Alamo Bowl 2016: Oklahoma State Cowboys face final test with Colorado
The Oklahoma State Cowboys face their final test of the 2016 season against the Colorado Buffaloes in the Alamo Bowl on December 29th.
It’s a matchup of former Big 12 rivals in this year’s Alamo Bowl between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Colorado Buffaloes. Both teams exceeded expectations this year. The Pokes posted a record of 9-3 (7-2 Big 12). While the Buffaloes posted a record of 10-3 (8-2 PAC-12).
The 2016 Alamo Bowl is set for December 29, at 8:00 p.m. C.T. The venue for the Alamo Bowl is the Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.
Last year saw the TCU Horned Frogs win against the Oregon Ducks in a record-setting comeback. The Frogs came back to win 47-41 after being down 31-0 at halftime. Now let’s take a look at how each team’s season went down.
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Colorado Buffaloes
Buffs head coach Mike MacIntyre brought Colorado to their first bowl game appearance since 2007. He will be in the thick of 2016 Coach of the Year conversations.
They have made it this far on the shoulders of running back Phillip Lindsay. He rushed for almost 1,200 yards and 16 touchdowns. Furthermore, Lindsay registered 5.2 yards per carry. He added another 390 yards and one touchdown receiving.
Quarterback Sefo Liufau had a solid year but struggled with injury. He had ankle problems that hindered him in multiple big games including Michigan, USC, and Washington. All of which resulted in losses. Liufau passed for 2,171 yards and 11 touchdowns with six interceptions. He added another seven touchdowns on the ground.
This was Colorado’s first 10 win season since 2001. Their only losses were all to teams ranked inside the top 10. They also recorded marquee wins against the Utah Utes, Washington State Cougars, and Stanford Cardinal.
The Buffs are coming off a 41-10 loss to the Washington Huskies in the PAC-12 Championship Game. It was Colorado’s first PAC-12 South division title since joining the conference in 2011. In the final regular season College Football Playoff rankings Colorado sits at number 10.
If nothing else, the Buffs will be motivated to pull out a victory against their former Big 12 foe and carry momentum to the 2017 season. This would be the Buffs first bowl victory since 2004.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Pokes fans have endured a crazy season, to say the least. One of the most memorable moments of the season came in their second game against the Central Michigan Chippewas. A Hail’mary that resulted from an untimed down that should have never happened gave the Pokes one of their three losses.
After a 2-2 start to the season, the Pokes rattled off seven straight wins before losing to the Oklahoma Sooners in Bedlam.
The Pokes bring a high-powered offense to San Antonio. Quarterback Mason Rudolph has 3,777 yards passing, with 25 touchdowns and four interceptions. Running back Justice Hill is the first Pokes back to get over the 1,000-yard mark rushing since Joseph Randle in 2012. Watch out for receivers James Washington and Jalen McCleskey to have a big impact on the game as well.
Head coach Mike Gundy has a chance to get the Pokes to their third 10 win season in the last four years.
Next: Reactions from Cowboys Bedlam loss
In the final regular season College Football Playoff rankings Oklahoma State sits at number 12. They have an opportunity to finish inside the top 10 for the first time since 2011. This could also be their first bowl victory since 2014.