2022 TCU-Kansas State Big 12 Conference Championship Game Photos

Photos by Tom C. "Midnite"Burke

(photos above and below) Highway signage in North Texas supported the Horned Frogs leading up to the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game between #3 TCU and #10 Kansas State.

(photos above and below) AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, was the site for the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game between TCU and Kansas State on Saturday, December 3. It was this season's only conference championship game to feature a top 10 match-up. Kansas State won, 31-28, in overtime. Announced attendance was 69,335, which was the largest crowd for the Big 12 Conference Championship Game since 2018 and the second-highest attendance of all 2022 FBS championship games.

Prior to kickoff of the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game between TCU and Kansas State, TVs in AT&T Stadium were tuned to the broadcast of the United States men's soccer team World Cup game against the Netherlands. The U.S. lost the game, 3-1, and was eliminated from the tournament.

(photos above and below) TCU's Super Frog and Kansas State's Willie Wildcat pose for the cameras.

TCU cheerleaders and Super Frog pose for pictures.

(photos above and below) The TCU marching band!

Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders? No, the TCU Showgirls!

(photos above and below) The Kansas State marching band!

TCU Athletics Director Jeremiah Donati (left) visits with fans/guests on the TCU sideline prior to kickoff of the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game between TCU and Kansas State.

TCU quarterback Max Duggan visits with referee Kevin Mar (left) and center-judge Stacy Hardin prior to kickoff of the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game. Two days after the game, Duggan was named one of four finalists for the 2022 Heisman Trophy. Duggan finished second in the voting to the winner, Caleb Williams of USC. Duggan is TCU's first Heisman finalist since Pro Football Hall of Famer and TCU Board member LaDanian Tomlinson, in 2000. Davey O'Brien won TCU's lone Heisman Trophy in 1938. Days earlier, Duggan, who is the Associate Press Offensive Player of the Year, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and an unanimous First-Team All-Big 12 selection, had been announced as the winner of the 2022 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and recipient of the 2022 Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. In addition to being a Heisman finalist, Duggan also was named a finalist for the Manning Award, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Prior to kickoff of the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship game, first-year TCU head coach Sonny Dykes visits with several members of the officiating crew, including line judge Darren Deckard (second from left), side judge Jason Ledet (second from right) and head linesman Andy Warner (right), During the week following the game, Dykes was named the Walter Camp Coach of the Year Award, the Associated Press Coach of the Year, Dave Campbell's Texas Football Coach of the Year Award, and the Home Depot National Coach of the Year Award. He is a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. In addition, Dykes received an extension of a year on his TCU contract and a raise. The extension takes his contract through 2028. The amount of the raise was not communicated, but reportedly Dykes will be one of the highest paid head football coaches in the Big 12.

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes (left) and offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Garrett Riley watch TCU players go through pre-game warmups prior to the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.  During the week following the game, Riley was named the recipient of the 2022 Broyles Award, given annually to college football's top assistant coach. He becomes TCU's first-ever recipient of the award. In addition to directing one of the nation's top offensive attacks and helping lead the Horned Frogs to their first College Football Playoff appearance in 2022, Riley coached quarterback Max Duggan into being a Heisman Trophy Finalist. Riley is the younger brother of first-year USC head coach Lincoln Riley, who formerly was the head coach of the Oklahoma Sooners. Lincoln won the Broyles Award in 2015, when he was offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for the Sooners.

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes (left) visits with ABC's Holly Rowe and Chris Fowler (right). ABC broadcast the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game. Viewership of the game peaked at 12.7 million people, the most of any conference championships across all channels. It was the most-watched Big 12 Conference Championship game since 2018 (Oklahoma vs. Texas), and viewership was up 15 percent over the 2021 game, which featured Baylor and Oklahoma State.

Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman (center) visits with ABC's Holly Rowe and Chris Fowler (right). ABC broadcast the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

The officiating team for the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game was led by referee Kevin Mar (center, white cap) and included Marlo Fitzgerald, Andy Warner, Dareen Deckard, Gabe DeLeon, Jason Ledet, Donnie Aultman, Stacy Hardin and Kevin Boitman. The replay official was Kevin Van Vark.

TCU head coach Sonny Dykes (right) and Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman visit prior to kickoff of the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

Grammy Award-winning, multi-platinum singer, songwriter and actress Ashanti performed the National Anthem at the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

TCU's captains for the conference championship game were (from left to right) offensive lineman Steve Avila (#79), linebacker Dee Winters (#13), defensive lineman Dylan Horton (#98) and wide receiver Quentin Johnston (#1). Avila has been named a Walter Camp Football Foundation First-Team All-American. Walter Camp is the nation's oldest All-America team. Avila and Horton have accepted invitations to play in the 2023 Senior Bowl. Johnston was a finalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, presented to the top collegiate receiver.

