Bowl Projections: After Week 9, Where and Who is Oklahoma State Predicted to Play for its Bowl

Maybe you could call PFB presumptuous last week for doing bowl projections, but now, Oklahoma State is officially bowl eligible after the Cowboys’ win over Cincinnati improved them to 6-2.

OSU earned a bowl berth for the 18th straight year under Mike Gundy. It’s the sixth-longest active streak in the country.

Here’s a look at where pundits from across the country predict the Cowboys to end up for their bowl destination and who they could play there.

Oregon | Goodyear Cotton Bowl | 7 p.m. Dec. 29 | Arlington, Texas

Let’s start with the big one. Imagine if I told you in September that it was possible for this OSU team to finish the season with two trips to Arlington? You’d question how strong my orange Kool-Aid was, for sure.

Brett McMurphy from The Action Network has the Cowboys taking on Oregon in the Cotton Bowl. He also has OU in the Alamo Bowl, so I would assume that means McMurphy predicts for his alma-mater to knock off OU in Bedlam on Saturday. He could also be fishing for the reactions because the Sooners’ projected matchup is a reunion with Lincoln Riley and USC. That would be must-watch TV.

But the Pokes going from 2-2 and doubtful to even make a bowl, to a NY6 bowl, may be the greatest in-season turnaround in college football season.

Notre Dame | Pop-Tarts Bowl | 5:45 p.m. Dec. 28 | Orlando, Florida

Arlington may be down the road for a bigger matchup, but Orlando seems like the more fun trip. And this matchup would be just as thrilling as anything you’d ride at Disney World if it’s anything like last time.

Jerry Palm of CBS Sports and ESPN’s Kyle Bonagura predict a rematch of the 2022 Fiesta Bowl in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Cowboys won the last matchup 37-35 before Gundy proclaimed to the world that OSU has a logo, too.

USC | Valero Alamo Bowl | 9:15 p.m. Dec. 28 | San Antonio, Texas

This is the only pick this week that was the same as one last week.

Steven Lassan of Athlon Sports predicted this same pairing last week, too, but so did two others, as well. This still may be the most intriguing matchup, considering USC started 2023 as a College Playoff favorite with the returning Heisman Trophy winner at quarterback and former OU coach Lincoln Riley leading the program.

Who knows, maybe this game features last year’s and this year’s Heisman winner. …

Kentucky | AutoZone Liberty Bowl | 2:30 p.m. Dec. 29 | Memphis, Tennessee

This was the most popular pick this week, with College Football News and Bill Bender of The Sporting News projecting this matchup.

Even though it’s the most popular projection currently, it’s the first time this season that any of the outlets I keep track of has OSU in the Liberty Bowl. The Cowboys last played in the Liberty Bowl in 2018 against Missouri. This could also be the bowl that we one day get to see the first Bedlam after OU leaves for the SEC.

Missouri | TaxAct Texas Bowl | 9 p.m. Dec. 27 | Houston, Texas

Again, not a sexy projection traveling to Houston to play an above-average SEC team. I’ve actually never been to Houston, but I also have no desire to go because I assume there are always better destinations. OSU probably feels the same.

This could be an exciting destination one day, though, because like the Liberty Bowl, it could be a chance to watch a rare Bedlam in the future. But for now, it’s still a Big 12 rematch, but against Missouri or, like was predicted last week, against Texas A&M.

Wisconsin | Guaranteed Rate Bowl | 8 p.m. Dec. 26 | Phoenix, Arizona

I was so disgusted by this projection I almost just pretended it wasn’t there.

Brad Crawford of 247Sports predicts OSU to end up in literally the same situation as last year after a very disappointing season. Wisconsin beat the Cowboys 24-17 in the last Guaranteed Rate Bowl to hand OSU its third straight loss to conclude 2022.

We might have been happy with this in September, but imagine witnessing the Cowboys’ drastic turnaround only for them to wind up in the same spot as last year.