Cowboys To Take On Stanford In Fiesta Bowl

News9.com

STILLWATER, Oklahoma -- After missing out on the BCS National Championship game by the narrowest of margins between No. 2 and No. 3 since 2004, the Oklahoma State Cowboys will take on the Stanford Cardinal in the 2012 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Both squads were in early talk for the national championship game before upset losses in Weeks 11 and 12.

Additionally, it will be a matchup of superstar quarterbacks. Both Brandon Weeden of Oklahoma State and Andrew Luck of Stanford are Heisman Trophy candidates and will be on NFL rosters this time next year.

The Cardinal finished second in the Pac-12, missing out on a shot at the conference championship after a 20-point loss to the Oregon Ducks. Stanford finished the season first in the conference in total defense (331.4 ypg), second in total offense (480.9 ypg), scoring offense (43.6 ppg) and scoring defense (20.3 ppg), but fourth in passing defense (241.1 ypg).

Luck, who was forced to play the final three games of the regular season without top receiver Chris Owusu after a concussion, finished fifth in the conference in passing yards with 264.2 yards per game, but led the conference in efficiency with a rating of 167.5.

The Fiesta Bowl invite marks the Cowboys' sixth bowl berth under head coach Mike Gundy, and the first BCS Bowl in school history.