College Confidential

Cotton Bowl draws 7.5 overnight TV rating, topping two of four BCS games played thus far #TAMU, #CottonBowl

Fox drew a 7.5 overnight rating for Friday’s telecast of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic between No. 9 Texas A&M and No. 11 Oklahoma at Cowboys Stadium. That placed the Cotton Bowl telecast, which featured Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel of A&M, ahead of two of the four BCS games that have been played this season (Orange, Sugar) and only slightly behind Thursday’s 7.7 rating for the Fiesta Bowl between Oregon and Kansas State. The Cotton Bowl was Fox’s lone bowl telecast of the postseason.

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas A&M routs Oklahoma in Cotton Bowl to cap memorable debut season in SEC #TAMU, #JohnnyFootball

ARLINGTON _ The first wave of celebratory “SEC! SEC!” chants began in the third quarter, long before No. 9 Texas A&M killed the waning seconds to put an exclamation point on a season marked by memorable moments.

But make no mistake: The Aggies took No. 11 Oklahoma out of the contest tonight and paved their way to a 41-13 triumph in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic with a third-quarter salvo that included a game-turning, 20-0 stretch in which A&M dictated play in Cowboys Stadium.

The Aggies (11-2) capped their surge with a 33-yard, fourth-down touchdown pass from quarterback Johnny Manziel to receiver Ryan Swope that underscored the game’s decisive momentum swing in front of an announced crowd of 87,025, second-largest in the history of the post-season contest.

The Aggies, who broke a six-game losing streak in the Cotton Bowl and won for the first time in four career appearances at Cowboys Stadium, outgained Oklahoma (10-3) by a 268-63 margin in total yards in the third quarter. A&M punctuated its first season as an SEC member by taking down the Big 12 co-champion in a bowl game during the same season that the school won its first Heisman Trophy in 55 years (Manziel) and earned its first-ever Outland Trophy (left tackle Luke Joeckel, an Arlington High School graduate).

For A&M, the triumph validated last year’s decision to leave the Big 12 in favor of the SEC and allowed the Aggies to defeat the Sooners for only the second time in the teams’ last 10 meetings. SEC teams have now won the last five Cotton Bowls, as well as nine of the last 10, in their annual matchups against Big 12 foes.

Behind the elusive running of Manziel, who set a Cotton Bowl and FBS bowl record for rushing yards by a quarterback (229), the Aggies became the first team in school or SEC history to top the 7,000-yard mark in total offense. A&M finished the season with 7,261 yards and set a Cotton Bowl record with 633 yards against OU, breaking the mark of 578 set by Southern California in a 55-14 rout of Texas Tech in 1995.

Manziel, a redshirt freshman, finished with 516 yards of total offense (229 rushing, 287 passing) and accounted for four touchdowns: two rushing and two passing.

“This is the first team to win 11 games in a long time at Texas A&M,” said Aggies’ coach Kevin Sumlin, adding that Manziel “did get better” as the contest and the season unfolded.  “You can put those numbers up against anybody.”

The Aggies, who last won 11 games during the 1998 season _ when the school won its lone Big 12 championship _ broke open a 14-13 contest in which the Sooners were not forced to punt in the first half by dominating both lines of scrimmage in the third quarter.

Oklahoma began the second half with three consecutive three-and-out possessions. A&M countered with Manziel-led scoring drives of 91, 89 and 71 yards.

On the first touchdown march, Manziel completed three consecutive passes, covering a combined 61 yards, before Ben Malena capped the seven-play journey with a 7-yard burst on an option play. Manziel went 5-for-5 as a passer on the Aggies’ next TD drive, which ended with Trey Williams’ 30-yard scoring sprint, and capped the Aggies’ 71-yard scoring march with a 33-yard strike to Swope on a fourth-and-5 play.

Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones, who threw for 175 yards and completed 23 passes in the first half, struggled to find the range after intermission as the Sooners lost for the sixth time in their last 10 bowl appearances.

A game projected to be one of the most entertaining matchups of the post-season did not disappoint in the first half. The two teams combined for 507 yards and 27 points, with A&M taking a 14-13 lead into intermission.

