Pokes Heading to Orlando to Play Miami, Fla. and D'Eriq King

STILLWATER – Oklahoma State finished ranked No. 21 in the College Football Playoff Rankings and holding wins over No. 24 Tulsa and Big 12 runner-up and No. 10 Iowa State will finish the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic season in Orlando, Fla. against No. 18 Miami, Fla. of the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Cheez-It Bowl. The Cheez-It Bowl had been held in Arizona, but after last bowl season took over sponsorship of what had formerly been the Camping World Bowl and the number three bowl in the pecking order for the Big 12 Conference. The top bowl for the Big 12 is usually the Sugar Bowl, when it is not hosting a CFP Semifinal as it is this season. The Valero Alamo Bowl is next and then the Cheez-It Bowl.

Oklahoma State finished at 7-3 with losses to No. 6 Oklahoma (41-13), No. 20 Texas (41-34 OT), and to TCU (29-22). The Cowboys had the two wins over ranked teams with No. 24 Tulsa and No. 10 Iowa State. Miami, Fla. finished the season 8-2. The Hurricanes coached by Manny Diaz, a former Texas defensive coordinator, lost to No. 2 Clemson 42-17 and No. 13 North Carolina 62-26 while posting wins over No. 23 North Carolina State 44-41. Miami also beat Conference USA champion UAB 31-14 in the season opener.  

Former Texas defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is in his second season as head coach and has a 14-9 record. His offensive coordinator is Rhett Lashlee and his defensive coordinator is Blake Baker. Diaz faced Oklahoma State three times as the defensive coordinator at Texas losing in 2011 (38-26) and 2013 (38-13) and winning in 2012 (41-36). 

This season Miami averaged outscoring their opponents 34-to-26. Miami averaged rushing for 163.2-yards, passing for 269.4-yards, and total offense of 432.6-yards. Opponents averaged 180.6-yards rushing, 226.8-yards passing, and total offense by opponents of 407.4-yards a game. Miami, Fla. edged opponents in third down conversions 41.8 percent to 38.1 percent. They won the turnover margin with 16 turnovers gained to 10 turnovers lost. 

Quarterback D’Eriq King, who transferred from Houston, led the team in rushing with 520-yards and four touchdowns. He also led the team in passing with 201-of-316 passing for 2,573-yards with 22 touchdowns and five interceptions. Michael Harley led the Canes in receiving with 49 receptions for 730-yards for an average of 14.9-yards a catch and six touchdowns.

Oklahoma State and Miami, Fla. have only met on the gridiron once previously when Pat Jones took an NCAA probation ravaged team in 1991 to Miami and the Hurricanes beat the Cowboys 40-3 in the old Orange Bowl stadium.