The 2020 Big 12 Conference turned out to be just as strange as the 2020 college football. In August, the Big 12 announced its 2020 schedule that included a pair of bye weeks for teams and one non-conference contest.
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The proposal was for teams to play a nine-game conference schedule with the additional non-conference game and a Big 12 Championship scheduled for December 12th. Stadiums were not full but filled up with a percentage of fans.
Oklahoma Sooners, after starting the season 2-2, and the Iowa State Cyclones met in the Big-12 Championship as the top two teams in conference play. OU defeated Iowa State, 27-21, to win its sixth Big 12 title game in a row.
2020 Big 12 Game of the Year
Oklahoma – 53, Texas – 45
The Red River rivals put on a show since the Texas State Fair was canceled due to COVID-19. Texas rallied multiple times to keep the game close, including a touchdown pass with 14 seconds left in regulation to push the game to overtime.
Overtime provided plenty of entertainment that included missed field goals by both teams during the third overtime. Drake Stoops, son of legendary Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass to start the fourth OT and the Sooners defense stepped up to intercept a Sam Ehlinger pass to secure victory.
The two teams combined for 897 yards of offense and 57 first downs. Both teams had three interceptions apiece, and the Sooners won the time of possession battle, 36:04 to 23:56.
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2020 Big 12 Player of the Year
RB Breece Hall – Iowa State Cyclones
Breece Hall parlayed a solid 2019 campaign into an even better 2020 season that earned him First-Team All-American honors. The sophomore running back racked up 1,752 total yards and 23 touchdowns, leading to Big 12 Player of the Year honors.
Hall scored a touchdown in every game played in 2020 and eclipsed the 100-yard mark in all but three games. As a sophomore, Hall was a Heisman Trophy and Doak Walker Award finalist. He was the first unanimous All-American in school history.
2020 Big 12 Rookie of the Year
RB Deuce Vaughn – Kansas State Wildcats
The freshman running back made a splash last season, carrying the ball 123 times for 642 yards, scoring seven touchdowns, and added 434 and two touchdowns through the air. He led the Wildcats in rushing, receiving, and all-purpose yards.
Vaughn was selected as an Honorable Mention All-American, a Freshman All-American, Second Team All-Big 12, and the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year. The rookie carried the ball ten times for a season-high 125 yards and two touchdowns against Texas in the season’s final game.
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2020 Big 12 Coach of the Year
Matt Campbell – Iowa State Cyclones
Matt Campbell has changed the entire culture of Iowa State football since taking over as head coach in 2016. 2020 saw Campbell lead the Cyclones to new heights, leading the Cyclones to the Big 12 Championship and a New Year’s Six bowl game, all firsts from the program.
Campbell is now a three-time winner of the Big 12 Coach of the Year and signed an extension in the offseason to continue to lead the Cyclones for years to come. The 41-year old head coach owns the best winning percentage in school history.