8 Big 12 teams headed to bowl games in latest USA TODAY Sports projections
Another week, and another round of Bowl Game projections on USA TODAY from Erick Smith.
Smith has eight teams from the Big 12 making it to a bowl in his latest set of projections. The Oklahoma Sooners are among them. While not as good as the playoff projection OU had at the beginning of the year, retaining bowl eligibility after a nightmare three-week stretch feels good.
Let’s take a look at the projected bowl-eligible Big 12 teams.
TCU: Sugar Bowl vs. Alabama
Oct 1, 2022; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Sonny Dykes reacts during the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
This would be a fun one. The most interesting thing here is that Alabama is not projected to make the playoff, but Georgia and Tennessee are.
Making a New Year’s Six Bowl in year one would be a massive accomplishment for Sonny Dykes. The Frogs seemed to be reeling after the firing of longtime head coach Gary Patterson, but the Frogs have rattled off several big wins over Big 12 opponents and might have just enough muscle to pull off a win against the Crimson Tide.
Oklahoma State: Alamo Bowl vs. UCLA
Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports
Not exactly the result the Cowboys want. A trip to the Alamo Bowl means yet another Big 12 Championship loss.
Spencer Sanders vs. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a very fun matchup. Chip Kelly vs. Mike Gundy is a fun clash of personalities.
Texas will be better next year. Oklahoma will be better next year. It’s not going to get any easier to make it to a New Year’s Six Bowl or to win the Big 12 after this season.
Texas: Texas Bowl vs. Arkansas
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and his daughter Taylor Sarkisian hold up the sign of the horns after the 38-20 win over West Virginia at Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas on Oct. 1, 2022. Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK
After last year’s disappointing 5-7 season, the Longhorns are now projected to land in the Texas Bowl to face the Razorbacks. At one point, we were looking at the Longhorns as a threat to make it to Arlington with a healthy Quinn Ewers, but that loss to Oklahoma State stings.
A Texas Bowl berth feels underwhelming for year two of the Steve Sarkisian era and for this Texas program. Maybe next year, Austin.
Oklahoma: Liberty Bowl vs. South Carolina
Dec 19, 2020; Arlington, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Spencer Rattler (7) laughs with running back Rhamondre Stevenson (29) after the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
A date with Shane Beamer and Spencer Rattler at the Liberty Bowl would be a fitting reminder of the past while looking forward to the future.
Sooners fans would much rather see their team fighting for a trip to Arlington, but this is probably the best they’re going to get.
While the Sooners hopefully won’t be fighting for bowl eligibility for much longer, a matchup against the Gamecocks would be a fun way to close year one of the Brent Venables era.
Kansas State: Cheez-it Bowl vs. Syracuse
Oct 1, 2022; Manhattan, Kansas, USA; Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Adrian Martinez (9) runs past running back Deuce Vaughn (22) for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bill Snyder Family Football Stadium. Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports
Much like Oklahoma State, any bowl that isn’t a New Year’s Six Bowl feels like a disappointment for the Kansas State Wildcats.
Again, it’s not going to get easier in the Big 12 after this year. Four teams are coming into the conference.
Nonetheless, it’s nice to see Syracuse in a decent bowl game. The Orange have been a fun watch all season and just took Clemson to the brink in Death Valley.
Texas Tech: Guaranteed Rate Bowl vs. Iowa
In
Oct 22, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire sings the school song after the Red Raiders defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
what is possibly the most polarizing matchup among this projection, we have the Red Raiders vs. the Hawkeyes. Offense vs. defense.
Will Kirk Ferentz still be the head coach of the Hawkeyes by the time we make it to bowl season? Probably not. Joey Maguire, however, has revitalized both the Texas Tech program and fanbase.
Get the cacti ready, Lubbock.
Baylor: First Responder Bowl vs. Marshall
Sep 17, 2022; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears head coach Dave Aranda talks to his players during a timeout against the Texas State Bobcats during the first half at McLane Stadium. Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports
Disappointment seems to be a common theme here. This is proably the biggest example of that.
One year removed from a Big 12 Championship, Dave Aranda’s Bears are projected to face the Thundering Herd in the First Responder Bowl.
Not exactly what the Baylor faithful was expecting heading into this season.
Kansas: Fenway Bowl vs. Tulane
LAWRENCE, KS – OCTOBER 23: Head coach Lance Leipold of the Kansas Jayhawks reacts to an instant replay call that went in favor of the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on October 23, 2021 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Kyle Rivas/Getty Images)
Kansas I still believe in you.
The Jayhawks need just one more win to be bowl eligible for the first time since 2008. While the schedule isn’t easy, they can absolutely get one win over their next four games.
They have Oklahoma State and Texas at home. They will be the underdog in all four of their remaining games.
Rock Chalk.
Who's missing?
Oct 3, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy (15) gets away from Oklahoma outside linebacker Nik Bonitto (11) during their football game at Jack Trice Stadium. Iowa State would go on to defeat Oklahoma 37-30. Mandatory Credit: Brian Powers-USA TODAY Sports
Both West Virginia and Iowa State are not projected to be bowl eligible in this projection. Both teams are sitting at 3-4 and they both have difficult schedules to close the season.
The Big 12 sending eight teams to bowl games is a testament to how strong the conference is, and it will only get stronger in 2023.
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