By Jake Trotter
With two games to go in the regular-season, Oklahoma’s prospective bowl destinations have begun to crystallize.
Win out, and OU has a great chance of advancing to the BCS National Championship. But lose once, and the Sooners are probably bound for a second date at the Cotton Bowl.
Here are OU’s bowl scenarios:
BCS National Championship
Outlook: Win the Big 12 South and Big 12 title, and OU is a lock for the BCS title game, thanks to Penn State’s loss to Iowa.
Possible opponents: Alabama, Florida, USC, Texas, Penn State
Chances: 20 percent
Fiesta Bowl
Outlook: If OU wins out, but not the Big 12 South, and the Big 12 champ goes to the national title, the Fiesta could select the Sooners as an at-large; that, however, would require the Fiesta taking the Sooners a third straight year, something it probably won’t do if a one-loss Texas or Texas Tech is available.
Possible opponents: Utah, Boise State, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, West Virginia
Chances: 15 percent
Sugar Bowl
Outlook: OU would be an attractive BCS at-large for the Sugar, which had to take Hawaii last season; but this scenario would require the Big 12’s champ to miss out on the national championship game.
Possible opponents: Florida, Alabama, LSU, Georgia
Chances: 10 percent
Orange Bowl
Outlook: With it looking more likely that a Big 12 team will make the national title, the Orange is a long shot to snag a Big 12 at-large; the Sugar also drafts its at-large before the Orange and won’t pass up an available Big 12 school.
Possible opponents: North Carolina, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Miami
Chances: 5 percent
Rose Bowl
Outlook: If USC slips into the national title, the Rose could be looking for a quality BCS at-large to play Penn State or Ohio State.
Possible opponents: Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan State, USC, Oregon State
Chances: 1 percent
Cotton Bowl
Outlook: If Texas or Texas Tech goes to the national title, the Fiesta could opt for another Big 12 school instead of taking OU three years in a row; that, or a Missouri victory in the Big 12 title over the South champ, would probably send the Sooners to Dallas.
Possible opponents: LSU, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Alabama
Chances: 30 percent
Holiday Bowl
Outlook: OU would have to lose to Oklahoma State and/or Texas Tech to fall to the Holiday.
Possible opponents: Oregon State, Oregon, California, Arizona, USC
Chances: 15 percent
Alamo Bowl
Outlook: A Sooner collapse coupled with Missouri winning the Big 12 title would have to occur for the Alamo to be a possibility.
Possible opponents: Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan State
Chances: 4 percent