Listen to the Texas Bowl on CTB Sports 1390,1640 am, The pregame starts at 6:00 pm
The Oklahoma State Cowboys had a phenomenal year finishing the season as the Big 12 runner-ups despite low expectations and a lackluster start to the season. As a reward, Oklahoma State will be taking on their old Big 12 South rivals the Texas A&M Aggies.
The Aggies had a disappointing year that led to them giving their head coach Jimbo Fisher the biggest contract buyout in college sports history. However, they still managed to finish the year with a respectable 7-5 record and become bowl-eligible.
Texas A&M will be fired up to salvage a disappointing season and beat up an old foe in the process. Back when the Aggies were in the Big 12 they played Oklahoma State every year they were a part of the conference and they led the series 18-10. Texas A&M also won the last meeting between the 2 squads winning 24-21 in a 2019 matchup.
Coming into the game at 9-4 the Cowboys are expected to be the favorite, however, that could change depending on whether or not star running back Ollie Gordon II plays in the game. Rumors have abounded that Gordon is considering jumping into the transfer portal with even Gordon himself saying that he has future announcements on his future planned.
Texas A&M finished out the year with a 2-2 record as their defense struggled to stop some of the SEC’s best offenses, losing to the LSU Tigers and Ole Miss 38-35 and 42-30 respectively. However, the Aggies do have a dangerous offense capable of putting up points despite a revolving door of Quarterbacks.
Lately, the guy getting the nod has been Jaylen Henderson who has 704 yards passing, 6 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Oklahoma State is no stranger to a Quarterback carousel, they began the year rotating between the 3 quarterbacks Alan Bowman, Garret Rangel, and Gunnar Gundy.
The offense struggled to move the ball and lacked stability and a clear leader as the Cowboys suffered embarrassing losses to South Alabama and Iowa State who was considered one of the worst teams in the Big 12 at the time after losing several players to a gambling scandal.
However the game against the Cyclones was the 1st time Bowman played the entire game at QB, he played well and nearly led his team to victory. In hindsight the Cyclones were much better than advertised.
With Bowman at the helm and Ollie Gordon II starting to play like the best running back in college football. The cowboys were off to the races and rattled off huge victories over Kansas State, Kansas, and even their hated rivals the Oklahoma Sooners.
The Cowboys strong play vaulted them to the Big 12 Championship game and a matchup with the Texas Longhorns. Alan Bowman turned in a great year throwing for 3058 yards 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Brennan Presley led the way in receiving for the Cowboys having 85 receptions for 839 yards receiving.
They were also led by Ollie Gordon II who had an incredible season with 1614 yards rushing the football, while also having 20 touchdowns. Neither team had the strongest defense this past season so expect this one to be a shootout.
I expect it to be pistols firing with the Cowboys pulling off the victory 40-35 in exciting action.
