A&M may head to Orlando
10th-ranked Aggies have caught the attention of Capital One Bowl officials.
While Big 12 teams’ bowl options remained wide open just a few days before Selection Sunday, speculation that Texas A&M will play on New Year’s Day in the Capital One Bowl in Orlando, Fla., rather than the Cotton Bowl, gained steam on Thursday.
The 10th-ranked Aggies (10-2) have everything that appeals to the Cap One: Heisman Trophy favorite Johnny Manziel, a five-game winning streak and a large and fired-up fan base eager to travel to a new destination.
“Texas A&M’s a very impressive team, and they have definitely caught the eye of our selection committee,” Capital One Bowl CEO Steve Hogan told the American-Statesman. “They’ve got potentially the most dynamic player in the country and finished hot, and their name has come up quite a bit.
“The Aggie fans have been hitting us pretty hard on social media, as well, so we can feel the excitement around the program right now.”
The Capital One selects the first SEC team after the BCS bowls are filled out. The Cotton has the next SEC choice. The winner of Saturday’s SEC championship game between No. 2 Alabama and No. 3 Georgia will join No. 5 Florida in the BCS.
“We’ve got four amazing options from the SEC: the title-game runner-up, LSU, South Carolina and A&M,” Hogan said. “We’re going to end up with an elite team.”
The Aggies prefer the Capital One, according to bowl insiders.
“The hottest team around is A&M. They’re in great demand,” a Big 12-affiliated bowl officialsaid. “If you’re A&M, why wouldn’t you want to go to Orlando and Disney World? It’s a great trip, and the best chance for A&M to say, ‘Heck, check out our 20,000 fans.’
“A&M’s been to the Cotton a lot.”
No. 21 Michigan (84) is the likely Cap One choice from the Big Ten, which could pair Manziel vs. Denard Robinson. Hogan added that No. 14 Nebraska (10-2), with Taylor Martinez, has strong appeal if it drops a close Big Ten title game.
If the Capital One grabs “Johnny Football,” the Cotton would snatch up No. 9 LSU (10-2), which is certainly what the Tigers want.
“That’d be a great place for us,” coach Les Miles said. “(Cowboys Stadium) is the style of venue our team enjoys. LSU faithful would help fill that place up.”
If No. 23 Texas (8-3) plays well against No. 7 Kansas State (10-1), an LSU-Texas pairing is the Cotton’s best option.
If the Big 12 earns only one BCS bid, K-State or No. 12 Oklahoma (9-2) will head for the Cotton and Texas will land in the Alamo or Buffalo Wild Wings (Tempe, Ariz.).
Oklahoma State is the favorite for the Alamo — San Antonio officials point out the Cowboys are the only out-of-state team to sell out that bowl. Oregon State or UCLA should be the Pac-12 opponent, unless Stanford loses the Pac-12 title game and is available.
The Buffalo Wild Wings has the No. 4 Big 12 pick and likes TCU (7-4) if it’s available.
The Holiday Bowl, with the next Big 12 choice, appears torn between having Texas Tech or West Virginia to play UCLA or Oregon State.
“There’s star power for sure there with Geno Smith, Tavon Austin
Notre Dame vs. Alabama or Georgia
Kansas State vs. Oregon
Oklahoma vs. Florida
Nebraska vs. Stanford
Florida State vs. Rutgers or louisville Texas vs. lSU Oklahoma State vs. Oregon State TCU vs. Michigan State
Texas Tech vs.
UClA Baylor vs. Minnesota
West Virginia vs. Syracuse
iowa State vs. Purdue and West Virginia,” said Mark Neville, the Holiday Bowl’s director of communications. “They’ve never been here before, and it’s always appealing to have new teams.
“Texas Tech had a great trip here a few years back, and we really enjoyed having them. We’re big Red Raider fans out here.”
Houston’s Meineke Car Care Bowl, which picks the sixth Big 12 team, likes Baylor, especially if the Bears beat Oklahoma State, but it could go in any number of directions.
New York City’s Pinstripe Bowl and the Heart of Dallas Bowl round out the Big 12 lineup. The Yankee Stadium game would love an old-school Big East pairing of West Virginia vs. Syracuse. Iowa State will likely wind up in one of those two games.