The 2017 season witnessed significant changes in the Big 12's front offices. Ashley Coppersmith, having concluded her tenure with the Vegas Knight Hawks, retired from her role as General Manager. In her place, Matt Winkels assumed the leadership, steering the Knight Hawks into the new season.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles Wildcats experienced a change in leadership as Liz Bautch retired, paving the way for Pete Jerving to take the reins as the new General Manager.

In Green Bay, a transition occurred with the appointment of Dan Uribe as the new General Manager, succeeding Paris Reed and bringing a fresh perspective to the Blizzard's management. These changes added an intriguing dimension to the league's landscape as teams prepared for the challenges of the 2017 season.

The 2017 draft marked the 6th annual gathering of Big 12 General Managers to select eligible football players. Hosted in Wauwatosa, WI, at Kam's Corner Tap on Sunday, August 20, 2017, at 6:00 pm CST, the draft saw the Northern Arizona Wranglers holding the first overall pick. With this selection, they opted for Antonio Brown from the Pittsburgh Steelers, making it the second time this talented receiver was chosen as the first pick in the draft.

Complete First Round Selections

The 2017 regular season unfolded with a total of 156 games played across a 13-week schedule, commencing on the Thursday night following Labor Day. Each Big 12 team engaged in one game per week.

The defending champions, the Miami Inferno, kicked off the season with an impressive 4-0 record. However, a suspension to their top running back, Ezekiel Elliott, led to a stumble in the latter part of the season. Despite losing three of their final four games, they concluded the regular season at 8-5. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Gladiators boasted a league-best 10-3 record, securing their second consecutive division championship. The Philadelphia Soul emerged victorious in the East division, claiming their first crown. Notably, four teams—Vegas, Los Angeles, Milwaukee, and Cedar Rapids—finished with the worst record of the season, each at 4-9.

Standings

The playoffs for the 2017 season commenced on December 7, 2017. The postseason tournament concluded with the championship game on December 25, 2017, where the Miami Inferno secured back-to-back championships by defeating Philadelphia 148-94.

Round 1

Round 1 of the playoffs unfolded from December 7-11, 2017. Making a return to the playoffs after a two-year hiatus, division champion Philadelphia Soul hosted Boston. Both teams carried a 0-2 postseason record into the matchup. Fresh off a week 13 victory against the Brawlers, the Soul secured another win, eliminating Boston from the playoffs with a 139-124 triumph.

In another round one matchup, the Miami Inferno played host to division foe Brooklyn Bolts. Having won both matchups in the regular season against the Bolts, Miami continued their dominance with a 141-122 victory, advancing to the next round.

Round 2

Round 2 unfolded on December 13, 2017. The Green Bay Blizzard hosted the #4 seed and defending champion, Miami Inferno. The game was effectively decided by halftime as Miami dominated, securing a commanding 90-point victory and earning their second consecutive trip to the championship game. Notably, this marked the first time a team had reached consecutive title games since Milwaukee achieved a 3-peat from 2013-2015.

In the second game of the weekend, after earning a bye, the Cleveland Gladiators aimed to secure a spot in the championship round. However, the Philadelphia Soul pulled off a significant upset with a 137-104 victory, earning their first-ever trip to the championship game and preventing a repeat appearance for the Gladiators.

Big 12 Championship

Hosted in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the 2017 championship showdown between the first-time participant Philadelphia Soul and the defending champion Miami Inferno concluded on December 25, 2017. The Inferno emerged victorious with a resounding 148-94 win, securing the franchise's second consecutive championship. Miami achieved a historic feat, becoming the league's first team to not only repeat as champions but be the first to have won multiple championships.

Entering the matchup as the #4 seed, the Inferno were favored by 10 points, having recently defeated the #2 seed Green Bay by a staggering 90 points. This marked their second consecutive trip to the championship game, and despite a loss to the Soul earlier in the season, they proved unstoppable on the grand stage, clinching their second championship in as many seasons.

The Philadelphia Soul, the #3 seed, orchestrated an impressive upset against the defending runner-up to secure a berth in the championship round. Prior to this season, they had a playoff record of 0-2 and hadn't enjoyed a winning season in two years. Their playoff success this year was commendable, even though they ultimately fell short of the championship glory.

In 2017, Cleveland and Green Bay each secured their third division title, reflecting the continued success and competitive prowess of these teams within the Big 12. Philadelphia enjoyed their first ever division crown.

The 2017 league MVP honor was bestowed upon 15th overall pick Todd Gurley, who amassed an impressive 383 points. Gurley played a pivotal role in leading the Miami Inferno to their second consecutive league championship triumph.

The GM of the Year award for the 2017 season was claimed by Bruce Coppersmith of the Cleveland Gladiators, who guided the team to a commendable 10-3 record. Despite multiple successful seasons, this marked his first time receiving the prestigious award.

Miami continued their dominance by winning their second conference and league championship titles, further solidifying their place among the league's elite. Additionally, the Philadelphia Soul celebrated their first conference championship, marking a significant milestone in their franchise history.