• Main
• Roster
• Coaches
• Schedule
• Statistics
• Archives

IRVING, Texas -- The Big 12 and Southeastern Conferences have announced a five-year agreement for their football champions to meet in a postseason bowl game following the 2014 season.
 
The champions of the two conferences will be in the matchup unless one or both are selected to play in the new four-team model to determine the national championship. Should that occur, another deserving team from the conference(s) would be selected for the game.
 
"A new January bowl tradition is born," said SEC Commissioner Mike Slive. "This new game will provide a great matchup between the two most successful conferences in the BCS era and will complement the exciting postseason atmosphere created by the new four-team model. Most importantly, it will provide our student-athletes, coaches and fans with an outstanding bowl experience."
 
"Our goal is to provide the fans across the country with a New Year's Day prime-time tradition," commented acting Big 12 Conference Commissioner Chuck Neinas. "This is a landmark agreement between two of the most successful football conferences during the BCS era to stage a postseason event. The creation of this game featuring the champions of the Big 12 and SEC will have tremendous resonance in college football."
 

BCS Era
Big 12 Champions, Bowl		SEC Champions, Bowl
1998 - Texas A&M (Sugar Bowl)		1998 - Tennessee (Fiesta Bowl)*
1999 - Nebraska (Fiesta Bowl)		1999 - Alabama (Orange Bowl)
2000 - Oklahoma (Orange Bowl)*		2000 - Florida (Sugar Bowl)
2001 - Colorado (Fiesta Bowl)		2001 - LSU (Sugar Bowl)
2002 - Oklahoma (Sugar Bowl)		2002 - Georgia (Sugar Bowl)
2003 - Kansas State (Fiesta Bowl)		2003 - LSU (Sugar Bowl)*
2004 - Oklahoma (Orange Bowl)		2004 - Auburn (Sugar Bowl)
2005 - Texas (Rose Bowl)*		2005 - Georgia (Sugar Bowl)
2006 - Oklahoma (Fiesta Bowl)		2006 - Florida (BCS Championship)*
2007 - Oklahoma (Fiesta Bowl)		2007 - LSU (BCS Championship)*
2008 - Oklahoma (BCS Championship)		2008 - Florida (BCS Championship)*
2009 - Texas (BCS Championship)		2009 - Alabama (BCS Championship)*
2010 - Oklahoma (Fiesta Bowl)		2010 - Auburn (BCS Championship)*
2011 - Oklahoma State (Fiesta Bowl)		2011 - LSU (BCS Championship)

* National Champions
 
"I am very excited by the prospects for a game between our champion and the champion of the Southeastern Conference," added incoming Big 12 Conference Commissioner Bob Bowlsby.
 
"The Big 12 and the Southeastern Conference have been the two most dominant players in the Bowl Championship Series era," said OU Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione.
 
"It's only fitting that the two best teams from our respective conferences should meet in an annual bowl game on the traditional college football showcase date that is New Year's Day. This also puts our conference's championship-caliber teams in a great position to adapt to the future football post-season in any format. The recent hiring of Bob Bowlsby as our new commissioner and this exciting partnership with the SEC simply signal the Big 12's continued vitality, stability and momentum."
 
"New Year's Day bowl games are a part of college football's rich tradition," added OU Head Coach Bob Stoops. "To have the top teams in the Big 12 and the Southeastern Conference squaring off in an annual bowl, you're going to get a very competitive game, and create a memorable experience for student athletes and for fans. To me, that's a win for both conferences, and a move that's good for college football."
 
During the 14-year history of the Bowl Championship Series, the Big 12 and SEC lead the nation with 11 seasons in which each conference has had at least one team ranked in the top four of the final BCS standings. Both conferences share the top spot all-time with 14 teams each that have finished in the top four of the final BCS standings.
 
The two conferences have combined for 16 appearances in the BCS National Championship Game, with the Big 12 ranking second behind the SEC's nine appearances with seven trips to the National Championship Game.
 
The two league champions have met twice in BCS bowl games since 1998, both in BCS National Championship Games. In 2010, Alabama defeated Texas, 37-21, in Pasadena, Calif., and in 2009, Florida defeated Oklahoma, 24-14, in Miami, Fla. Specific details, including host site(s), will be announced at a later date.
 
Why make this agreement?
This agreement creates a matchup of the two most successful conferences in the BCS era and provides a long-term postseason home for the champions of the Big 12 and SEC if they are not in the new four-team playoff.
 
Why are we doing this now?
This is an opportune time in view of the transitioning postseason structure to create a meaningful game between two of the most successful football conferences during the BCS era.
 
How will this enhance the postseason?
This game is a matchup between teams representing the two conferences that have enjoyed the greatest level of success to this point in the BCS era. We believe a game of this magnitude serves to enhance the overall quality of postseason college football.
 
How do you see this impacting the ongoing BCS discussions?
This game is intended to work successfully within the new postseason structure. The Big 12 and SEC will send its qualifying teams to the new four-team playoff. It's too early to be discussing the final BCS structure. The discussions on the BCS are ongoing. We are respectful of those discussions and are enthusiastic partners in the effort to create a four-team playoff.
 
What does this say about the commitment of both conferences to the future BCS options being considered?
The Big 12 and SEC are committed to the BCS process. Those discussions continue with meetings scheduled in the coming weeks, and we look forward to continuing to fully participate in the robust dialog as the process moves forward.
 
Will the Big 12/SEC still be part of the BCS?
Yes. This agreement creates a bowl game between the Big 12 and SEC that will be a part of the future postseason structure and both conferences fully support a four-team playoff.
 
When will the game be played?
In January 2015, following the 2014 regular season and coinciding with the beginning of the new playoff structure.

What are the host site options under consideration?
We have not yet begun negotiations with our existing or any other potential bowls. These negotiations will take place after the conclusion of the BCS discussions.
 
How will this arrangement affect the conferences' bowl lineups?
Our current bowl agreements, concurrent with the BCS, run through the 2013 season. Each conference will consider its postseason options, with this game part of its future bowl lineup.
 
What will happen in the event one or both of the conference champions qualifies to play for the BCS National Championship?
In the event one or both champions of the Big 12 and SEC qualifies to participate in the four-team playoff, another team from that conference will then be selected to participate in the game pursuant to procedures to be developed by each conference.
 
How will the game be operated/managed?
The two conferences will jointly agree on all material decisions concerning the game.
 
How long have the Big 12 and SEC been in discussion about a postseason alliance?
The Big 12 and SEC have been discussing having our champions meet in a bowl game on and off for several years. With recent discussions about a four-team playoff, the two conferences continued conversations and came to this agreement which will create one of the most exciting bowls in college football. Our goal is to enhance the postseason and compliment the four-team model to determine the national champion.
 
Is there any animosity from the Big 12 in light of two of its recent members leaving to join the SEC?
Realignment issues did not stand in the way of moving forward with creating a landmark game matching the champions of the two most successful conferences in the BCS era. All our discussions have been positive and focused on the future and what is best for our conferences.
 
Does the fact that the SEC has a championship game and the Big 12 does not have any bearing on this game or the discussions leading up to this game? How about the number of members in each conference?
No. Each conference has the ability to select its members and its champions as it sees fit.
 
Is this an effort to position the Big 12 and the SEC in a manner similar to that of the Big Ten and Pac-12?
We have talked about this matchup for several years. It is in the best interest of our two conferences and creates an outstanding prime-time New Year's Day matchup that will be one of the postseason's centerpieces.
 
What is the payout you anticipate from this game?
Many of the details of this bowl matchup are dependent on the overall BCS agreement. This bowl game will be very beneficial for the Big 12 and the SEC.