Sometimes you just gotta make lemons into lemonade, no matter how sour the lemons.
We're less than 24 hours away from learning Oklahoma's bowl destination and matchup to conclude the 2024 season. The Sooners barely reached bowl eligibility at 6-6 thanks to a miracle upset over Alabama.
Where the Sooners end up for their bowl game certainly isn't glamorous after barely getting to this point. Bowl experts have it down to five predicted possibilities for OU, and here's a ranking of what would be the best and worst possible matchups for the Sooners based on watchability.
5. Birmingham Bowl vs. Jacksonville State
This one likely won't happen after Jacksonville State won the Conference USA title on Friday night, and I'm sure the 9-4 Gamecocks are a lovely team, but the Sooners didn't join the SEC for fans to get excited about a matchup against a Conference USA team.
Jacksonville State overall has an impressive resume this season but also lost to Louisville 49-14, which was the only time the Gamecocks faced a Power Four team. They also have a high-powered offense.
No matter the stats, though, it's hard to get hype about an OU-Jacksonville State matchup between a storied football program and another that has been in the FBS for only two years.
Predicted by: CBS Sports
4. Birmingham Bowl vs. North Carolina
This would be against another Power Four opponent, at least, but still not a sexy matchup between a pair of 6-6 football teams.
North Carolina just fired Mack Brown, or else it would be enjoyable to beat a former Texas coach. His replacing intermin coach is Freddie Kitchens, who was Baker Mayfield's head coach in Cleveland.
Predicted by: Sporting News' Bill Bender
3. Gasparilla Bowl vs. NC State
There are no fun storylines surrounding the Wolfpack. There is no heated history here.
The time and location might actually be the best part about the Gasparilla Bowl, especially compared to Birmingham. Tampa is a nice trip in December. It will also kick off at 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 20, which is a Friday, so could start your weekend early.
Predicted by: ESPN's Kyle Bonagura
2. Liberty Bowl vs. TCU
There's at least some history here between former Big 12 foes.
And, no matter who is and isn't playing, there's no way OU fans want to hear it from Big 12 advocates if the Sooners lose to a Big 12 team in their first bowl game as an SEC member. There would at least be conference pride on the line here.
Predicted by: 247Sports' Brad Crawford, Action Network's Brett McMurphy and ESPN's Mark Schlabach
1. Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas State
This possibility is just like the last, other than Kansas State just has a more fun team.
The Wildcats were 8-4 this season and spent most of the year inside the top 25. They also have an exciting young quarterback in Avery Johnson who loves to run the ball. Johnson and Michael Hawkins Jr. going back and forth could make for an entertaining night on Dec. 27.
Predicted by: The Athletic's Scott Dochtermant and Stewart Mandel