As has been their custom, the Aggies struck quickly. Manziel capped the game’s first possession with a 23-yard touchdown scramble, assuring that A&M scored first in every game it played during the 2012 season.

Oklahoma answered with a pair of time-consuming drives for field goals on its first two possessions _ one covering 16 plays, the other 18 _ and added a 13-play touchdown march in the second quarter. But the Aggies broke open the contest in the second half on a night when Manziel’s 5-yard scoring run in the second quarter gave him his 20^th rushing TD of the season and made him the fourth player in FBS history to rush and pass for at least 20 touchdowns in the same season.

Manziel joined current NFL quarterbacks Tim Tebow, Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton on the elite list. And A&M capped a breakthrough debut season in the SEC with a decisive victory in the Cotton Bowl.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops called Manziel one of the most challenging quarterbacks he’s ever tried to defense in his coaching career.

“Absolutely,” Stoops said. “Not only what he does with his feet, but he way he throws the football. He’s awfully hard to handle.”

 Twitter: @Jimmy_Burch

_ Jimmy Burch

Texas A&M's Joeckel, Manziel earn first-team AP All-America honors; TCU's Verrett a 3rd-teamer #TAMU, #TCU

Texas A&M offensive tackle Luke Joeckel, an Arlington High School graduate and the Outland Trophy winner, joined teammate and Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, the Aggies’ quarterback, as first-team members of the Associated Press All-America team announced today.

Baylor receiver Terrance Williams also earned first-team honors among a group of seven players from Texas colleges selected to the squad.

Second-team honors went to A&M defensive end Damontre Moore and Baylor offensive guard Cyril Richarson, a North Crowley graduate. TCU cornerback Jason Verrett and A&M offensive tackle Jake Matthews received third-team honors.

In addition to Verrett and the Baylor players, other honorees from Big 12 schools included West Virginia receiver/kick returner Tavon Austin (first-team, all-purpose), West Virginia receiver Stedman Bailey (second team), Oklahoma safety Tony Jefferson (second team), Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein (second team), Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown (second team) and Kansas State safety Ty Zimmerman (third team).

_ Jimmy Burch

No further penalty for Oklahoma lineman's "push" on TCU's Maponga

Oklahoma offensive lineman Tyrus Thompson will not be suspended for what TCU fans considered a punch to the head of TCU defensive lineman Stansly Maponga in last week’s game.
The Big 12 Conference supervisor of officials Walt Anderson reviewed Thompson “pushing” Maponga’s “head to the ground.” His review of the play supports the foul penalty assessed by game officials, an email from the league said. The Big 12 will take no further action.
Thompson was assessed a 15-yard personal foul on the play in the second quarter of OU’s 24-17 win. Replays appeared to show him on top of Maponga and striking him a couple times with his right arm.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

Oklahoma sells out its allotment of Cotton Bowl tickets in less than 24 hours #OU, #TAMU, #CottonBowl

Oklahoma officials announced Monday that the school sold out its allotment of tickets for the team’s Jan. 4 Cotton Bowl game in Arlington in less than 24 hours. OU sold more than 13,000 tickets: its original allotment of 12,500 seats, combined with a second allotment granted Monday by bowl officials. No. 11 Oklahoma (10-2) will meet No. 9 Texas A&M (10-2) in the contest.

_ Jimmy Burch

Oklahoma out of BCS mix, will play Texas A&M in Cotton Bowl on Jan. 4 #TAMU, #OU

Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation have confirmed that the matchup for the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic will be Oklahoma (10-2) vs. Texas A&M (10-2) on Jan. 4 in Cowboys Stadium. Players from both schools have begun tweeting one another about the matchup, with A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel telling Oklahoma wide receiver Kenny Stills: “see ya on the 4^th my dude.”

The Sooners are locked out of the BCS bowl mix because Northern Illinois will earn an automatic berth in the BCS by finishing in the top 16 of the final BCS standings. SI.com reported that Northern Illinois (12-1) will finish 15^th in the final BCS standings, to be released later tonight, and will play Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

Until Northern Illinois’ rise in the final standings triggered the school’s automatic inclusion in a BCS game, Oklahoma had been projected to play in the Sugar Bowl against Florida (11-1). With tonight’s developments, the Big 12’s lone BCS team will be Kansas State (11-1), which earned the league’s berth in the Fiesta Bowl given to the conference champion. The Wildcats are expected to play Oregon (11-1).