Kansas State's captains for the conference championship game were (from left to right) running back Deuce Vaughn (#22), offensive lineman Cooper Beebe (#50), nose guard Eli Huggins (#92) and quarterback Adrian Martinez (#9), who did not play in the game because of injury.

Unified World Welterweight Boxing Champion Errol Spence, Jr. (right), a native of Dallas, took part in the coin toss proceedings at the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game. 

(photos above and below) Here come the Horned Frogs!

(photos above and below) Here come the Wildcats!

(photos above and below) TCU quarterback Max Duggan (#15), exhausted from leading TCU on a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that brought TCU to within a two-point conversion (28-26) of tying Kansas State and perhaps forcing overtime, catches his breath in the end zone after an eight-yard touchdown run by him climaxed the drive. TCU offensive lineman Wes Harris (#78) and receiver/returner Derius Davis (#11) are coming to Duggan's aid. The Horned Frogs were successful on the two-point conversion attempt on a pass from Duggan to tight end Jared Wiley (#19), to tie the score, 28-28. Neither team scored in the final 1:51 of regulation. Kansas State eventually won, 31-28, with a field goal in the overtime period. The TCU scoring drive that led to the tied score in overtime covered 80 yards, plus an additional 15 yards for a pass interference penalty, for a total of 95 yards. Duggan put the team on his back and gave a heroic effort on the drive. He rushed for all of the 95 yards. His runs included a 19-yarder on fourth down, and a 40-yarder that set up the eight-yard touchdown run by him.

(photos above and below) Against Kansas State in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game, TCU quarterback Max Duggan (#15) made his 41st career start and became the first player with 250 yards passing and 100 rushing in a conference championship game since Deshaun Watson in the 2015 ACC title game. Duggan completed 18-of-36 passes for 251 yards and a touchdown. He threw one interception. Duggan's touchdown pass gave him 30 on the season, third-most at TCU behind only Trevone Boykin (33, 2014; 31, 2015). Duggan’s passing stats for the regular season: 3,321 passing yards, 30 touchdowns, and four interceptions. Two days after the conference championship game, Duggan was named one of four finalists for the 2022 Heisman Trophy. He finished second in the voting to winner Caleb Williams of USC. Duggan is TCU's first Heisman finalist since Pro Football Hall of Famer and TCU Board member LaDanian Tomlinson, in 2000. Davey O'Brien won TCU's lone Heisman Trophy in 1938. Earlier, Duggan, who is the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year and an unanimous First-Team All-Big 12 selection, had been announced as the winner of the 2022 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. Watch the award ceremony: here. He also won the Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award. He was a finalist for the Manning Award, and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

(photos above and below) Against Kansas State, TCU quarterback Max Duggan rushed 15 times for a team-best 110 yards and a touchdown. Along with his passing accomplishments, he accounted for 361 total yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats. He became the first player with 250 yards passing and 100 rushing in a conference championship game since Deshaun Watson in the 2015 ACC title game. For the season, Duggan has rushed for a net 394 yards and five touchdowns.

(photos above and below) TCU running back Kendre Miller (#33) rushed for 82 yards on 17 carries against Kansas State in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship game. Miller was a semifinalist for the 2022 Doak Walker Award, given to the nation's top collegiate running back.

(photos above and below) TCU running back Kendre Miller scored on a six-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that enabled TCU to take a 21-17 lead over Kansas State. The touchdown run gave Miller a rushing score in all 13 games this season, breaking the TCU record for the longest streak to begin a season. Pro Football Hall of Famer and TCU Board of Trustees member LaDainian Tomlinson ran for a touchdown in all 12 games in 2000. Including last season, Miller has rushed for a touchdown in 14 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the nation and ranks second all-time at TCU, behind only Tomlinson (15, 1999-00). Miller has a team-best 17 rushing touchdowns this season, fourth-most in a season at TCU. Miller's 26 career rushing touchdowns rank eighth in TCU history.

TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston (#1) was the Frogs' leading receiver against cornerback Julius Brents (#23) and his fellow Kansas State defenders in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game. Johnston, who is projected to be a first-round selection in the 2023 National Football League Draft, caught four passes for 139 yards, including a long reception of 53 yards. This was Johnston's third 100-yard receiving game of the season and eighth of his career. Johnston was a semifinalist for the Fred Biletnikoff Award, presented annually to collegiate football's top receiver

(photos above and below) When TCU wide receiver Quention Johnston (#1) wasn't catching passes, he was drawing pass interference penalties against Wildcats defenders, including cornerback Julius Brents (#23) and Keenan Garber (#1).

