Subdivision9–0Total Non-Conference Record24-6
Post Season Power Conferences 5RecordACC0–1Big Ten0–1BYU/Notre Dame1–0Pac-121–0SEC3–0Power 5 Total5–2Other FBS ConferencesRecordC–USA0–0Independents (Excluding BYU & Notre Dame)0–0MAC0–0Mountain West0–0Sun Belt0–0Other FBS Total0–0Total Bowl Record5–2
Big 12 vs Power 5 matchups This is a list of the Power Five conferences teams (ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12, Notre Dame, BYU and SEC).