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Bowl destinations are plentiful
OU has a myriad of postseason possibilities.

Depending how the rest of the season goes, possible bowl destinations for OU coach Bob Stoops and the Sooners range from the Fiesta Bowl to the Sun Bowl. MIKE SIMONS/Tulsa World
 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 10/31/2009  2:19 AM
Last Modified: 11/1/2009  6:10 PM

 NORMAN — Oklahoma fans knew less than halfway through the season opener that their team would not be spending New Year's in Pasadena.

By midseason, most probably figured that another January trip to the desert was out of the picture, too.

So where will the Sooners go bowling?

"Some things look pretty remote, and some things look favorable," said Cotton Bowl vice president Charlie Fiss. "But heck, anything could happen. It generally goes right down to the final week of the season and sometimes to the championship games and after."

After OU finishes Saturday's 6 p.m. game against Kansas State, the Sooners' season will be two-thirds complete. With no Sam Bradford and another loss to Texas, Oklahoma's postseason picture remains clouded.

"Times change in the matter of a week or two," said Bruce Binkowski, executive director of the Holiday Bowl. "It's amazing sometimes. It's gonna be an interesting run, but right now it's just so farfetched who's gonna be where."

The No. 22-ranked Sooners (4-3 overall, 2-1 Big 12) are a 28-point favorite over the Wildcats (5-3, 3-1), and likely will be favored to win the rest of their games, with the season-finale in Norman against Oklahoma State a possible toss-up — in October, at least.

OU passed its first conference road test last week at then-No. 24 Kansas, winning 35-13. That was supposed to be the first of three rugged road challenges in league play, but after recent events, the Sooners' games Nov. 7 at Nebraska and Nov. 21 at Texas Tech look far less daunting.

Bowl projections are inherently a fool's errand, particularly with a third of the season yet to play.

No matter where they end up, the Sooners will have a large television following and their fans will buy tickets and pump dollars into the local economy for days. Given Oklahoma's attractiveness to a bowl committee, it seems easy enough to follow the Big 12's bowl alliances and slot the Sooners according to their possible finish.

It appears the Big 12 will send only one team to the Bowl Championship Series. Texas is the front-runner, but Oklahoma State could change that this week, and Oklahoma is not out of the picture.

If the Sooners do win their remaining five games, they could forge another three-way tie with Texas and OSU.

The odds may be long, but Oklahoma could win the South Division, win a fourth straight Big 12 title and report to the Fiesta Bowl with a 10-3 record.

If the Sooners finish 9-3 but don't win the South Division, or if they finish 8-4, they could be a strong candidate for the Cotton Bowl.

Another OU loss — 8-4 or 7-5 — likely means the Holiday Bowl.

Two more losses — 7-5 or even 6-6 — and it could be the Insight or Independence.

Binkowski said the Holiday Bowl's impact on the San Diego economy has been more than $30 million every year since 2003. OU's trip there in 2005, with Oregon as the opponent, was $33.8 million, on the upper end of the scale.

Some OU fans might be averse to Dallas overload — a third trip to the Metroplex in one season.

"Starting off the season here in Arlington (against BYU), then playing the annual Texas game in Dallas, if Oklahoma did come, that would be three times in one season, and that would be something that would be discussed," Fiss said, "but it wouldn't be a breaking point, I wouldn't think."

OKLAHOMA'S BOWL POSSIBILITIES



Fiesta Bowl

Big 12 champion, if available, vs. BCS at-large

When: Jan. 4, 7 p.m.

Where: Glendale, Ariz.

Why: Oklahoma State could help out the Sooners this week by beating No. 2 Texas and forcing some kind of three-way tie (the first four, remember, don't have anything to do with BCS standings), but only if the Sooners beat OSU on Nov. 28. Then again, if Texas plays in the BCS title game in Pasadena, OU could still end up in the desert, but only if it won the rest of its games to reach nine wins and qualify as an at-large.

Who: Boise State? TCU? Do the Sooners want any part of those two?

Cotton Bowl

Big 12 No. 2 vs. SEC

When: Jan. 2, 1 p.m.

Where: Arlington, Texas

Why: The Sooners have played here only once, in Jan. 2002, a 10-3 win over Arkansas. The Cotton Bowl committee likes OU because the Sooner Nation would flood the Metroplex for a week. But would it? With the annual trip to Dallas for the Red River Rivalry and this year's season-opener at Cowboys Stadium, would Sooner fans simply be burned out on Dallas? OU could get here by winning out or even with another loss.

Who: Arkansas again? Not if LSU and old Stoops rival Les Miles are available.

Holiday Bowl

Big 12 No. 3 vs. Pac-10 No. 2

When: Dec. 30, 7 p.m.

Where: San Diego

Why: Things went well in the Sooners' only previous trip here, righting a soured season by beating a BCS-snubbed Oregon team in a 17-14 thriller. Oklahoma could get here with an 8-4 record. If the Cotton Bowl senses an anti-Dallas vibe from Sooner fans, or if Nebraska gets things figured out, wins the North and goes to Dallas, OU could land here.

Who: Why not Oregon again? It has turned into a pretty good rivalry. But if Oregon beats USC this week, maybe the Trojans fit here.

Alamo Bowl

Big 12 No. 4 vs. Big Ten No. 4/5

When: Jan. 2, 8 p.m.

