Tag: Alamo Bowl

Robert Livingston looking to send Colorado’s seniors off right in Alamo Bowl

Robert Livingston wants to send CU’s seniors off right

Colorado Buffaloes defensive coordinator Robert Livingston has done a remarkable job since he was hired by head coach Deion Sanders last winter. CU’s defense improved in most statistical categories, translating to overall team success. However, Livingston has another challenge to close his first year in Boulder.

On Tuesday, the former Cincinnati Bengals secondary coach spoke to the media to discuss the BYU Cougars, who will challenge Colorado in the Alamo Bowl on Dec. 28.

“They do a great job,” Livingston noted of BYU. “The quarterback’s (Jake Retzlaff) a great player. It’s a phenomenal challenge.”

With the Big 12 heavyweight showdown around the corner, Livingston shared high praise for the Cougars and encouragement for the Buffs’ graduating class.

“I’m excited for these guys,” Livingston said. “It’s just all about the seniors. I’ll do everything in my power to send them off the right way.”

Livingston also mentioned that players who redshirted during the 2024 season, such as linebacker Jeremiah Brown, may be used situationally in the Alamo Bowl.

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Colorado-BYU tabbed as one of top non-College Football Playoff bowl games

Colorado-BYU was tabbed as one of the best non-CFP bowl games

Though Colorado would’ve preferred a spot in the College Football Playoff, its season will resume on Dec. 28 with an intriguing matchup with BYU in the Alamo Bowl.

The excitement surrounding this game varies greatly among CU fans. Some are simply pleased the Buffs are headed to a postseason game while others aren’t thrilled about Colorado facing an in-conference opponent in a bowl it has played twice since 2016. Regardless, all will tune in to watch quarterback Shedeur Sanders and Heisman frontrunner Travis Hunter play in their final game as Buffs.

For that reason and others, USA TODAY Sports ranked Colorado-BYU as this year’s second-best non-College Football Playoff bowl game. Here’s what USA TODAY Sports writer Eddie Timanus wrote on the Alamo Bowl:

Had a few tiebreakers lined up differently this could have been the Big 12 championship game. As it is, it’s a high-profile pairing that should have nearly full participation from both teams. That means both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter playing their final game for the Buffaloes.

The Pop-Tarts Bowl matchup between Miami and Iowa State took the top spot in USA TODAY Sports’ ranking. There, Heisman finalist Cam Ward will face a 10-win Cyclones team that lost to Arizona State in the Big 12 championship game.

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Paul Finebaum thinks Texas will be better than Oklahoma in 2024

ESPN’s Paul Finebaum thinks the Longhorns will have a better season than the Sooners.

The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns are both officially joining the [autotag]Southeastern Conference[/autotag] in on July 1. Both football programs are looking to make a great first impression in the SEC, but who will be able to put their best foot forward?

Well, according to one ESPN college football analyst, the Longhorns will have the better season.

Paul Finebaum made an appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” and said that Texas would be better than Oklahoma in 2024.

Here’s what Finebaum told Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic when asked who would win more in year one in the SEC:

“Texas. They’re better prepared for it, and I think their roster is probably inherently better. I’ll defer to you guys, but I think it’s pretty obvious [with] what they have across the board. I think there’s some unknowns at Oklahoma,” Finebaum said. “The schedules could be the equalizer because Texas’ schedule is challenging. Oklahoma’s is tricky.”

Finebaum’s opinion isn’t an unpopular one. Most analysts nationally have Texas a step or two ahead of Oklahoma heading into the SEC. After all, Texas won the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] and went to the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] last year. OU had to settle for a trip to the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag], even after beating Texas in the [autotag]Red River Shootout[/autotag]. Losses to Kansas and Oklahoma State took the Sooners out of the College Football Playoff and the conference title game races.

[autotag]Steve Sarkisian[/autotag] has also been at Texas one year longer than [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has been at Oklahoma. Sark has had more time to build his roster.

On the other hand, Texas’ 2023 season was the first true sign of life in a half-decade for the Longhorns. It was also the first time they were truly contenders since 2009.

Oklahoma, meanwhile, continued to run the Big 12 while UT floundered. This was before a coaching change in Norman shifted the momentum of the conference. Now, the Sooners are trying to build back better than before. However, none of Texas’ perceived advantages mattered last year in OU’s 34-30 instant classic of a win in the Cotton Bowl.

