Big 12 Football: Texas Bowl Preview - No. 22 Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
It's the holiday season! That means it is college football bowl season! With a plethora of bowl games underway, let's take a look at this year's Texas Bowl between No. 22 Oklahoma State and Texas A&M. On Wednesday, Dec. 27, the Cowboys and Aggies will battle it out at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. Head coach Mike Gundy and the Oklahoma State Cowboys will look to grab their first bowl victory since their win in the 2022 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame.
Mike Gundy walks to the stadium before a Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.
The Cowboys had a tremendous season going 9-4. After going 7-2 in conference play, Oklahoma State punched their ticket to the Big 12 Championship game against the Texas Longhorns.
After starting the season 2-0 with victories against Central Arkansas and Arizona State, the Cowboys lost their next two against South Alabama and Iowa State. This wake-up call would kickstart the Cowboys to a five-game winning streak, taking care of Kansas State, Kansas, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Oklahoma.
In their win over the Sooners, quarterback Alan Bowman threw for 334 yards while Ollie Gordon racked 140 yards on the ground and punched it in for two touchdowns. Gordon broke out for an incredible sophomore season with the Cowboys. The running back registered 1,940 all-purpose yards and 21 total touchdowns this season. He had a monstrous 1,614 rushing yards and 20 rushing touchdowns, averaging 124.2 rushing yards per game.
Oklahoma State Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon II (0) dives for a touchdown during a Bedlam college football game between the Oklahoma State University Cowboys (OSU) and the University of Oklahoma Sooners (OU) at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.
Unfortunately for the Cowboys, their tremendous season was soured after their 49-21 loss to the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship game. Wanting to get rid of the bad taste in their mouths, their preparation for the Aggies has been all but traditional.
Despite a record of 7-5, Texas A&M went a mere 4-4 in the SEC West. The Aggies were successful at home, winning six of seven, but struggled severely, losing each of their four road games. As a result, A&M fired head coach Jimbo Fisher after six seasons with the Aggies. In addition, offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino left the program for a job with the Arkansas Razorbacks, while interim head coach Elijah Robinson took the role of defensive coordinator for Syracuse.
Nov 11, 2023; College Station, Texas, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jimbo Fisher reacts to a call during the second quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports
Yes, the Aggies did struggle. But three of their four conference losses were by one score. That includes their 26-20 loss against Alabama, 20-13 loss to Tennessee, and 38-35 loss to Ole Miss.
While Oklahoma State has a clear upper hand, these absences make the preparation untraditional. Not to mention, a plethora of Aggie players have entered the transfer portal or declared for the NFL Draft.
In preparation for Texas A&M, OSU quarterback Bowman said, "You don't know who's gonna be playing… It's gonna be in and out. There'll be some guys playing that we haven't seen as much." While the Aggies are in a transition period, to say the least, it makes this such a unique build-up to the Texas Bowl. They have the chance to shock Gundy and the Cowboys, but they go into Houston fighting an uphill battle.
Tune in on ESPN at 8 pm (CT) to watch the Texas A&M Aggies play the No. 22 Oklahoma State Cowboys in the 2023 Texas Bowl at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX.
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