Kickoff: 8 PM CT
Location: NRG Stadium (Houston, Texas)
Television: ESPN
Radio: Cowboy Radio Network
Twitter: Follow @HeartlandPokes for live tweets during the game
The Oklahoma State Cowboys were downright embarrassed by the Texas Longhorns in the Big 12 Championship. The Cowboy offense could get nothing done, the defense was at least a step or two slower than the Longhorn offense, and in the end, the 49-21 score looked a lot better than the game felt. Now, the Cowboys get a shot to end a surprising season with a punctuation win as they take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the TaxAct Texas Bowl.
The Aggies enter the bowl game a month removed from a 42-30 loss to the LSU Tigers. The Aggies actually led the Tigers 24-14 early in the fourth third, but LSU was able to storm back with utter dominance to finish the game on top.
Texas A&M has played a tough schedule on their way to a 7-5 record with close losses to Alabama, Tennessee, and Ole Miss, so the Cowboys have their work cut out for them. Oklahoma State has seen their own tough matchups, however, so this should make for a fun game that will possibly turn into a shootout.
How the Cowboys Win
For Oklahoma State, there is one stat that has proven to be a direct indicator of the outcome of the game: the turnover battle. The Cowboys are 9-0 this season when winning or tying the turnover battle. They are 0-4 when losing it. In the last 15 years, Oklahoma State is 80-8 when winning the turnover battle outright. Simply put, if Alan Bowman, Ollie Gordon, and the offense can take care of the ball, they have a good chance to win the game. If the Cowboy defense can force some turnovers and maybe even put some points on the board, that could be the ball game.
How the Aggies Win
For Texas A&M, their primary focus needs to be slowing down Ollie Gordon II. Gordon has proven himself as the best running back in America, and he just announced that he’s returning next season. Gordon is a Cowboy through and through, and he surely wants to end this season on a high-note. If the Aggies can figure out a way to slow him down, the brunt of the offense will fall on Bowman’s shoulders, which isn’t always the best option for Oklahoma State. Stop Ollie Gordon II, and you probably stop the Cowboys.
Odds & Predictions
Staff Score Predictions
| Craig | Oklahoma State |
| Matt | 37-21 Texas A&M |
| Zack | 38-34 Oklahoma State |
An Oklahoma State Win Would…
- Mark Mike Gundy’s 12th bowl win as a head coach, tying for the sixth-most in college football history.
- Give the Cowboys at least 10 wins for the eighth time in Mike Gundy’s tenure as head coach.
- Give the Cowboys a 22-12 all-time record in bowl games, ranking as the best winning percentage among teams with at least 30 bowl appearances, and at least the second-best among teams with at least 20.
- Mark the sixth bowl win for the Cowboys in the past eight seasons, the seventh bowl win in the past 10 seasons, and the 10th bowl win in the past 14 seasons.
- Give the Cowboys wins in eight of the past 10 games.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in non-conference games to 64-16.
- Make the Cowboys 25-5 in its past 30 non-conference games and 47-11 in its past 57 non-conference games.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in December games to 10-9.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record in neutral site games to 15-9.
- Give the Cowboys wins in five of the past six games vs. Texas A&M.
- Improve their record against Texas A&M to 11-18 and it record vs. TAMU in neutral site games to 2-4.
- Improve Mike Gundy’s record against Texas A&M to 5-4.
- Make the Cowboys 31-12 in the past 43 games overall, dating back to the 2020 season.
- Make the Cowboys 157-74 in their history when playing as an AP-ranked team.
- Make the Cowboys 144-44 in their history when playing as a higher AP-ranked team than its opponent.
- Make the Cowboys 94-24 in their past 118 games vs. opponents outside of the AP Top 25, dating to 2010.
- Give the Cowboys wins in 12 of the past 16 and in 25 of the past 32 games following a loss.
Notable Streaks and Trends Entering the Game
- Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 100 yards in eight of the past 10 games.
- Ollie Gordon II has rushed for more than 270 yards in two of the past seven games.
- OSU has forced 19 turnovers and surrendered 14 turnovers in the past seven games.
- OSU is 9-0 this season when winning or tying the turnover battle.
- OSU’s offensive line has not allowed a sack in five of its past nine games.
- OSU has won 85 consecutive games when holding its opponent to fewer than 20 points, dating back to Sept. 13, 2003 – the longest active stretch of time in the FBS and longest since at least 1980. Including games when opponents have scored 20 points or fewer, the streak begins at the same date and includes 92 games.
- The Cowboy defense has produced a shutout half in two games this season.
- OSU has held its opponent scoreless on its game-opening drive in 39 of its past 57 games.
- OSU has held its opponent to less than a 50% third down conversion rate in 46 of its past 51 games.
- OSU is 38-16 in its past 54 games decided by fewer than 10 points.
- OSU is 48-8 in its past 56 games when leading at halftime, dating back to Sept. 17, 2016.
- Dating back to 2005, OSU is 48-4 when not committing a turnover.
- Dating back to 2008, OSU is 80-8 when winning the turnover battle.
- OSU has won four of its past six overtime games.
- Over the past 49 games, OSU has held opponents to 236-for-758 (31.1%) on third down.
- OSU has held its opponents to just 6-of-25 on fourth down attempts this season – the No. 3 percentage in the nation.