Both teams lost talent and production from 2023. Both coaching staffs have done well to replenish their depth charts in recruiting and the transfer portal.

October 12 will be a huge day for both programs, the SEC, and for the landscape of college football. But looking even further, the entire 2024 season will do a lot to shape the national perception of OU and Texas as they embark on their respective journeys in a new conference.

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Nic Anderson named a freshman All-American by FWAA

The accolades keep on coming as Nic Anderson was named a freshman All-American by FWAA.

We are nearly a month since the 2023 college football season for the Oklahoma Sooners came to a close. Still, the accolades keep on coming for the Sooners.

This time, it’s for wide receiver [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]. Anderson was named to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, the FWAA announced Tuesday. Anderson joins [autotag]Marvin Mims Jr.[/autotag] as the only Sooners to be recognized by the FWAA as freshman All-Americans.

Anderson finished the year with 798 yards and 10 touchdowns on 38 receptions. His 10 touchdowns were a school freshman record, and his 798 receiving yards are the second most ever by an OU freshman, falling nine yards short of [autotag]CeeDee Lamb[/autotag]’s record.

He ranked fifth nationally with his 21.0 yards per reception and he registered at least 100 receiving yards three times on the year and 90 or more receiving yards in five games.

Anderson was a touchdown machine. He scored multiple touchdowns twice this season. His coming out party was when he snagged three touchdowns on three receptions with a season-high 120 yards at [autotag]Tulsa[/autotag].

He also scored twice while gaining 105 yards on five catches against [autotag]UCF[/autotag]. His most memorable play was when he caught the game-winning touchdown against the Texas Longhorns with 15 seconds remaining.

He had 119 yards on four catches against [autotag]West Virginia[/autotag]. He made his record-setting 10th touchdown on a great catch in the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag] against [autotag]Arizona[/autotag] on a great throw by [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag].

Anderson was also named a Freshman All-American by The Athletic and was a semifinalist for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award and the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.

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Jackson Arnold could be more prolific than Gabriel says 247Sports

It wasn’t perfect nor was it all bad. Jackson Arnold’s first start gives Sooner fans some optimism for the future.

The [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] era had a rocky start for the Oklahoma Sooners. The Sooners lost, 38-24, in the Alamo Bowl, and Arnold turned the ball over four times.

While you want to win every game you play, the most important thing about that bowl game was Arnold getting some experience as the starter against a good team. You would much rather him have a game like this in a meaningless game than when the Tennessee Volunteers come to Norman next season.

While there was obviously some bad, there was also abundant good.

He showed off his incredible arm talent and his ability to run. The throw he made to [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag] for a touchdown is a prime example of that talent. There aren’t many people on earth, let alone a true freshman, who can make that throw.

He also had a great ball to [autotag]Drake Stoops[/autotag] on third and long, which might have been his best throw of the day. He showed great mobility in the pocket. He was under pressure at times and found ways to escape and still make plays.

247Sports broke down the new wave of college football quarterbacks and how they think each new quarterback fared in their debuts.

Much development still needs to take place but Arnold can be even more prolific than Dillon Gabriel with his elite arm and mobility. — Clint Brewster, 247Sports

Brewster is exactly right. Arnold has work to do. Understandably so. He’s a true freshman, but his ceiling is very high. The talent is there to be the next great quarterback at Oklahoma. Now it’s about putting it all together.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Jackson Arnold will be better for Alamo Bowl experience

Jackson Arnold’s first start for the Oklahoma Sooners wasn’t smooth sailing, but the adversity will only make him better.

Offensive coordinator Seth Littrell wasn’t concerned about easing his true freshman quarterback into the game. Jackson Arnold threw the ball on the Sooners’ first three plays of the game.

They weren’t straight dropbacks as the Sooners dialed up the run-pass option on the first play of the game and a play action naked bootleg on the second. On his first straight drop on 3rd and 10, Arnold threw a good ball to Drake Stoops, but Arizona safety Genesis Smith drove on the ball and through Stoops to intercept the pass.

It was Arnold’s first interception of his career and first in a game in which the Sooners had six turnovers. In total, Arnold had three interceptions and a fumble.