Oklahoma’s omission from the BCS means the Big 12 will miss out on a $6.2 million payday for placing an at-large team in the BCS bowl mix.

BCS bowl matchups will be announced officially tonight (ESPN, 7:30 p.m.).

_ Jimmy Burch

Other Big 12 coaches join Stoops in voting up OU, voting down N. Illinois in today's poll that helps set BCS standings

For anyone who questions whether voters in the coaches poll get political with their ballots when BCS bowl berths _ and dollars _ are on the line, just check out today’s ballots, released by USA Today.

Oklahoma (10-2) is eligible to earn an at-large berth in the BCS later tonight, but only if Northern Illinois (12-1), the MAC champion, does not climb to 16^th or higher in the final BCS standings. If Northern Illinois makes it to No. 16, Oklahoma is out of a possible berth in the Sugar Bowl and headed to the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. Today's coaches poll is part of the formula that sets the final BCS standings.

If Oklahoma does not wind up in the Sugar Bowl, the omission would cost the Big 12 a $6.2 million windfall for landing an at-large team in the BCS mix along with Kansas State, which earned the Big 12’s automatic berth as the league champion.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops did his part to help his team, voting the Sooners at No. 6 and Northern Illinois at No. 24 in today’s final coaches poll. Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren, by comparison, voted Oklahoma 11^th and his team at No. 14.

Other Big 12 coaches joined Stoops in voting up the Sooners and voting down Northern Illinois. Baylor coach Art Briles played Oklahoma at No. 6 and Northern Illinois at No. 19 on his ballot. West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen had OU at No. 9, with Northern Illinois at No. 24. The ballot of Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville mirrored where both teams finished in today’s coaches’ poll: OU at No. 11 and Northern Illinois at No. 16.

Kent State coach Darrell Hazel, whose team lost to Northern Illinios in the MAC title game, voted Oklahoma at No. 11 and Northern Illinois at No. 17 on his ballot.

Below is a loot at today’s coaches ballots, released by USA Today:

 

http://usat.ly/11mmNXl

 

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Drama building with OU in danger of losing BCS berth to N. Illinois, which would create major shuffling of bowl matchups

The voters in the coaches poll have spoken. But what they have said by placing Northern Illinios at No. 16 in today’s poll that will be used in compiling the final BCS standings remains open for discussion.
And the final word will not become public until tonight’s release of the final BCS standings (7:30 p.m., ESPN).

The bottom line is that Oklahoma (10-2) would be bumped from an at-large BCS bowl berth if Northern Illinois (12-1), the MAC champ, finishes 16th or higher in the final BCS standings. If that happens, the Sooners _ who envisioned playing Florida (11-1) in the Sugar Bowl on Saturday night _ would wind up in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic in Arlington, with an anticipated matchup against LSU (10-2) or Texas A&M (10-2).

The situation is fluid and two BCS analysts, CBS’ Jerry Palm and ESPN’s Brad Edwards, have switched their bowl projections today. Both took Oklahoma out of the BCS mix in favor of Northern Illinois (12-1). But both cautioned that the margin will be razor thin. The Huskies will climb in the computer rankings based on their victory over Kent State (11-2) in the MAC title game. But the impact of voters in the coaches poll and the Harris poll figure to be crucial.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops did his part to help his team, voting the Sooners at No. 6 and Northern Illinois at No. 24 in today’s final coaches poll. The ballots of voters were released on the USA Today website. Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren voted Oklahoma 11^th and his team at No. 14.

If Oklahoma does not wind up in the Sugar Bowl, the omission would cost the Big 12 a $6.2 million windfall and would create a reshuffling of the league’s bowl slots. It would sent Texas to the Alamo Bowl to meet a Pac-12 foe (likely Oregon State), with lots of guessing on bowl placements after that. The Big 12 also would need to find a spot for one of its bowl-eligible teams (likely Iowa State) in a game that is not contractually tied to the Big 12.

