Bowl eligibility felt unlikely just a week ago, but after upsetting Florida on Saturday, the Oklahoma Sooners are just one win away from extending their bowl streak to 28 years.
The Sooners host No. 19 Ole Miss on Saturday in Norman, so notching a sixth win then seems unlikely, but they should be able to get it done against either Texas A&M at home or on the road against Missouri.
With that, reaching bowl eligibility is still a disappointment after the Sooners entered this season with CFP expectations. A bowl game, though, is at least one last chance to watch the Sooners before eight months without OU football, and could also be a preview of what's to come in 2027 when young players get an opportunity to play.
A few college football experts still doubt OU will tally another win to get eligible, but others are projecting some bowl matchups that will be worth turning on, even if it is a disappointment.
Projecting Sooners' bowl destination and matchups
Las Vegas Bowl vs. USC (Thursday, Dec. 31 in Las Vegas, Nevada)
Projected by ESPN's Kyle Bonagura
Apparently, ESPN's Kyle Bonagura really wants this matchup to happen because he keeps projecting it, and so would TV folks and college football fans.
This would put the Sooners against former head coach Lincoln Riley, whose USC Trojans are 7-2 and still fighting for a CFP spot. Obviously, if the Trojans are in the Las Vegas Bowl, then that means they fell short of CFP expectations. That could actually erase the intrigue of this pairing, because Riley could see his time at USC come to an end before bowl season if the Trojans miss the CFP again.
Las Vegas Bowl vs. Arizona (Thursday, Dec. 31 in Las Vegas, Nevada)
Projected by College Football News' Pete Fiutak
Another trip out to Vegas, but this one wouldn't draw the same attention as the Sooners facing off against Riley. There's not even Big 12 history here, since Arizona joined the conference after OU left for the SEC.
Brent Venables has already led the Sooners in a bowl matchup against Arizona before in the Alamo Bowl at the end of his second season in 2023, after going 10-2. The Sooners lost 38-24 in what was the start of the Jackson Arnold and Seth Littrell era.
Texas Bowl vs. Oklahoma State (Thursday, Dec. 31 in Houston, Texas)
Projected by Sports Illustrated's Bryan Fischer
This isn't the first time Bedlam has been projected to be renewed in the Texas Bowl. And at this point, this would be the only way anytime soon that OU and OSU will meet on a football field, since the rivalry was killed in 2023 with the Sooners' move to the SEC.
During a time when bowl games feel meaningless and college football fans are tuning out, a renewal of Bedlam would definitely spark interest, even for those outside the state needing a reason to tune in.
Would a Texas Bowl matchup between two depleted rosters just taint the storied rivalry, though? With nothing left to play for, there's no way OSU quarterback Drew Mestemaker plays in this one, considering he's projected to be the first QB selected in the 2027 NFL Draft. The Sooners would also be missing some defensive stars for the same reason.
Texas Bowl vs. Baylor (Thursday, Dec. 31 in Houston, Texas)
Projected by ESPN's Mark Schlabach
Texas Bowl vs. Houston (Thursday, Dec. 31 in Houston, Texas)
Projected by The Athletic's Scott Dochterman
Neither of these Texas Bowl matchups against old Big 12 foes will be an exciting way for Sooner Nation to conclude 2026. Both teams are actually still contending for a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game, so ending up in the Texas Bowl also isn't on their list of goals.
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