Despite three first half turnovers, the Sooners took a 14-13 lead into halftime, thanks in large part to a tremendous defensive effort, but also because Arnold settled in and found his stride.

It wasn’t the start that everyone had hoped for as the Sooners ultimately fell 38-24, but it was a game that revealed a lot of positive things about the Sooners’ quarterback.

Arizona’s last football game as a Pac-12 school is a memorable statement vs Oklahoma

Arizona’s regular season momentum continued into the bowl season. The Wildcats’ Pac-12 finale was special.

The Arizona Wildcats are heading to the Big 12 next year. The Oklahoma Sooners are leaving the Big 12 next year. The 2023 Alamo Bowl was a grand finale for each team before conference realignment, with Arizona leaving the Pac-12 and Oklahoma going to the SEC.

Arizona definitely had the grander time in San Antonio.

The Wildcats watched Oklahoma score 24 straight points to take a 24-13 lead in the third quarter. However, the U of A had the final say, scoring the last 25 points of the game to win the Alamo Bowl over the Sooners, 38-24.

For a lot more details on this game, read our partners at Sooners Wire.

Arizona’s defense played well against both USC and Washington this season. The Wildcats did not get a chance to face Oregon. That defense continued to perform well in the Alamo Bowl, forcing six Oklahoma turnovers. In a battle of freshmen quarterbacks, Arizona’s Noah Fifita outplayed OU’s Jackson Arnold.

Arizona finished the season 10-3, marking one of the few times in U of A football history that the Wildcats have won at least 10 games in a season.

With Oklahoma and Texas going to the SEC next year, Arizona will join Utah as a foremost favorite and contender in the Big 12. It will be fascinating to see how the Cats fare in their new conference.

They certainly seem to be ready.

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Report Card: Oklahoma Sooners up and down in Alamo Bowl loss to Arizona

It was an up and down performance in the Oklahoma Sooners 38-24 loss to Arizona and here’s our final report card for 2023.

All of the excitement that had been built up in anticipation of Jackson Arnold’s first start as the Sooners starting quarterback was dashed with a couple of first quarter interceptions.

It wasn’t how anyone hoped or expected it would start. Arnold rebounded to play well over the next two quarters as the Sooners built a 24-13 lead. However, turnovers at the end of the third quarter and in the fourth dashed Oklahoma’s hopes of ending the season on a high note.

Though there were six turnovers and the Sooners defense allowed some big plays, there were a lot of positives to take away from the game.

For the final time in 2023, here’s out postgame report card.

No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 14 Arizona Wildcats: Sooners Wire staff predictions

The Oklahoma Sooners take on the Arizona Wildcats in the Alamo Bowl. Sooners Wire staff predicts the final game of 2023.

The [autotag]Jackson Arnold[/autotag] era has officially begun in Norman, Oklahoma. He’ll make the first start of Sooners’ career in the Alamo Bowl when the Sooners take on one of the hottest teams in the country, the Arizona Wildcats.

On paper, this looks like an even matchup between two teams that rank inside the top 50 on both sides of the ball.

Like Oklahoma, the Wildcats will start a freshman at quarterback, Noah Fifita. He’s played really well in 2023 and is a big reason Arizona is on the verge of a 10-win season.

To get you ready for the 2023 Valero [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag], here are our final Sooners Wire staff predictions for the 2023 season.

No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners vs No. 14 Arizona Wildcats: How to Watch and key players for game day

The Sooners play their final game of the season in the Alamo Bowl, here is how you can watch the game and some key players.

The Oklahoma Sooners are set to wrap up their 2023 season. The Sooners are 10-2, but will face an [autotag]Arizona Wildcats[/autotag] team that is 9-3 and ranked No. 14.

The Sooners’ two losses came by a combined eight points. The Wildcats also know about close losses. Their three losses came by a combined 16 points, and two came in overtime.

There is a strong argument there isn’t a hotter team in college football than Arizona. It has won six straight by an average margin of 20.2 points per game, including four against ranked teams.

The Wildcats bring in the nation’s 18th-ranked offense and the 36th-ranked defense. They rank in the top 26 in both scoring offense and scoring defense.

Outside the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag], Arizona might be the most complete team the Sooners have faced all season. So, let’s take a look at how you can watch the game, some key players and an update on who is playing.