(photos above and below) TCU wide receiver Taye Barber (#4) caught three passes for 26 yards against linebacker Austin Moore and the Kansas State defense. Barber has 156 receptions in his career, the most among current Horned Frogs. In the first quarter of the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game, Barber caught a one-yard touchdown pass from TCU quarterback Max Duggan to enable the Frogs to jump out to a 7-0 lead. The touchdown was Barber's fourth receiving touchdown of the season and 10th in his career.

(photos above and below) Against the Kansas State defense, including defensive end Brendan Mott (#38) and safety Drake Cheatum (#21), TCU running back Emari Demercado ran four times for 27 yards. For the regular season, Demercado rushed for 472 yards and five touchdowns.

(photos above and below) In the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game, TCU receiver/returner Derius Davis (#11) caught two passes for 25 yards. He also gained 68 yards on three kickoff returns. Davis has accepted an invitation to play in the 2023 Senior Bowl.

TCU wide receiver Jordan Hudson (#7) had a long pass reception nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty called against him as he was being defended by Kansas State cornerback Omar Daniels (#4). The penalty was one of several questionable calls made against the Frogs by the officiating crew.

(photos above and below) Against Kansas State, TCU tight end Jared Wiley (#19) caught four passes for 28 yards, including a pass from TCU quarterback Max Duggan that converted a two-point conversion attempt in the fourth quarter and tied the score at 28-28.

(photos above and below) TCU kicker Griffin Kell (#39) kicked two 42-yard field goals against Kansas State in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game. His first field goal came just before halftime and cut K-State's lead over the Frogs to 14-10. Kell's second field goal came in the fourth quarter and cut the Wildcats' lead to 28-20. Kell is 16-of-18 on the season and 45-of-57 in his career.

In the first quarter of the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game against Kansas State, TCU kicker Griffin Kell missed a 55-yard field goal. At the end of regulation, the Frogs and Wildcats were tied, 28-28. In overtime, TCU lost by a field goal, 31-28. In TCU's regular-season finale, Kell kicked a 54-yard field goal, which is the fifth-longest in TCU history. Against Baylor, Kell kicked a game-winning field goal as time expired. Kell earned All-Big 12 recognition as the place-kicker on the conference's first-team offensive unit.

(photos above and below) Led by TCU defensive coordinator Joe Gillespie, TCU's defense in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game held Kansas State to 28 points, the same number of points it scored in TCU's 38-28 regular-season win over the Wildcats. K-State won the championship game with a field goal in overtime. The Frogs allowed Kansas State to accumulate 404 total yards of offense; 205 rushing yards and 199 passing yards. Within Gillespie's defense, TCU cornerback Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson earned the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best collegiate defensive back.

(photos above and below) TCU defensive lineman Dylan Horton (#98) sacks Kansas State quarterback Will Howard (#18), with additional defensive pressure applied by TCU linebacker Shadrach Banks (#19). Horton had two sacks to give him 6.5 sacks on the season, second on the team. Banks had a career-high and team-best 10 tackles, including one tackle for loss.

TCU defensive lineman Dylan Horton (#98) celebrates his second sack of Kansas State quarterback Will Howard in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

TCU safety Bud Clark (#26) tackles Kansas State wide receiver Phillip Brooks (#8). Clark had eight tackles in the game, giving him a career high for the second consecutive game. He had six stops against Iowa State.

TCU safety Bud Clark (#26) celebrates a Kansas State incomplete pass that was caused by the defense provided by TCU cornerback Josh Newton(#24) and TCU safety Mark Perry (#3).

TCU safety Millard Bradford (#28) celebrates a Kansas State incomplete pass that was caused by the defense of TCU cornerback Josh Newton (#24) on K-State wide receiver Malik Knowles (#4). In the championship game, Bradford had seven tackles, tying his season high.

TCU safety Mark Perry (#3) defends a pass that was intended for Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (#22).

TCU safety Mark Perry (#3) defends a pass intended for Kansas State wide receiver Kade Warner (#85).

TCU linebacker Dee Winters (#13) teams with defensive lineman Caleb Fox (#90) to stop Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (#22). Winters had eight tackles in the championship game.

TCU linebacker Dee Winters (#13), with additional defensive pressure being applied by TCU linebacker Jamoi Hodge (#6), prepares to sack Kansas State quarterback Will Howard (#18). Winters has a team-best 7.5 sacks on the season.

TCU defensive lineman Caleb Fox (#90) and other TCU defenders celebrate tackling Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (#22) for a loss on a fourth-and-one play in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

(photos above and below) Against TCU in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game, Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (#22) ran 26 times for 130 yards. Vaughn was named the game's Most Valuable Player.

In addition to his rushing yards, Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (#22) had 30 receiving yards on two catches against TCU's defense, including safety Mark Perry (#3) and linebacker Dee Winters (#13).

(photos above and below) Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (#22) celebrates scoring a touchdown on a 44-yard run in the fourth quarter that resulted in K-State increasing its lead over the Horned Frogs to 28-17.

