BOWLING OPTIONS
With three games left, the Cowboys have a lot of wiggle room left in their bowl future
STILLWATER — Three weeks ago, bowl eligibility was beginning to look more like a longshot than a certainty for Oklahoma State.
But the Cowboys have revived their season and extended their streak of bowl seasons to 14.
With three games remaining — vs. Kansas, at West Virginia and vs. Oklahoma — left on the schedule after this week's open date, OSU has a lot of wiggle room left in its bowl future.
The Big 12 Conference is directly tied into seven bowl games. Let's take a look at the scenarios facing the Pokes and the potential paths to each of the seven games:
Sugar Bowl
Game details: 7:45 p.m. Jan. 1, New Orleans
Opponent: SEC
OSU's path: Mathematically, OSU isn't out of the running for this, but a lot would have to happen. First, OSU would need to win out. Second, Baylor would need to win out and make it into the College Football Playoff. And the Cowboys still would need some additional help in terms of losses by teams ahead of them in the Big 12 standings.
Alamo Bowl Game details: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 31, San Antonio Opponent: Pac-12
OSU's path: Right now, the odds are stacked against the Big 12 getting a team into the playoff, which would make this the likely slot for the loser of the conference title game. Again, OSU needs to win out to get here.
Camping World Bowl Game details: 11 a.m. Dec. 28, Orlando
Opponent: ACC
OSU's path: Now we're getting into the realm of more likely landing spots for the Cowboys. But still, programs such as Kansas State, Texas or Iowa State could be attractive draws. An 8-4 OSU team could at least be in the mix here.
Texas Bowl
Game details: 5:45 p.m. Dec. 27, Houston Opponent: SEC
OSU's path: The majority of credible national bowl projections have the Cowboys heading here, which most likely requires two more wins. Opponents such as
Texas A&M, Mississippi State and Kentucky could be in the running, though some projections suggest the SEC might not be able to fill the spot, leaving it open .
Liberty Bowl
Game details: 2:45 p.m. Dec. 31, Memphis Opponent: SEC
OSU's path: If they finish 8-4 or 7-5, the Cowboys would likely be on the table when the Liberty Bowl makes its pick. But a return trip to Memphis, where OSU beat Missouri last December, seems unlikely. The Liberty Bowl folks would probably prefer some new blood.
Cheez-It Bowl
Game details: 9:15 p.m. Dec. 27, Phoenix Opponent: Pac-12
OSU's path: This is another popular landing spot for the Pokes, per national prognostications. If they get to 8-4, they might not fall this far in the pecking order, but any other result could land the Cowboys in the desert.
First Responder Bowl Game details: 11:30 a.m. Dec. 30, Dallas
Opponent: AAC
OSU's path: The Big 12 seems likely to have only seven bowl-eligible teams, so for OSU to fall to the bottom rung, it probably would have to lose out. Additionally, the Big 12 would have to miss out on the College Football Playoff. If the Big 12 gets in the playoff, the conference likely wouldn't have enough bowl teams to fill this spot.