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The 2026 Big 12 Championship Game is set for Friday, December 4, at AT&T Stadium, with kickoff at 7:00 PM Central on ABC. The conference moved the game out of its Saturday slot to a Friday night this season, and that changes how the day works for anyone heading to Arlington.
The two teams are not decided yet. The game pairs the top two finishers in Big 12 conference play, and the matchup is set after the final weekend of the regular season. We will add both teams to this guide as soon as they are known. Until then the planning is the same for every fan base, because the date, the stadium and the kickoff time are fixed.
A Friday Night Kickoff Changes the Drive
A Saturday title game lets fans drift into Arlington whenever they like. A Friday 7:00 PM kickoff lands on top of the evening commute: I-30, SH-360 and I-20 are already carrying rush-hour traffic when the stadium lots start to fill. Leaving the office at 5:00 PM and driving yourself is how people end up walking in during the first quarter.
When to leave for a 7:00 PM kickoff
These pickup windows aim to get you through the gates around 6:00 PM, an hour before kickoff, with time for security and the pregame. They allow for Friday rush hour, so they run earlier than they would for a weekend game. Dispatch sets the exact time when you book.
| Leaving from | Pickup window |
|---|---|
| Arlington, Grand Prairie, Mansfield | 4:45–5:15 PM |
| Fort Worth, Irving, Grapevine, Southlake | 4:15–4:45 PM |
| Downtown Dallas, Uptown, Las Colinas | 4:00–4:30 PM |
| Plano, Frisco, Allen, Denton | 3:30–4:00 PM |
| McKinney, Prosper, Rockwall | 3:15–3:45 PM |
Flying In for the Game
A neutral-site championship draws fans from across the conference, from Utah and Arizona to West Virginia and Florida, and many of them arrive on Thursday or Friday through DFW International or Dallas Love Field. One booking can cover the whole trip: the airport pickup, the drop at your hotel, the ride to AT&T Stadium on Friday evening, the wait through the game and the trophy presentation, and the run back to the airport when you fly home.
- Landing at DFW International: your chauffeur meets you outside baggage claim at your terminal. Our DFW Airport car service page explains how it works terminal by terminal.
- Landing at Dallas Love Field: pickup works differently from DFW, so read our Love Field car service page before you fly.
- Choosing a hotel: Arlington's Entertainment District hotels are a few minutes from the stadium. Downtown Dallas and downtown Fort Worth are each about 25 minutes away without traffic, and more on a Friday evening.
Alumni Groups, Boosters and Hotel Shuttles
Championship weekends are when alumni chapters, booster clubs and corporate hosts move people in groups. A Mercedes Sprinter carries up to 14, an executive minibus 24 to 36 and a full motorcoach 56, so a whole watch party or donor group arrives together and leaves together. Larger vehicles run as a dedicated charter for the evening: the vehicle and chauffeur stay with your group from the first hotel pickup to the last drop-off.
Where each vehicle goes at AT&T Stadium
| Vehicle | Where you get out | Where you meet after |
|---|---|---|
| Executive SUV, up to 6 | North drop-off zone in Lot 1, reached from Randol Mill Road, or the south zone in Lot 6, reached from Cowboys Way | The spot dispatch sends you |
| Mercedes Sprinter, up to 14 | A drop-off zone or a standard lot if the van is under about 19 feet; longer vans use the bus area | The spot dispatch sends you |
| Stretch limousine | Lot 11, the lot the stadium reserves for limousines (limousine pass required) | Lot 11 |
| Minibus, motorcoach or party bus | Bus parking in Lot 15 (bus pass required), or Lot 14 for anything over 19 feet | The same lot |
After the Final Whistle
A championship game does not empty like a regular-season game. Fans of the winning team usually stay for the trophy presentation while the other side heads for the exits right away, so the crowd leaves in two waves. The rideshare pickup in Blue Lot 15 takes the brunt of both, with long waits and surge pricing. Your chauffeur is already parked in your vehicle's lot, so whichever wave you are in, you walk to the car and go.
- Decide before kickoff whether you are staying for the trophy, so the group is not split on the concourse.
- Message your chauffeur when the fourth quarter starts, or as the presentation begins, and the vehicle is ready when you reach it.
- Going back to a hotel in Dallas or Fort Worth? Tell dispatch when you book, so the late return is part of the plan.
Bags and Game-Day Basics
AT&T Stadium uses a clear-bag policy: clear bags no larger than 12 x 6 x 12 inches, a one-gallon clear freezer bag, or a clutch up to 4.5 x 6.5 inches. Check the stadium's current policy before game day. Anything that does not fit the rules, from a jacket to a team blanket or a backpack, can stay in the vehicle, because the vehicle stays with you.
Book Your Big 12 Championship Ride
Send dispatch your pickup address, hotel or flight, and the size of your group. Your chauffeur gets you to Arlington, stays through the game and brings you back.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (945) 212-1412 or text us — dispatch is live 24/7.
Big 12 Championship Game: Common Questions
When is the 2026 Big 12 Championship Game?
Friday, December 4, 2026, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is 7:00 PM Central, and the game is on ABC.
Who is playing in the 2026 Big 12 Championship Game?
The two teams that finish first and second in Big 12 conference play. The matchup is set after the final weekend of the regular season, and this guide will be updated with both teams.
Is the Big 12 Championship on Friday or Saturday this year?
Friday. For 2026 the conference moved the game out of its Saturday slot to Friday night, December 4.
Where do cars drop off at AT&T Stadium?
Executive SUVs and smaller vans let passengers out in the drop-off zones at Lot 1 (north side, from Randol Mill Road) and Lot 6 (south side, from Cowboys Way). Limousines are directed to Lot 11 and buses to Lot 15, or to Lot 14 if they are longer than 19 feet.
Can you pick us up at the airport and take us to the game?
Yes. QTS can meet you at DFW International or Dallas Love Field, take you to your hotel, drive you to AT&T Stadium on Friday evening, wait through the game and bring you back, all as one booking.
Can a group book a shuttle from a hotel to the stadium?
Yes. Sprinters, executive minibuses and motorcoaches can run your group from the hotel to AT&T Stadium and back as a dedicated charter, with the same chauffeur all evening.
Will the chauffeur wait if we stay for the trophy presentation?
Yes. Game-night rides are booked as dedicated, as-directed service, so your chauffeur stays with the vehicle until your group is ready to leave.
More Game-Day Transportation
AT&T Stadium Transportation
Upcoming games and concerts at the stadium, plus how each vehicle stages there. AT&T Stadium page
Sporting Event Transportation
Rides to games across Dallas-Fort Worth, from the Cowboys to college football. Sporting events
Airport Black Car Service
Flying in for the game? Pickups at DFW, Love Field and the region's other airports. Airport service