(Pokes Report publisher Robert Allen contributed to this story.)
STILLWATER – With Alabama easily taking care of business with Ohio State 52-24 in the national championship game on Monday night, the 2020 season came to a close. Both the Associated Press and the USA Today Coaches polls released their final top-25 rankings of the season.
Following the 37-34 win over Miami in the Cheez-It Bowl, the Cowboys jumped back into the AP Top-25 and finishes the 2020 season ranked in the top 20 in both polls with the coaches liking the Cowboys just a little more. Here is a look at both polls results
| Ranking |
USA Today Coaches Poll |
A.P. Poll |
| 1. |
Alabama 13-0 (60) |
Alabama 13-0 (61) |
| 2. |
Ohio State 7-1 |
Ohio State 7-1 |
| 3. |
Clemson 10-2 |
Clemson 10-2 |
| 4. |
Texas A&M 9-1 |
Texas A&M 9-1 |
| 5. |
Notre Dame 10-2 |
Notre Dame 10-2 |
| 6. |
Oklahoma 9-2 |
Oklahoma 9-2 |
| 7. |
Georgia 8-2 |
Georgia 8-2 |
| 8. |
Cincinnati 9-1 |
Cincinnati 9-1 |
| 9. |
Iowa State 9-3 |
Iowa State 9-3 |
| 10. |
Northwester 7-2 |
Northwestern 7-2 |
| 11. |
BYU 11-1 |
BYU 11-1 |
| 12. |
Florida 8-4 |
Indiana 6-2 |
| 13. |
Indiana 6-2 |
Florida 8-4 |
| 14. |
Coastal Carolina 11-1 |
Coastal Carolina 11-1 |
| 15. |
Iowa 6-2 |
Louisiana 10-1 |
| 16. |
Louisiana 10-1 |
Iowa 6-2 |
| 17. |
North Carolina 8-4 |
Liberty 10-1 |
| 18. |
Libert 10-1 |
North Carolina 8-4 |
| 19. |
Oklahoma State 8-3 |
Texas 7-3 |
| 20. |
Texas 7-3 |
Oklahoma State |
| 21. |
USC 5-1 |
USC 5-1 |
| 22. |
Miami, Fla. 8-3 |
Miami, Fla. 8-3 |
| 23. |
Ball State 7-1 |
Ball State 7-1 |
| 24. |
San Jose State 7-1 |
San Jose State 7-1 |
| 25. |
Buffalo 6-1 |
Buffalo 6-1 |
The expectations heading into the 2020 season for the Cowboys were through the roof. They returned an offense that had a chance of being one of the best in the country with Chuba Hubbard and Tylan Wallace returning for another season, as well as an offensive line that looked to be experienced. Then COVID happened.
The offensive line spent most of the season banged up and shifted around, Hubbard didn’t have the season he expected to have, quarterback play was suspect at times, but the defense rose up and had one of the best seasons in program history.
While the Pokes ended up losing three conference games on the year, Texas, OU and TCU, the season wasn’t a complete waste as it was the 15th season in a row with the Pokes going above .500. The last losing season in Stillwater came in 2005, Mike Gundy’s first year in Stillwater. It was also the 15th-straight bowl appearance, with the Pokes going 10-5.
Related: Here’s what the 2021 three-deep could look like for the Pokes
The 2021 season is slowly starting to come into view with the end of the 2020 season. Players are still making their decision to either stay in Stillwater, transfer or try their hand at the NFL. Chuba Hubbard, Tylan Wallace, Dillon Stoner, Ry Schneider, Teven Jenkins, Rodadrius Williams, Calvin Bundage, Amen Ogbongbemiga and Kolby Harvell-Peel have all declared for the 2021 NFL Draft. There’s still a few more players who have yet to announce a decision, but the Cowboys haven’t lost too much to the transfer portal. Receiver Dee Anderson and cowbopy back Jelani Woods have been the only scholarship players to have transferred. But they did, however, receiver a transfer from center Danny Godlevsky from Miami of Ohio who more than makes up for the transfers out.
