Oklahoma State To Face Wisconsin in Guaranteed Rate Bowl
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State’s bowl destination has just been decided. The Pokes will be playing in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl at Chase Field in Phoenix, AZ, and will be facing Wisconsin.
This will mark the first time these two programs have faced met on the gridiron.
The game will take place Dec. 27, with kickoff scheduled for 9:15 p.m. CT and will be televised on ESPN.
“The Guaranteed Rate Bowl features the bowl season’s only scheduled Big Ten vs. Big 12 matchup with Wisconsin and Oklahoma State playing for the first time ever. That’s what Bowl season is all about, seeing matchups that don’t normally occur,” said Randal Norton, Guaranteed Rate Bowl Board Chair. “Under the direction of Coach Fickell and Coach Gundy, these programs will deliver an exciting and competitive game. We can’t wait to host the teams, their dedicated fans and families in a truly unique college football Bowl experience, when we transform a major league ballpark into a premier college football venue.”
The Cowboys finished the regular season with a 7-5 overall record and 4-5 in Big 12 play. They started the season 5-0, with non-conference wins over Central Michigan, Arizona State and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, then started Big 12 play 2-0 with wins over No. 16 Baylor (36-25) and Texas Tech (41-31).
They lost to eventual College Football Playoff selection No. 3 TCU 43-40 in double overtime, then turned around and beat No. 20 Texas in Stillwater for Homecoming, 41-34.
That’s when the wheels started to fall off for the Pokes. They got shutout at Kansas State, 48-0, lost to Kansas, 37-16 the next week, beat Iowa State in Stillwater, 20-14, lost to OU in Bedlam, 28-13, then finished the regular season with a 24-19 loss to West Virginia.
The Badgers finished the 2022 regular season with a 6-6 overall record, 4-5 in Big Ten play. Their wins came against Illinois State (38-0), New Mexico State (66-7), Northwestern (42-7), Purdue (35-24), Maryland (23-10) and Nebraska (15-14).
As a team, the Badgers are averaging 26.5 points per game, while holding opponents to 20.5 points per game. The offense is averaging 189.5 passing yards per game and 173.3 rushing yards per game, while giving up 202.25 passing yards and 103.2 rushing yards per game.
Braelon Allen is the leading rusher for the Badgers this season, tallying 208 carries for 1,126 yards and 10 touchdowns. Graham Mertz was the starting quarterback this year, going 164-of-286 passing for 2,136 yards and 19 touchdowns with 10 interceptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Maema Njongmeta led the team in total tackles with 88.0, including 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks five quarterback hurries and one interception and pass breakup apiece.
Fellow linebacker Nick Herbig finished with just 47 tackles on the year, but recorded 15.5 tackles for loss and 11 sacks.