Star Running Back Ollie Gordon, True Freshman Quarterback Jackson Arnold Lead Cowboys, Sooners To Bowl Games

Bowl season is here and we are just days away from the Sooners and Cowboys taking the field for the final time until next season.

Tuesday, December 26th 2023, 1:13 pm

By: Associated Press

Bowl season is here and we are just days away from the Sooners and Cowboys taking the field for the final time until next season.

Oklahoma State takes on Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday while Oklahoma faces Arizona in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday.

The Cowboys kickoff at 8 p.m. and the Sooners at 8:15 p.m. with both games on ESPN.

Here's what you need to know:

Gordon To Lead No. 22 Oklahoma State Against Texas A&M In Texas Bowl

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Ollie Gordon II flirted with the idea of leaving Oklahoma State, with the star running back entering the transfer portal earlier this month.

But he announced Sunday ahead of the team’s matchup with Texas A&M (7-5) in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night that he’ll remain with the 22nd-ranked Cowboys (9-4) next season.

Gordon led the nation with 1,614 yards rushing to become the first Oklahoma State player to win the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back and was named a unanimous All-American. He ran for at least 120 yards in six straight games this season, highlighted by two consecutive games with more than 270 yards rushing.

Now he’ll try to lead the Cowboys to their third bowl win in four seasons when they play in their school-record 18th consecutive bowl game.

Gordon, who was a bit banged up at the end of the regular season, appreciates the extra time they’ve had to prepare for the Aggies.

“Our schedule is more like our spring schedule, so I feel like it’s helping us rejuvenate our bodies and get back to what we were toward the beginning of the season,” he said. “Everybody can be healthy. Everybody can go out firing on all cylinders. Looking at it from that perspective, it’s really good.”

The Aggies return to a bowl game for the first time since 2020 after opting out of the Gator Bowl in 2021 because of COVID-19 issues and not qualifying in last year’s 5-7 season.

Mike Elko was hired last month to replace Jimbo Fisher, who was fired after another disappointing season, but he will not coach the bowl game. Interim coach Elijah Robinson will lead the team Wednesday night before leaving to take a job as the defensive coordinator at Syracuse.

Robinson knows the key to this game will be slowing down Gordon.

“He is elite,” Robinson said. “He won the Doak Walker for a reason. He’s a patient runner. He’s getting downhill. We understand the challenge.”

LOOKING FOR 10

The Cowboys look to reach the 10-win mark for the second time in three seasons after finishing 12-2 in 2021. Oklahoma State is coming off a 49-21 loss to Texas in the Big 12 championship game.

Oklahoma State opened the season 2-2 before winning five in a row and seven of its last eight to finish second in the Big 12.

Linebacker Xavier Benson thinks reaching 10 wins would be an important milestone for the team.

“It shows how much we can persevere and fight through,” he said. “I feel like this whole team has been built off that togetherness and perseverance. I know it would mean a lot to me because I hate losing.”

DOUBLE DUTY

Robinson has had a full schedule since being hired at Syracuse on Dec. 3. While getting the Aggies for the bowl game, he also has had plenty of responsibilities with his new gig.

“When I’m here, I’ve got my A&M shirt on, and I’m preparing these guys for this bowl game,” Robinson said. “When I’m at Syracuse, I’m recruiting … and I’m evaluating the players there. That’s part of this business, and I’m trying to the best of my ability to give both sides everything I’ve got.”

Robinson was named interim coach for A&M’s final two games after Fisher was fired near the end of his sixth season in College Station.

Despite the hectic schedule, he felt it was important to stick with the Aggies until the end of this season.

“My commitment was to see these guys through for the bowl game,” he said. “It was important that I finished through the bowl game.”

Quarterback Jaylen Henderson said Robinson sticking around was important to the team.

“He kept things stable,” Henderson said. “We made a commitment to finish this season. He has done a great job of fulfilling his commitment here, and we want to do the same.”

QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL

The Aggies have struggled to find consistency at quarterback this season and have started three players at the position. Texas A&M opened the season with Conner Weigman, but the sophomore sustained a season-ending foot injury in the third game.

Max Johnson started the next six games but sustained a rib injury on Nov. 4 and Henderson took over the following week.

The Aggies likely will stick with Henderson for the bowl game after he played well down the stretch. The former Fresno State player started the last three games for the Aggies, helping them to wins in the first two.

He threw two touchdown passes and ran for two more scores in his first start, against Mississippi State, and has thrown two touchdown passes and finished with at least 260 yards passing in his last two games.

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True Freshman Jackson Arnold Takes Over At QB For Oklahoma In Alamo Bowl Against Arizona

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — After all the hype, the Jackson Arnold era is set to begin at Oklahoma.

It came a bit earlier than expected. Dillon Gabriel, the first-team Associated Press All-Big 12 quarterback, has transferred from Oklahoma to Oregon. That has left Arnold — a five-star true freshman — as the new starter heading into No. 12 Oklahoma’s Alamo Bowl matchup with No. 14 Arizona on Thursday.

In 2022, Arnold was the Gatorade National Player of the Year and MVP of the Elite 11 quarterback competition. He enrolled at Oklahoma in January and participated in spring ball, helping him earn the spot as Gabriel’s backup. Sooners fans have clamored to see more of him, and now they’ll get a full dose of perhaps the next great player at a program that has featured Gabriel, Heisman winners Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, Jalen Hurts, Spencer Rattler and Caleb Williams in recent years.

Gabriel has been one of the most productive quarterbacks in FBS history, yet the Sooners have carried on as usual in his absence with Arnold next in line.

“Having the coaches’ trust is a huge thing for me, and knowing that the coaches are trusting of me to go out and perform my best and they’re not changing the game plan whatsoever — we’re running the same stuff,” Arnold said. “We would’ve run the same stuff if Dillon was here, too, so just that trust they have in me is really special to me.”

In limited action, Arnold has completed 75% of his passes, demonstrating exceptional accuracy while running and scrambling effectively.

“I’ve watched Jackson since he’s been here,” Oklahoma receiver Jalil Farooq said. “I’ve watched him grow up. Him stepping up in the room — I’m very excited to see him play in the bowl game. I can’t wait until he showcases his talent. He’s a great dude, a great leader. He can sling it.”

Arnold helped the Sooners beat BYU after Gabriel was knocked out of the game in the first half. With Oklahoma leading 31-24 in the fourth quarter and trying to hold onto the lead, Arnold directed a possession that ran the final 5:08 off the clock. His eight-yard completion for Farooq on a third-and-eight effectively sealed the game.

“I would say that the No. 1 thing that stands out for me as I watch him and his growth is just his consistency,” Oklahoma coach Brent Venables said after Arnold’s performance against BYU. “He’s never too high, never too low. He’s just always the same guy every day. Likes to compete, makes the most of his opportunity, values his opportunity, respects the game and what it takes to develop. So he’s got great work ethic. And he understands as much as anybody you get what you earn.”

Arnold will be working with a new offensive coordinator. Oklahoma promoted Seth Littrell from offensive analyst after Jeff Lebby left to become Mississippi State’s head coach.

“I’ve been close with coach Littrell since he got here, a constant communication since he’s got here,” Arnold said. “He’s helped me develop as a player, even while not in the OC role. It’s been super great to get to know him, and I’m super happy he’s in the OC role now.”

The Sooners also have promoted tight ends coach Joe Jon Finley to co-offensive coordinator. Finley will continue to coach tight ends and will play an increased role in offensive game-planning and oversight.

Venables sees benefits in ushering in a new quarterback and offensive coaches ahead of a bowl game and before joining the Southeastern Conference next year.

“You have a small amount of time,” Venables said. “In a perfect world you’d have more time. But that’s just not where college football — we’re not the only team. It’s across the country. So we’ll adjust and adapt.”