The Oklahoma Sooners’ drive to secure a spot in the Big 12 Championship hit a roadblock, but Brent Venables‘ team will still be participating in a bowl game this winter following a 10-2 season finish.
By mid-season, the Sooners appeared to have a solid shot at making it to the College Football Playoff after an 8-0 start and a place in the top five national rankings. However, the team’s hopes were dashed after consecutive losses to Kansas and Oklahoma State.
Despite this setback, Venables guided the Sooners to a No. 12 national ranking, marking significant improvement from their 6-6 finish in his first season as head coach. The team is now set to compete in a postseason bowl game before making their move to the SEC.
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Is Oklahoma heading to a bowl game?
Oklahoma’s 10-2 record in the 2023 season makes them eligible for a bowl game appearance.
Although the Sooners may still have a chance at making it to a New Year’s Six game, their third place conference finish and No. 12 standing in the latest College Football Playoff rankings diminishes the likelihood. To secure a spot, they would need to surpass teams ranked higher than them, but the idle championship weekend for Missouri (No. 9), Penn State (10), and Ole Miss (11) complicates the situation.
With two losses this season, the College Football Playoff is now off the table for the Sooners.
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Who will Oklahoma face in their bowl game?
Although official announcements for bowl game matchups are pending, likely scenarios suggest the Sooners could go up against the Pac-12’s third-place team, the No. 16 Arizona Wildcats, in the Alamo Bowl on December 28 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
Another potential destination is the Pop-Tart Bowl (formerly known as the Cheez-It Bowl), which features a matchup between an ACC team and a Big 12 conference team. In 2022, the Sooners participated in the Cheez-It Bowl, facing Florida State and ending with a 35-32 loss.
The unique feature of the Pop-Tart Bowl is an edible mascot awarded to the winning team to enjoy after the game.
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Predictions for Oklahoma Sooners’ bowl game
Here are the latest expert forecasts for Oklahoma’s upcoming bowl game as of Saturday, December 2:
USA TODAY Sports: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl.
CBS Sports: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl.
247 Sports: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl.
The Athletic: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl.
Fox Sports: Oklahoma Sooners vs. Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl.
Alex Martin is your guide to the global phenomenon of football. With a focus on international leagues and tournaments, he provides match commentary, player interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the world of football.
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