Oklahoma State’s football program has endured a four‑year bowl drought, winning only four games since the 2023 season. New head coach Eric Morris inherited a team eager to break that streak, and his early goal is to reach six victories and secure a postseason berth that could serve as a foundation for the program’s next era.
Analyst Outlook
Veteran analysts Kyle Bonagura, Mark Schlabach and Brett McMurphy each released early bowl projections for the 2024 season. Bonagura omitted the Cowboys from his initial list, while Schlabach placed them in the Texas Bowl against Tennessee and McMurphy slotted them into the Liberty Bowl versus Florida.
The Big 12’s bowl hierarchy privileges the College Football Playoff champion and at‑large selections, with the Alamo Bowl serving as the first external slot. Under that framework Schlabach views Oklahoma State as the fourth Big 12 team likely to be chosen, assuming one conference mate earns a playoff spot, whereas McMurphy ranks them fifth based on a projected 5‑4 conference record.
Path to Eligibility
Both analysts converge on the notion that a 6‑3 or 5‑4 record in Big 12 play would be sufficient for bowl eligibility. Geographic proximity and the travel appetite of the fan base, as demonstrated by past selections such as Houston and LSU in the Texas Bowl, also factor into the final matchups.
For Morris, a bowl appearance would provide additional practice reps and a morale boost that could accelerate recruiting and on‑field development. The projected postseason run is seen not as an endpoint but as a stepping stone toward sustained success, with an eye on future seasons, particularly 2027.