Where: San Antonio

Why: Hard to believe OU has never played in the Alamo Bowl. The Sooners were never good enough under John Blake and have been too good under Bob Stoops. It would seem a longshot to happen with the Cotton and Holiday still picking ahead of the Alamo. But if things go wrong — key injuries, dropped passes, fumbles, etc. — and Oklahoma finishes even 7-5, the Sooners could end up here.

Who: Wisconsin hasn't played here since 2002, though Sooner fans would rather see Michigan State and former OU quarterback Keith Nichol.

Independence Bowl

Big 12 vs. SEC

When: Dec. 28, 4 p.m.

Where: Shreveport

Why: The Independence would be thrilled to have the Sooners again. It's where Bob Stoops' first Sooner team ended up way back in 1999.

Who: What about a rematch with Ole Miss? Arkansas would pack the house. Then there's Auburn.

Insight Bowl

Big 12 vs. Big Ten

When: Dec. 31, 5 p.m.

Where: Tempe, Ariz.

Why: Selling tickets for a 6-6 Sooner squad would be difficult, no matter who the opponent is.

Who: Michigan — another traditional powerhouse fallen on hard times — would be the most attractive sell here. If it's Northwestern, offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson could do some catching up.

Sun Bowl

Big 12 No. 5 vs. Pac-10 No. 3

When: Dec. 31, 1 p.m.

Where: El Paso

Why: OU would have to finish 6-6 to fall this far, and only parents and die-hard fans would travel to El Paso.

Who: Stanford (remember Chase Beeler?), Cal and Arizona State are possibilities, but wouldn't it be fun to see Bob Stoops match wits with Arizona and Mike Stoops?
John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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14 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (10/31/2009 7:32:36 AM)
We knew less than halfway through the season opener the team would not be in Pasedena? How did we know that? Did you think when Sam got hurt that he was done for the year AND we would lose that game plus 2 more? I didn't think or know any of that. I can't imagine that's what anyone was thinking at that point. Guess your crystal ball works better than mine.
Report Comment
scottybegood, (10/31/2009 10:19:37 AM)
Everyone in the country knew.Big game Bob included. Only homers looking through the crimson colored crystal ball thought they would be playing in the little 12 championship or the BCS champ game.Get a clue homer.
Report Comment
DanDDiver, Vail, CO (10/31/2009 10:34:51 AM)
I would love to see Stoops and his Swooners play Les Miles and the LSU Tigers somewhere, anywhere.

For years, the cocky Stoops would talk crap to Les while Les was at OSU.
Of course, Les beat Stoops two years in a row.
And that was with less talent than Stoops had at ou.

Should LSU play ou in any bowl, Miles would kick Stoops once again.
Stoops goes against anyone with equal talent, Stoops loses.
Man, I'd love to see this match up. Stoops wouldn't stand a chance.
Report Comment
scottybegood, (10/31/2009 10:45:07 AM)
You are so correct Dan. Big game Bob picked the wrong non-conf team to play this year BYU.
I(OU) is 4-3 with big wins over Idaho ST, Tulsa, Baylor. WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Comment
CrippledShark, San Antonio (10/31/2009 11:06:59 AM)
OU also beat a ranked Kansas team at Kansas and their 3 losses are by a combined 5 points and all this without Slinging Sammy and a shuttled O-Line and a major loss at TE.

If this team wins out and I feel confident they can - they might get a shot at a BCS game.

The Cotton Bowl would be acceptable and I think the OU fans would show up at the Cotton Bowl even if they drop one more game.

Would love a rematch with LSU anywhere any place any time.
Report Comment
scottybegood, (10/31/2009 11:18:13 AM)
YO Three losses shark dream on. Oh yea Big 12 game which you will not be part of. The big twelve will be lucky to have (2) teams in the BCS.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (10/31/2009 11:40:28 AM)
Yeah Scotty, we're never in the Big 12 Champ. game or the Nat. Champ. game are we? Why would we think we could ever get to those games? What sorry team are you scared to let people know you're a fan of? And Dan, Les Miles is the biggest dork in college football. Lucky Les can't even figure out how to wear his hat and never knew when to keep his mouth shut when he was in Stoolwater. Bob plays it close to the vest and lets his team do the talking. I think you got them confused. Must be on a Rocky Mountain high. What's that title (any title) count for Les now? Oh, sorry if that hit a nerve. We'd love the chance to shut him up again. Boomer Sooner!
Report Comment
scottybegood, (10/31/2009 12:00:39 PM)
FYI: Who is the only D-1 school to loose (2) championships in(1) year? Big 12, BCS.

HINT: BUMMER SOONERS.aND THE LITTLE 12.
Report Comment
lovethemsooners, Fayetteville (10/31/2009 12:04:07 PM)
First we need to turn down any invitation to the Alamo Bowl if given. That place is a dump! Second, Arkansas isn't going to pack the house anywhere......they don't even pack the house in their own stadium on the regular.
Report Comment
Few Clothes, America (10/31/2009 12:15:20 PM)
I have two bowls in my house and they are usually filled to the max.
Report Comment
Steff M, Claremore (10/31/2009 2:19:10 PM)
Scottybescared to say still. Poor guy.
Report Comment
AtlantaSooner, Atlanta (10/31/2009 5:03:20 PM)
How I regret the time wasted reading this "article".
Report Comment
Few Clothes, America (11/1/2009 9:37:05 AM)
After the game, my bowls emptied and I cleaned them spotless.
Report Comment
Few Clothes, America (11/1/2009 12:26:31 PM)
I will provide valet parking.
 

 
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