It's BCS or Cotton for Sooners
Bowl selection
OSU appears headed to Independence Bowl

The Big 12 announced Wednesday the Cotton Bowl will take the loser of the Big 12 championship game — either OU or Nebraska — and the Holiday Bowl has chosen Texas A&M.

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Meanwhile, the Gator Bowl, which had leaned heavily toward OU earlier, will wait until Sunday to decide whether to take Texas or a Big East team (either Louisville or West Virginia).

Although the rest of the Big 12 bowl lineup hasn't been set, Oklahoma State still appears to be headed to the Independence Bowl, but there's a chance the Cowboys could drop to the Texas Bowl.

If the Gator Bowl doesn't take Texas, the Longhorns would slip all the way to the Alamo Bowl.

OU had been on the Gator Bowl's wish list, but a source said the bowl was concerned about fan support and television ratings.

The likely ACC entry for the Gator is Georgia Tech or Wake Forest. The Gator Bowl would rather have Clemson, with its large, traveling fan base, but might not get the Tigers. As defending national champion, Texas might bring better TV ratings than OU. However, Big East teams West Virginia or Louisville might bring decent TV ratings and perhaps more fans.

Cotton Bowl executive director Rick Baker said OU or Nebraska, matched against Arkansas, Auburn or LSU, would be appealing.

"We would have great interest in the team that doesn't win the (Big 12) championship game," Baker said. "Both OU and Nebraska have had special years in their own way."

What the shuffle at the top of the Big 12's bowl hierarchy might mean for OSU wasn't certain. Independence Bowl executive director Missy Setters said OSU, Missouri, Kansas State and Texas Tech remained options.

"We're in a holding pattern depending on the Gator Bowl," Setters said.

A bowl source said the Independence Bowl still appeared likely to take the Cowboys, regardless of the other options. If it comes down to OSU and Kansas State, the Cowboys' membership in the Big 12 South would probably tip things in OSU's favor.

The Independence Bowl has not had a Big 12 South team since 2000. Setters said that would not be a determining factor in a decision, but it would "be at the forefront" of the deliberations.

Speculation has had the Alamo Bowl flirting with Kansas State, but if Texas landed in San Antonio, the Wildcats would slide a couple notches down the bowl ladder.