(photos above and below) Kansas State quarterback Will Howard (#18) completed 18-of-32 passes for 199 yards against the Horned Frogs in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game. He threw two touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Kansas State quarterback Will Howard (#18) ran eight times for 25 yards, but he was sacked three times by the TCU defense, so he ended up with minus-3 net rushing yards.

(photos above and below) Kansas State quarterback Will Howard (#18) scored on a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter that enabled the Wildcats to take a 14-7 lead over TCU in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

(photos above and below) Kansas State running back D. J. Giddens (#31) rushed six times for 29 yards against TCU in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

Kansas State wide receive Malik Knowles (#4) was held to one catch for 40 yards by TCU's defenders, including safety Mark Perry (#3). Knowles also had 48 rushing yards and two carries and 28 yards on a kickoff return, for a total of 116 all-purpose yards.

(photos above and below) Kansas State wide receiver Phillip Brooks (#8) had 150 all-purpose yards against TCU in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game. Brooks caught six passes for 48 yards, ran one time for four yards, and had 98 yards on kickoff and punt returns.

(photos above and below) Kansas State wide receiver R.J. Garcia II (#3), with the help of Wildcats tight end Ben Sinnott (#34), caught a 25-yard touchdown pass against TCU safety Bud Clark (#26) in the third quarter of the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game. Garcia's touchdown enabled K-State to take a 21-10 lead over the Horned Frogs.

Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott (#34) caught two passes for 32 yards against TCU safety Bud Clark (#26) and his TCU defensive teammates in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

(photos above and below) TCU cornerback Josh Newton (#24) and TCU safety Mark Perry #3) can't prevent Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott (#34) from scoring K-State's first touchdown on a six yard pass play in the first quarter of the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game. Sinnott's touchdown enable the Wildcats to tie the game at 7-7.

In the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship game, Kansas State's defense, led by defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah (#91), who is the 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, held TCU to 28 points, 10 less points than the Horned Frogs scored in their 38-28 victory over the Wildcats during the regular season. In the championship game, Anudike-Uzomah had five tackles, including a sack and a tackle for loss.

Kansas State defensive back Julius Brents (#23) intercepts in the end zone a pass from TCU quarterback Max Duggan that was intended for TCU wide receiver Jordan Hudson (#7).

Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (#10) and safety Drake Cheatum (#21) prevent TCU wide receiver Savion Williams (#18) from making a reception in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

Kansas State cornerback Jacob Parrish (#10) and safety V.J. Payne (#19) prevent TCU wide receiver Taye Barber (#4) from making a reception in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

Kansas State cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe (#25) and safety Josh Hayes (#1) prevent TCU wide receiver Savion Williams (#18) from making a touchdown reception in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

Kansas State's defense prevents TCU wide receiver Savion Williams (#18) from making a touchdown reception in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

(photos above and below) Kansas State cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe (#25) prevents a touchdown reception by TCU wide receiver Jordan Hudson (#7) in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

In the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game, Kansas State defenders forced TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston (#1) to fumble after a long pass reception. The football was recovered by K-State linebacker Austin Moore (#41).

(photos above and below) Three of the biggest plays made by the Kansas State defense came in overtime. On the opening possession of overtime, on a third down play, the Wildcats stopped TCU quarterback Max Duggan at about the six-inch line on a second-down run. The Frogs failed to score when running back Kendre Miller was stopped short of the goal line on two straight runs up the middle. TCU turned the ball over on downs.

On Kansas State's sixth play of overtime in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Game, Wildcats kicker Ty Zentner (#8) kicked a game-winning 31-yard field goal. K-State defeated TCU 31-28.

(photos above and below) After Kansas State kicker Ty Zentner (#8) kicked a game-winning field goal, K-State players began celebrating a Big 12 Conference championship.

Kansas State players celebrate winning the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman (left) and TCU head coach Sonny Dykes congratulate one another after Kansas State defeated the Horned Frogs, 31-28, in the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

ABC's Holly Rowe interviews Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn (#22, left), who was named Most Valuable Player of the 2022 Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game.

Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark (second from right) waits to receive the Big 12 Conference Championship trophy to present to Chris Klieman (right), head coach of Kansas State, the 2022 Big 12 Conference champion.

(photos above and below) A despondent TCU quarterback Max Duggan walks off the field at AT&T Stadium after he and his fellow Horned Frogs lost the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Conference Championship Game, 31-28, to Kansas State. Duggan said, "I wanted this one bad. I’m devastated about not bringing the title home to Fort Worth and TCU," said Duggan after the loss to Kansas State. "There’s nothing more we wanted for each other and this school and we fell short. We’re sorry for that." Watch Duggan's emotional post-game press conference: here