Oklahoma State football: Cowboys take hard bowl fall after loss to Baylor

Texas vs. Oregon State in the Alamo Bowl.

TCU vs. Michigan State in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl.

Baylor vs. UCLA in the Holiday Bowl.

West Virginia vs. Syracuse in the Pinstripes Bowl, which isn't about the matchup, but a holiday season in the Big Apple and a game in Yankee Stadium.

Texas Tech vs. Minnesota in the Car Care of Texas Bowl.

All those, with the exception of Tech-Minnesota, offer intrigue.

Even Iowa State landed an opponent the Cowboys would rather have — Tulsa — while getting bounced out of the Big 12 slots into the Independence Bowl.

After Saturday's loss at Baylor, Gundy questioned media members on OSU's bowl possibilities. Sunday, he reiterated why he doesn't bother monitoring the situation.

“That's why I really never worry about it,” he said. “Wherever the conference sends us, that's where we go. Obviously, the conference sent us to this bowl.

“We prepare and we go play. I'm sure Purdue's excited about being there.”

Will the Cowboys be excited? Their fans?

At 11 a.m. in the old Cotton Bowl stadium inside a deserted Fair Park on Jan. 1?

Remains to be seen.

On the bright side, the Cowboys are in a bowl, for the seventh straight season, extending the program's record streak. And it's a game, by all accounts, they should win, allowing them an opportunity to put a positive final image on a season that spun awry late.

“The good thing is we play on Jan. 1, so it'll give our players an opportunity to have a number of practices before we let them go home for the break,” Gundy said. “Christmas at home, then bring them back a couple days afterward.

“It's a good trip for our fans, easy for them to get there. I can't imagine we won't have a big crowd there.”