The 2013 Big 12 Championship
The Big 12 Championship is one of college football’s premier annual events, and the 2013 edition proved to be no exception. For the first time since 2005, the Big 12 Championship pitted two teams from the same state against each other: the Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State Cowboys. The Sooners ultimately emerged victorious, winning 33-24 and claiming the Big 12 Championship for the second time in three years.
The Teams
The Oklahoma Sooners were ranked #17 in the country and were led by quarterback Blake Bell and head coach Bob Stoops. The Sooners were the reigning Big 12 Champions, having won the title in 2012. They were also the only team to beat Alabama that year, a feat that was seen as a major accomplishment.
The Oklahoma State Cowboys were ranked #6 in the country and were led by quarterback Clint Chelf and head coach Mike Gundy. The Cowboys were the only team to beat Texas that year, and they had a nine-game winning streak heading into the championship game.
The Game
The 2013 Big 12 Championship was played on December 7th at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game started off with a bang, as Oklahoma’s Blake Bell connected with Jalen Saunders for a 67-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the game. The Cowboys responded quickly, however, as Clint Chelf found Jeremy Smith for a 16-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7.
The Sooners then took control of the game, as they scored on their next two possessions to take a 21-7 lead. The Cowboys managed to get back within striking distance, but Oklahoma’s defense held strong and the Sooners emerged with the 33-24 victory and the Big 12 Championship.
The Players
The Sooners were led by quarterback Blake Bell, who threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns on the day. He was named the game’s Offensive MVP and was one of the catalysts for the Sooners’ victory.
On the defensive side, Oklahoma was led by cornerback Aaron Colvin, who had two interceptions in the game. He was named the Defensive MVP of the game and was the key to the Sooners’ defensive success.
For the Cowboys, quarterback Clint Chelf was the star of the show, throwing for 298 yards and two touchdowns. He was the only Cowboy to be named to the All-Big 12 first team, and he was the only Cowboy to be named to the All-Big 12 first team and the All-Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year.
The Aftermath
The victory was a major accomplishment for the Sooners, as it was their first Big 12 Championship in three years. The Sooners finished the season with a 10-2 record and were ranked #11 in the final AP poll.
For the Cowboys, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. It was the second time in three years that they had lost to the Sooners in the Big 12 Championship game, and it was the second consecutive season that they had failed to win the Big 12 Championship. The Cowboys finished the season with an 8-4 record and were ranked #20 in the final AP poll.
The Impact
The victory had major implications for the Sooners, as it propelled them to an invitation to the Sugar Bowl, where they would face off against Alabama. The Sooners would ultimately lose to the Crimson Tide 45-31, but the Sugar Bowl appearance was a major accomplishment for the Sooners and their fans.
The loss had a much more significant impact on the Cowboys, as it helped to further their reputation as a program that was unable to win the big games. The Cowboys had failed to win the Big 12 Championship in three consecutive years, and the loss to the Sooners had a major psychological impact on the Cowboys and their program.
The Legacy
The 2013 edition of the Big 12 Championship will be remembered as one of the most exciting and dramatic games in Big 12 history. The Sooners and Cowboys put on an exciting show, and the Sooners emerged with the victory in the end.
The victory was a major accomplishment for the Sooners, as it was their second Big 12 Championship in three years. It was also a major accomplishment for their head coach, Bob Stoops, who had been criticized for not winning a Big 12 Championship since 2008.
The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for the Cowboys, as it was the second time in three years that they had lost to the Sooners in the Big 12 Championship game. The loss also further cemented the Cowboys’ reputation as a program that was unable to win the big games.
The Players in the NFL
Several of the players from both the Sooners and Cowboys went on to have success in the NFL. For the Sooners, quarterback Blake Bell and cornerback Aaron Colvin were both drafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, with Bell going in the 4th round and Colvin in the 5th. Bell went on to have a successful career with the San Francisco 49ers, while Colvin went on to have a successful career with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans.
For the Cowboys, quarterback Clint Chelf went undrafted but was later signed by the Tennessee Titans. He had a brief stint with the team before being released in 2015. Linebacker Shaun Lewis was also drafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, going in the 5th round to the Houston Texans. He had a brief stint with the team before being released in 2016.
The Future
The 2013 Big 12 Championship was a monumental event, and its impact can still be felt to this day. The Sooners and Cowboys have both enjoyed success since then, with the Sooners winning the Big 12 Championship in 2015 and the Cowboys making it to the Fiesta Bowl in 2016.
The Sooners and Cowboys are both set for another exciting season in 2017, and there is a good chance that the two teams could meet again in the Big 12 Championship game. Whether it’s this year or in the future, the 2013 Big 12 Championship will be remembered as one of college football’s great games.
Conclusion
The 2013 Big 12 Championship was an exciting and historic event that will be remembered for many years to come. The Oklahoma Sooners emerged victorious, winning 33-24 and claiming the Big 12 Championship for the second time in three years. The victory had major implications for the Sooners, as it propelled them to an invitation to the Sugar Bowl, where they would face off against Alabama.
The loss had a much more significant impact on the Cowboys, as it helped to further their reputation as a program that was unable to win the big games. Several of the players from both teams went on to have success in the NFL, and the Sooners and Cowboys have both enjoyed success since then. The 2013 Big 12 Championship will be remembered as one of college football’s great games, and its legacy will live on for years to come.