Oklahoma football: Kansas State's season outcome could determine Sooners' bowl fate

With its two ultimate goals fading, what prizes remain attainable — and big enough — for a prideful program that considers anything short of championships to be unacceptable?

“We still have a lot at stake in the conference and that matters,” said coach Bob Stoops. “It isn't just solely on a national championship; it never has been, it never will be. There's a lot more to it.”

An at-large berth in one of the BCS bowl games is a strong possibility for Oklahoma if it wins its remaining regular-season contests, beginning with Saturday's game at Iowa State.

For Oklahoma to be eligible for an at-large BCS selection, it would have to win nine games and finish ranked among the top 14 teams in the final BCS standings.

But what would make a coveted BCS bowl appearance even sweeter for the Sooners and their fans? The chance to avenge a 2012 home loss in a postseason rematch.

Under certain conditions, the BCS procedure for picking teams allows for adjustments, which aren't required, of bowl pairings after selections have been made.

One considerations for such an adjustment is “whether two teams that played against one another in the regular season will be paired against one another in a bowl game.”