Big 12 Update: Bowl Destinations for Record-Tying Nine Teams

Time for conference pride to kick in, if that even exists anymore.

Bowl destinations were announced throughout the day on Sunday, with the Big 12 earning a record-tying nine bowl berths. The Big 12 teams going bowling are Oklahoma State, Texas, UCF, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Texas Tech and West Virginia. The nine programs making a bowl game was the most since 2012, however, the conference had only 10 teams that year, compared t0 14 this season.

Here is each Big 12 team’s bowl destination and matchup.

No. 3 Texas vs. No. 2 Washington | CFP Semifinal at Allstate Sugar Bowl | 7:45 p.m. Jan. 1 | New Orleans

This is the marque matchup of the Big 12 postseason slate.

Texas gave the Big 12 back-to-back seasons with a representative in the College Football Playoff after winning the Big 12 title in its last season in the conference before joining the SEC. TCU made the CFP final last season.

The Longhorns will take on Washington for a chance to play in the CFP final. The other semifinal is No. 1 Michigan and No. 4 Alabama in the Rose Bowl.

Texas will enter the semifinal game at 12-1, coming off a 49-21 rout of OSU in the Big 12 Championship on Saturday. The Longhorns’ only loss was to OU, and they have a win over fellow semifinalist Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Washington is 13-0 and Pac-12 champion after beating Oregon for the second time Friday night. The Huskies will also be representing their current conference for the last time, leaving the Pac-12 for the Big Ten at the end of the academic year.

Texas starts as a 4-point favorite to make the national title game in Houston.

Texas Tech vs. California | Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl | 8:15 p.m. Dec. 16 | Shreveport, Louisiana 

Another Big 12-Pac-12 showdown in the Bayou State.

Both of these teams just eked into a bowl game at 6-6. Despite the same record, Tech is an early 3-point favorite.

The Red Raiders were thumped by Texas 57-7 in their last outing on Black Friday after winning three straight to reach bowl eligibility. Cal finished its regular season with three straight wins after losing to Oregon 63-19.

UCF vs. Georgia Tech | Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl | 5:30 p.m. Dec. 22 | Tampa, Florida

Another 6-6 matchup, as UCF was the only Big 12 newcomer to reach bowl eligibility.

The Knights won three of their last four games, including a 45-3 win over OSU in Orlando. The only loss was to Texas Tech in Lubbock, 24-23.

Georgia Tech put up a fight against then-No. 1 Georgia in its last showing but ultimately lost 31-23. The Yellow Jackets are better than their record, with two then-ranked wins over Miami and North Carolina, and barely losing to Louisville 39-34 in their season opener.

Kansas vs. UNLV | Guaranteed Rate Bowl | 8 p.m. Dec. 22 | Phoenix, Arizona

The Jayhawks opened as 12-point favorites after an impressive 8-4 season despite a lackluster bowl destination.

Kansas was at one point in Big 12 title contention near the end of season until losing back-to-back games to Texas Tech and K-State. The Jayhawks finished their regular season with a 49-16 win over Cincinnati, though, to get back on track.

UNLV lost to Boise State 44-20 in the Mountain West Championship on Saturday to finish the season 9-4.

Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M | TaxAct Texas Bowl | 8 p.m. Dec. 27 | Houston, Texas

A bout between two old Big 12 foes in Texas.

You can read all about the Cowboys’ bowl matchup throughout PFB, but OSU opened as a 4.5-point underdog after losing to Texas in the Big 12 Championship to drop to 9-4 on the season. At 7-5, the Aggies are going through a coaching transition after firing Jimbo Fisher toward the end of the year.

West Virginia vs. North Carolina | Duke’s Mayo Bowl | 4:30 p.m. Dec. 27 | Charlotte, North Carolina

The Mountaineers were rewarded a bowl trip after overcoming very low preseason expectations and saving their coach’s job with an 8-4 season.

North Carolina is also 8-4, but the Tar Heels’ 8-4 is probably looked at differently after higher preseason expectations and a 6-0 start. UNC struggled down the stretch, though, losing its last two games to NC State and Clemson.

This will probably not be the same Tar Heels team, though. UNC quarterback Drake Maye is a top NFL Draft prospect, so it wouldn’t be ridiculous to see him sit the game out. It’s nearly impossible to set a line until Maye’s status is known.

No. 25 Kansas State vs. No. 18 NC State | Pop-Tarts Bowl | 4:45 p.m. Dec. 28 | Orlando, Florida 

This was a likely landing spot for the Cowboys, but K-State ended up getting the trip to Orlando for a ranked matchup instead.

The Wildcats are 4.5-point favorites despite being without quarterback Will Howard, who announced he will transfer. K-State finished the regular season at 8-4 after dropping its last game to Iowa State, 42-35.

NC State is 9-3 and hot, winning its last five in a row.

The head coach of the winning team in this game has to take a bite out of the edible bowl mascot, so that alone might be entertaining enough to at least turn the end of this one on.

No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona | Valero Alamo Bowl | 8:15 p.m. Dec. 28 | San Antonio, Texas

As far as Big 12 pride, I’m not sure who you’d root for in this one.

OU is the Big 12’s representative here and would go on the conference’s bowl record for 2023, but after this the Sooners are bolting for the SEC. This will be Arizona’s last game as a member of the Pac-12 before joining the Big 12. So are you more worried about the future or the now in your allegiances? Or do you just root against OU no matter what?

Arizona opened as a 3.5-point favorite as one of the hottest teams in college football, winning six straight at 9-3.

The Sooners are 10-2 and beat No. 3 Texas during the season, but this will not be the same OU team, especially offensively. Offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby is gone after taking the head coach job at Mississippi State. It will be OU’s first go with co-offensive coordinators Seth Littrell and Joe Jon Finley, both of whom were already with the program.

OU will also most likely be without quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who Monday announced his intention to transfer. That could actually make this game even more intriguing to tune into, though, as top recruit Jackson Arnold will probably get his first start.

Iowa State vs. Memphis | AutoZone Liberty Bowl | 2:30 p.m. Dec. 29 | Memphis, Tennessee 

No one expected Iowa State to reach a bowl game after its roster was decimated by gambling allegations right before the season kicked off, but the Cyclones overcame and quarterback Rocco Becht even earned Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year.

ISU is 7-5, compared to Memphis at 9-3, but the Cyclones play a tougher schedule in the Big 12.