Cory Colvin made a return to the league this season, marking the Bolts' re-entry into football operations after taking a year off.

Longtime GM Cody Coppersmith engaged in contract disputes with Miami during the summer, sparking rumors about the team's potential departure from the Big 12. Despite the speculations, the Inferno chose to remain in the league but parted ways with Coppersmith. The team then enlisted the services of General Manager Richard Head to lead them forward.

Boston, after a year of absence in 2018, secured Travis Gebel as their new General Manager. However, the season got off to a rocky start, leading to Gebel's mid-season replacement by interim GM Chris Cholka.

Los Angeles underwent changes in their front office as Pete Jerving was released from General Manager duties during the off-season. After failing to entice Liz Bautch out of retirement, the team appointed DeMario Suggs as their new General Manager.

The 2019 draft marked the 8th annual meeting of Big 12 General Managers for selecting eligible football players. The draft was conducted online on Friday, August 30, 2019, at 7:15 pm CST.

The Philadelphia Soul had the honor of holding the first overall pick, a significant moment for the franchise. With this opportunity, they selected Saquon Barkley from New York, making it the first time the Soul had the number one overall pick in their draft history.

Complete First Round Selections

*MVP

The league expanded back to its original twelve teams with the addition of new General Managers and the return of General Managers after a year-long hiatus. This expansion reverted the regular season to 13 weeks, featuring a total of 156 games that kicked off on the Thursday night following Labor Day. Each of the Big 12 teams played one game each week.

The defending champion Knight Hawks demonstrated dominance in the early parts of the season, propelled largely by the outstanding performance of the New England Patriots D/ST. They achieved a perfect 7-0 start, securing an early lead in the West division. Despite stumbling with a 1-5 record over the last six weeks, they clinched a playoff berth. Meanwhile, the Inferno finished the season with a league-best 10-3 record, claiming the East division title. Chicago would secure the Central division crown, setting the stage for an intriguing playoff picture.

Standings

The playoffs for the 2019 season kicked off on December 5, 2019, and culminated with the highly anticipated Big 12 Championship on December 23, 2019. The expansion of teams to twelve allowed for a more extensive playoff field, comprising a total of six teams vying for the coveted championship title. This adjustment added a layer of intensity and competition to the postseason, promising thrilling matchups and unpredictable outcomes.

Round 1

The first round of the 2019 playoffs unfolded on December 5, 2019, with intriguing matchups that promised excitement and unpredictability. In the first matchup of round 1, the #4 seed Vegas Knight HAwks played host to the #5 seed Boston Brawlers, the game was poised to be a closely contested battle, with projections favoring either team. The clash lived up to its anticipation, offering fans an exhilarating back-and-forth spectacle. Despite projections suggesting a narrow victory for Vegas, Boston orchestrated a thrilling comeback, securing the win on Monday Night Football, ultimately triumphing 116-106 and advancing to the next round. The defeat marked the end of Vegas's bid to repeat as champions as they made an early exit from the playoffs.

The second game of the weekend featured a compelling rematch between the third-seeded Los Angeles Wildcats and the visiting Brooklyn Bolts. The early projections hinted at a close contest, with the Bolts holding a modest 14-point advantage. However, Brooklyn exceeded expectations, dominating the game and securing a commanding 160-91 victory. At one point, Brooklyn even held a staggering 100-point lead, underscoring their dominance and ending the season early for Los Angeles

Round 2

The highly anticipated Round 2 of the 2019 playoffs unfolded on December 12, 2019, featuring intense matchups that would determine the finalists for the Big 12 championship. The top-seeded and East division champion Miami Inferno played host to the fifth-seeded Boston Brawlers. Miami held the regular-season advantage between these two teams securing an early win back in September. As they entered the crucial playoff clash, both teams boasted a 50% chance of advancing. Vegas sports books listed Miami as a narrow 1-point favorite, and the game lived up to the expectations, with the Inferno clinching a nail-biting 1-point victory. This triumph propelled Miami to the league championship for the third time in team history, underscoring their resilience and determination.

In the second game of the weekend, a compelling matchup unfolded as the second-seeded Chicago Slaughter hosted the surprising sixth-seeded Brooklyn Bolts. Chicago had asserted dominance in both regular-season meetings, securing victories by an average margin of 11 points. As they entered the playoffs, Chicago was favored by a substantial 17-point margin, marking the largest opening line of the postseason. However, the game took an unexpected turn as Brooklyn showcased their mettle, overcoming the odds to defeat the Slaughter convincingly with a final score of 129-108. This victory marked Brooklyn's second trip to the championship game in team history, illustrating their resilience and ability to rise to the occasion in critical playoff moments.

Big 12 Championship

The climax of the 2019 Big 12 season unfolded in the league championship on December 23, 2019, featuring an unexpected matchup between the sixth-seeded Brooklyn Bolts and the top-seeded Miami Inferno. Despite entering the game as the lower seed, Brooklyn surprisingly emerged as a formidable 23-point favorite, as per the odds makers' predictions. However, the Inferno defied the odds and secured a remarkable victory, defeating the Bolts with a final score of 129-112. This triumph marked Miami' third league championship in team history, underscoring their resilience and ability to perform under pressure.

The championship game loss concluded a rollercoaster season for the Brooklyn Bolts. Despite leading their division early in the year, they faced challenges towards the end of the season, narrowly securing a playoff spot as the sixth seed. Despite the ups and downs, Brooklyn defied expectations, making it to their second championship game in team history after taking the 2018 season off.

The victory in the championship game served as a testament to the impressive leadership of new GM Richard Head. Under his guidance, the Miami Inferno had a standout season, finishing with a league-best 10-3 record. A crucial 5-game win streak at the end of the season secured the division crown for the Inferno. While they faced a close call in Round 2, defeating the Los Angeles Wildcats by a single point, the Inferno ultimately took care of business in the championship game against Brooklyn, sealing a memorable year with the league title.

The culmination of the 2019 season saw Miami clinch their third division crown, solidifying their standing as a dominant force in the league. Meanwhile, Chicago and LA each secured their second division titles, underscoring their consistency and competitive prowess.

Third overall pick Christian McCaffrey's outstanding performance in the 2019 season earned him the prestigious title of league MVP. Scoring an impressive 471 points, McCaffrey played a pivotal role in leading the Brooklyn Bolts to the championship game. Despite a regular season record of 7-6, McCaffrey's postseason heroics showcased his ability to elevate his team when it mattered most.

The GM of the Year honor was bestowed upon the Miami Inferno' new General Manager, Richard Head. Guiding the Inferno to an impressive 10-3 record, Head's leadership proved instrumental in the team's success. This accolade marked his inaugural and singular achievement as the league's top-performing general manager.

Miami continued their dominance by securing their third conference and league championship titles. On the other hand, Brooklyn celebrated their second conference championship, highlighting their resilience and ability to thrive in postseason competition.