Not even Bedlam win makes OSU automatic for Fiesta Bowl

OSU fans had to be torn Thursday night, watching the Texas A&M-Texas game. Most fans north of the Red River, regardless of wardrobe preference, are anti-Longhorn. Cheering against Texas comes naturally to them.

But OSU fans needed a Texas victory to keep their Fiesta Bowl hopes alive. Which they got, 49-39 in a wild affair at Kyle Field. Now, even if OSU wins Bedlam on Saturday, the Cowboys will have to sweat out the Big 12 championship game, needing a Texas victory over Nebraska.

A Husker victory over Texas would put Nebraska in the Fiesta and probably send Texas to the Sugar Bowl for a consolation bowl against the Alabama-Florida loser.

Here’s a look at the probably Big 12 bowl lineup, should Nebraska upset Texas and OSU win Bedlam.

Fiesta: Nebraska

Sugar: Texas

Cotton: Oklahoma State

Holiday: Missouri

Alamo: Texas Tech

Sun: Oklahoma

Insight: Iowa State

Texas: Texas A&M

Independence: out of luck

I don’t know. The Holiday might go for Tech, but the Red Raiders typically don’t travel well to the coasts. The Holiday might just grab Mizzou, which hasn’t been to San Diego since 1997. Tech hasn’t been to the Alamo Bowl since 2002. So that would seem to work better than Missouri going to San Antonio for the second straight year and Tech going to San Diego, though the Raiders haven’t been there since 2004.

This much is clear. The Cotton Bowl would be thrilled. The Cotton would get OSU — that’s exactly what the Cotton wants — and it would get a 10-2 Cowboy team ranked in the top 10. This is the ideal scenario for the Cotton Bowl.

Now, should OU win Bedlam and Nebraska win the Big 12, things change.

Fiesta: Nebraska

Sugar: Texas

Cotton: OSU

Holiday: OU

Alamo: Texas Tech

Sun: Texas A&M

Insight: Missouri

Texas: Iowa State

Isn’t that an interesting lineup? But I think it’s solid. If OU wins Bedlam and Nebraska upsets Texas, I say the Holiday pulls the trigger on the Sooners. A 7-5 Oklahoma vs. a 9-3 Southern Cal. That’s a matchup the Holiday would love. San Diego probably would love Nebraska more, but if the Huskers are in the desert, the Holiday would settle for a 7-5 Oklahoma.

Here’s an issue to remember. The Holiday next year drops from No. 3 to No. 5 in the Big 12 pecking order, behind the Alamo and Insight, which have raised their financial commitments. The Sooners don’t figure to be No. 5 (or No. 6) in the Big 12 lineup very often. This could be the Holiday’s final good chance to get the Sooners, and to pair them up with USC would be ideal for San Diego.