The Big 12 Title Game Moves to Friday Night
The 2026 Big 12 Championship Game kicks off at 7:00 PM Central on Friday, December 4, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, with ABC carrying it nationally. This year the conference moved its title game from its usual Saturday slot to a Friday night, and that one change reshapes the whole trip: fans will be heading to Arlington while the rest of North Texas is driving home from work. Hand the commute, the parking and the late ride home to a chauffeur instead. Call or text (682) 276-6812 and we'll map out your championship night.
Game at a Glance:
📍 AT&T Stadium, 1 AT&T Way, Arlington, TX 76011
📅 Friday, December 4, 2026
🏈 Kickoff 7:00 PM Central on ABC
🏆 The top two teams in the final Big 12 standings meet; the winner earns an automatic College Football Playoff bid
🎟️ Buy tickets through the stadium or the Big 12's official channels
Who's Playing, and When You'll Know
The matchup isn't set until the regular season ends. The two teams with the best records in Big 12 conference play earn the trip, with the conference's tiebreakers settling any ties. That leaves fans of the contenders roughly a week between clinching and kickoff to line up flights, hotel rooms and rides, and championship weekend is not the time to find out every Sprinter in town is spoken for. If your team is in the race, start the conversation with us before the final weekend so we can plan the vehicle and the timing, then fill in the details once the matchup is official.
A Friday Kickoff Means Rush-Hour Roads
A 7:00 PM start lands right on top of the Friday evening commute. I-30, I-20 and SH-360 carry their usual after-work crowd, and on December 4 they'll also be packed with fans converging on one building. Leaving straight from the office means sitting in both at once. Gate times are posted on AT&T Stadium's site; aim to be through security well before kickoff.
Getting out is the other half. A college football game usually runs about three and a half hours, so expect to walk out around 10:30 PM, later if it goes to overtime or you stay for the trophy presentation. Book by the hour and your chauffeur waits out every quarter; settle on where to meet before you head in, so nobody is hunting for a car in the crowd.
| Starting from | Suggested departure for a 7:00 PM kickoff |
|---|---|
| Downtown Fort Worth | About 4:45 PM |
| Downtown Dallas | About 4:30 PM |
| Hotels near DFW Airport | About 5:00 PM |
| Southlake or Grapevine | About 4:45 PM |
| Frisco or Plano | About 3:45 PM |
| Waco | About 2:30 PM |
| Lubbock | Late morning |
Flying In for the Title Game
Plenty of Big 12 fans will be coming from out of state. Share your flight details and we follow the plane, so a late arrival shifts your pickup rather than leaving you stuck. Landing at DFW means a meet and greet inside baggage claim every time. Love Field travelers pick between that same baggage claim meet and a quick curbside pickup. On a private jet, the car comes planeside at Arlington Municipal, Addison, Meacham and the Love Field FBOs; the single exception is DFW International's corporate aviation terminal, where the pickup happens curbside.
A championship trip often strings together several stops: the airport, a hotel in the Entertainment District, the game, a late dinner and the flight home. Book them together and we'll plan the whole weekend around your schedule. Read about airport pickups and our Arlington black car and limo service.
Driving In from a Big 12 Campus Town
Four Big 12 schools are in Texas, and their fans have very different drives. TCU fans are about half an hour away in Fort Worth. Baylor fans have roughly 90 minutes up I-35 from Waco, Houston fans are looking at four hours, and Texas Tech fans face a five-hour run from Lubbock. For the longer trips, EMT's intercity chauffeur service runs routes like Waco and Lubbock, and we'll talk through whether a same-night return or an overnight stay makes more sense after a late finish.
Vehicles for Every Size of Group
| Your group | Vehicle | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1–6 | Executive SUV (GMC Yukon or Chevrolet Suburban) | A family, a couple of clients, or friends who want a quiet ride |
| Up to 14 | Executive Sprinter | Friends or coworkers who want to arrive together |
| Up to 18 | 2024 Cadillac Escalade limousine | Turning the title game into a celebration |
| Up to 31 | Executive bus | Alumni chapters and corporate hospitality groups |
| 20–45 | Party bus | A group that wants the party to start on the way |
| Up to 56 | Coach | Booster clubs and large fan groups |
Championship Night Checklist
- Bags: AT&T Stadium runs a clear-bag policy. Read the stadium's bag rules before you leave, and anything that doesn't qualify can stay in the vehicle.
- Tickets: Load mobile tickets at home and charge your phone. Cell service gets slow when a full stadium is trying to use it at once.
- Meeting point: Settle where you'll meet your chauffeur after the game before you go in, not after.
- Weather: The roof will be closed, but early December nights can be cold for the walk between the car and the gate.
- Pregame: Want dinner first? Add a stop at Texas Live! or a restaurant on the way, and your chauffeur works it into the schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is kickoff for the 2026 Big 12 title game?
7:00 PM Central on Friday, December 4, 2026, in Arlington, with national coverage on ABC.
Who plays in the Big 12 Championship Game?
Whichever two teams finish the regular season with the best Big 12 league records, with the conference's tiebreakers deciding any ties. The winner earns an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff.
Why is the game on a Friday?
For 2026, the Big 12 moved its championship from a Saturday to a Friday night kickoff. Plan for Friday rush-hour traffic on the way in.
We're flying in. Can you get us from the plane to the game?
Yes. We watch the flight, greet you in baggage claim at DFW (Love Field travelers can choose baggage claim or curbside), and drop bags at your hotel or head straight for the stadium.
Will the chauffeur wait during the game?
Yes. Reserve the vehicle by the hour and it stays put for the whole game, overtime included, then takes everyone back once the trophy is handed out.
Can you drive our group from Waco or Lubbock?
Yes. Our long-distance service handles both, from an SUV for a few fans to a bus for a booster club.
Do prices go up for championship weekend?
No. Your fare comes from the trip's mileage and is quoted up front, whether it's title night or a quiet Tuesday.
Send your starting point, head count and any flight numbers, and we'll send an upfront price for championship night. Book online or call (682) 276-6812, 24/7.