The Sooners and Cowboys are playing their final few games for postsea son position. College football writer George Schroeder breaks down the possibilities:
Advertisement
Cotton Bowl, Jan. 1, Dallas Big 12 No. 2 vs. SEC No. 2 The view: The OU-Texas A&M winner probably has the inside track, assuming the winner keeps winning. OSU has a (slim) shot at picking Cotton, but the Cowboys would have to win all their remaining games, then hope the bowl considered them more attractive than Nebraska or Missouri. Possible foes: Arkansas, LSU, Auburn, Tennessee. Chance of OU invitation: 40 percent. Chance of OSU invitation: 5 percent.
Gator Bowl, Jan. 1, Jacksonville, Fla.
Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame vs. ACC No. 3
The view: Louisville’s win over West Virginia muddied the Gator picture a bit. OU or Nebraska would be very attractive to the Gator Bowl execs, unless Notre Dame or West Virginia is available.
If OU wins out and Notre Dame and West Virginia are in BCS bowls, the Sooners might be headed to Florida. OSU isn’t on the Gator Bowl’s radar.
Possible foes: Georgia Tech, Clemson.
Chance of OU invitation: 20 percent.
Chance of OSU invitation: 0 percent.
Holiday Bowl, Dec. 28, San Diego
Big 12 No. 3 vs. Pac-10 No. 2
The view: The Sooners have almost no chance at returning to San Diego, just because they would be returning to San Diego.
The Holiday Bowl would much prefer a new team. OSU could get to San Diego by winning three of their remaining four games — unless the loss was to Texas A&M. Then, the head-to-head would probably give the nod to the Aggies. The Holiday is very unlikely to have either OU or OSU. Nebraska, Missouri or A&M is more likely. Possible foes: Oregon, USC, Cal.
Chance of OU invitation: 5 percent.
Chance of OSU invitation: 5 percent.
Alamo Bowl, Dec. 30, San Antonio
Big 12 No. 4/5 vs. Big Ten No. 4/5
The view: With two or three wins, OU might be headed to San Antonio. OSU would need two or three wins, too — including, probably, a win over OU. More likely? A&M or Missouri.
Possible foes: Penn State, Iowa, Indiana
Chance of OU invitation: 15 percent.
Chance of OSU invitation: 25 percent.
Sun Bowl, Dec. 29, El Paso, Texas
Big 12/Big East vs. Pac-10 No. 3
The view: The Sun Bowl will get a Big 12 team if the Gator Bowl does not. The Sun would love to have OU, but is unlikely to get the Sooners, who would likely be snapped up by a bowl higher in the pecking order.
OSU might be more attractive to the Sun than Texas Tech, which played in El Paso earlier this year.
Possible foes: Washington State.
Chance of an OU invitation: 5 percent.
Chance of an OSU invitation:
5 percent.
Insight Bowl, Dec. 29, Tempe, Ariz.
Big 12 No. 6 vs. Big Ten No. 6
The view: The Sooners would probably only be available if they lost their last four games. OSU would be attractive, as well, but would need to win two games and it would depend on what other teams were available. The Cowboys would probably be favored ahead of a North Division team like Kansas State, which has been to Tempe several times. Possible foes: Indiana, Purdue, Michigan State. Chance of an OU invitation: 10 percent.
Chance of an OSU invitation:
15 percent.
Independence Bowl, Dec. 27, Shreveport, La. Big 12 No. 7/8 vs. SEC No. 8 The view: The Independence would jump at the chance to grab OU or OSU. The Sooners would have to lose out, and even then, probably would not be available. OSU would be available if the Cowboys lost to Texas and beat either Baylor or Texas Tech (or possibly, if they beat both Baylor and Tech). Possible foes: Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina. Chance of OU invitation: 5 percent. Chance of OSU invitation: 35 percent.
Texas Bowl, Dec. 28 Big 12 vs. Big East The view: Even if OU loses out, the Sooners wouldn’t fall to the Texas Bowl. OSU could get to the Texas Bowl at 6-6, or if the Independence Bowl selects another team. A trip to Houston would have some sizzle, considering Bobby Reid and the Cowboys’ other Houstonians.
Possible foes: Rutgers.
Chance of OU invitation: 0 percent
Chance of OSU invitation: 10 percent
Note: The Gator Bowl must pick a Big 12 team twice in the next four years, and a Big East team once. If Notre Dame is available, the Gator Bowl can pick the Irish once.
If the Big 12 has just one BCS team, the Gator Bowl can pick ahead of the Cotton Bowl.
If the Big 12 has two BCS teams, the Gator picks ahead of the Holiday Bowl — although in either case, the picks likely would be a collaboration of the three bowls.
In any year, OU, Nebraska and Texas are considered the most attractive Big 12 teams to the Gator Bowl.
In any year the Gator does not choose a Big 12 team, the Sun Bowl will get a Big 12 team. The Sun’s pick comes after the Alamo Bowl, but ahead of the Insight, Independence and Texas bowls.
Sooners have turned into what they had planned 11/04/2006 COLLEGE STATION, Texas — November arrives for Oklahoma football 2006, and to borrow a phrase from Arizona Cardinal mastermind Dennis Green, the Sooners...
OSU's Reid: Vince Young 2.0? 11/04/2006
If OSU’s Reid continues to improve, he could end up as good as Longhorn legend
STILLWATER — The quarterback’s scramble has become part...
Bowl picture still cloudy for OU, OSU 11/04/2006
The college football nation tuned in Thursday to the rare spectacle of two Big East teams with national title hopes. Whether they knew...
