Fiesta, Insight bowls provide a role reversal in the desert for OSU and OU

Both times involved Oklahoma State and Oklahoma.

In 2007, the Cowboys played Indiana in the Insight Bowl a few days before the Sooners faced West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl. Later this month, the roles will be reversed as the Sooners are the opening act against Iowa in the Insight and the Cowboys are the headliner against Stanford in the Fiesta.

Are the bowls, which are run by the same committee, mindful of bringing the Bedlam rivals to Phoenix together?

Fiesta and Insight spokeswoman Kristen Pflipsen insists that having two teams from the same state in their games isn't even a thought when selecting teams.

“We look at each game individually for the best matchups that we can,” she said. “We really try to look at what the matchup is going to be for each game because fans really care about who's playing on the same field, not who's in the same town.”

Once the teams arrive in the Phoenix area, they won't see much of the team they're playing, much less those in the other bowl. The only time that players from opposing teams may cross paths is during an optional FCA breakfast. That's when Sooners may see Hawkeyes or Cowboys may see the Cardinal.