The SEC slots are being solidified, with Georgia expected to play Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. That means A&M’s likely bowl destination will either be the Cotton Bowl against OU or the Chick-fil-A Bowl (in Atlanta) against Clemson.

Nothing, as this juncture, has been announced by the SEC in terms of bowl berths. But officials at the Capital One Bowl have announced Nebraska as the Big Ten representative in that contest.

Other Big 12 coaches joined Stoops in voting up the Sooners and voting down Northern Illinois. Baylor coach Art Briles placed Oklahoma at No. 6 and Northern Illinois at No. 19 on his ballot. West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen had OU at No. 9, with Northern Illinois at No. 24. The ballot of Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville mirrored where both teams finished in today’s coaches’ poll: OU at No. 11 and Northern Illinois at No. 16.

Kent State coach Darrell Hazel, whose team lost to Northern Illinios in the MAC title game, voted Oklahoma at No. 11 and Northern Illinois at No. 17 on his ballot.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

OU's Thompson pins and punches TCU's Maponga

Oklahoma left tackle Tyrus Thompson drew a 15-yard penalty for a personal foul during the second quarter of today's TCU-Oklahoma game in Fort Worth. But he clearly deserved to be ejected, based on NCAA rules, for pinning and punching TCU defensive end Stansly Maponga. That is clear on this video, distributed by @sbnation. It will be interesting to see how the Big 12 addresses the situation going forward.

See the video here.

 

_ Jimmy Burch

Where is TCU going bowling? My guess is back to San Diego or Houston but final week could alter destination for many

So where is TCU headed bowling? Wish I could tell you. Too much is still riding on the outcome of the final week of games, especially the Horned Frogs’ regular-season finale against No. 11 Oklahoma at 11 a.m. Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The outcome could affect where the Horned Frogs (7-4, 4-4 in the Big 12) are headed in the postseason. If TCU upsets the Sooners, and incidentally, wins its first Big 12 game at home, Oklahoma's hopes of earning a BCS bowl berth would be dashed. The Sooners (9-2, 7-1) could still win the Big 12 title and earn a Fiesta Bowl appearance with a win and a No. 6 Kansas State loss to No. 18 Texas. If Oklahoma loses, then they’ll likely play in the Cotton Bowl.
If the Frogs lose to Oklahoma, they appear headed to the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. That's if San Diego isn't sick of TCU. The Frogs have played in three Poinsettia Bowls, also in San Diego, since 2006, including last year. The Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston would likely be attracted to TCU, expecting more Frogs fans to travel to Reliant Stadium for the Dec. 28 game against a Big 10 team. The Frogs have played three bowls in Houston since 2001, the last coming in 2007.
Of course, more than conference finish comes into play when bowl representatives are looking to fill the matchups. If TCU wins Saturday, then the Frogs would finish ahead of Texas Tech (7-5, 4-5) and would seem to be in line for the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, Arizona. And if Baylor wins its third consecutive game by beating Oklahoma State Saturday then the Bears would potentially finish in a four-way tie with TCU, Tech, and West Virginia at 4-5. If that happens, then all bets are off on bowl positioning, at least for the middle-tier bowls.
The bowl matchups will be announced Dec. 2.

Here’s how I project the Big 12 standings finishing, with the favored team (Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and West Virginia) winning Saturday, with bowl destinations and bowl payout (per team) for each bowl:

	Projected standings	Projected bowl	Payout per team (in millions)
Kansas State	11-1, 8-1	BCS Fiesta (Glendale, Ariz.)	$17
Oklahoma	10-2, 8-1	BCS Sugar (New Orleans)	$17
Oklahoma St.	8-4, 6-3	Cotton (Arlington, Tex.)	$3.625
Texas	8-4, 5-4	Alamo (San Antonio, Tex.)	$3.175
Texas Tech	7-5, 4-5	Buffalo Wild Wings (Tempe, Ariz.)	$3.350
TCU	7-5, 4-5	Holiday (San Diego, Calif.)	$2.075
West Virginia	7-5, 4-5	Pinstripe (New York City)	$1.8
Iowa State	6-6, 3-6	Heart of Dallas (Cotton Bowl)	$1.1
Baylor	6-6, 3-6	Meineke Car Care (Houston)	$1.7
Kansas	1-11, 0-9

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs