Texas Bowl Preview and Prediction: Oklahoma State vs. Texas A&M
Here is everything you need to know about the 2023 TaxAct Texas Bowl between the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the Texas A&M Aggies.
GAME INFO
Wednesday, December 27, 2023; 8:00 p.m. CT; NRG Stadium; Houston, Texas
TV: ESPN/ESPN+
Radio: ESPN Radio
Records: Texas A&M (7-5); Oklahoma State (9-4)
Rankings: Texas A&M unranked; Oklahoma State No. 20
Series History: Texas A&M leads, 18-10-0
Last Meeting: Texas A&M 24, Oklahoma State 21 (2019)
Favorite: Texas A&M (-3.0)
Fun Fact:Â Oklahoma State and Texas A&M played in every year that they shared the Big 12 conference from 1996-2011, with Texas A&M holding a 10-6 lead in the Big 12 series. The Aggies won each of the first six meetings in the Big 12, while Oklahoma State won the last four meetings before A&M left for the SEC.
KEY PLAYERS
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
RB Ollie Gordon II
What more is there to say about Ollie Gordon’s 2023 season? He’s the Doak Walker Award winner, Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, and is now a unanimous All-American. Gordon leads the FBS is rushing yards (1,614), yards from scrimmage (1,940), and 100-yard rushing games (8), while ranking second in rushing touchdowns (20), and all-purpose yards (1,940). When Gordon is on the field, there’s not another player in the country that’s been more entertaining to watch, save for Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels.
LB Nickolas Martin
Nickolas Martin was the best linebacker in the Big 12 in 2023, racking up a Big 12-leading 133 tackles (5th among Power Five) along with 16.0 tackles for loss, 6.0 sacks, one forced fumble, and two interceptions. His pursuit speed and play diagnosis is spectacular, and as just a sophomore, his best football is still in front of him. If Texas A&M is going to have any kind of success offensively, they’ll need to keep tabs on Martin.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
QB Jaylen Henderson
Max Johnson is now with the North Carolina Tarheels and Conner Weigman is out for the year, leaving Fresno State transfer Jaylen Henderson to start at quarterback in the Texas Bowl. Over the last two starts, Henderson has shown an ability to extend plays with his legs long enough for his receivers to work open. In those games combined, Henderson was 41-58 (70.6%) for 554 yards and four touchdowns with two interceptions. If he can take care of the football, Oklahoma State’s defense has been susceptible through the air this year.
LB Taurean York
Taurean York was one of the best young linebackers in America this season, earning True-Freshman All-American honors from 247Sports. York’s freshman year ranks seventh in program history in total tackles (66) and second in tackles for loss (8.5), trailing only Daylon Mack (9.5) for the all-time TFL record. The freshman out of Temple (TX) will certainly be a name to watch when the Aggies’ defense is on the field.
KEY STORYLINES
OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS
Can Oklahoma State establish the run? The Pokes have only faced one defense this season that ranks higher than Texas A&M in rushing defense, and that was Texas in the Big 12 Championship, who held them to 31 yards on the ground and to 1.7 yards per carry. Texas A&M is allowing 106.7 rushing yards per game (17th nationally) and despite losing some of its top players to the portal, is still plenty deep enough to be one of the best fronts OSU has seen all year long.
TEXAS A&M AGGIES
Can Texas A&M’s offense find consistent success under its third-string quarterback? Henderson has started each of the last two games, but one of those starts was against Abilene Christian, and the other against a porous LSU defense. Oklahoma State can present some unique challenges defensively when it’s able to get pressure, but A&M will have the athletic advantage at almost every turn. If the Aggies can hit on a couple of big plays downfield, it could start an avalanche like we saw in the Texas game.
PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 33, Texas A&M 28
I’ve gone back and forth on this game so many times that I can’t remember what my initial gut feeling on the final score would be. However, the conclusion that I came is that I trust Oklahoma State to win this game more than I do Texas A&M.
The roster swings in A&M’s favor. It will be one of the three best rosters that OSU has faced all season long. However, that’s really where the advantages for the Aggies stop. Oklahoma State has Mike Gundy on the sidelines, and A&M’s interim head coach, Elijah Robinson, is headed to Syracuse to be their defensive coordinator after this game.
There’s one true game-changing player playing in this game and that’s Ollie Gordon. A&M has young talent all over the field, and many of them will likely be All-American caliber players one day. However, the Aggies’ most proven playmakers are opting out left and right, leaving more to question than I’m comfortable betting on.
I think Oklahoma State’s chance to win 10 games and end the year on a high note will be enough motivation for them to get over the hump and pull off an upset over Texas A&M.
