With Oklahoma, a bowl was seen as a given and a mere prelude to a lot greater and higher issues.

In some way, Tech and OU discovered themselves in the identical place with one sport to go within the common season, desperately making an attempt to safe that all-important sixth win for bowl eligibility.

Every succeeded, with Tech getting previous Iowa State in frigid Ames 14-10. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 28-13 in what might be one of many final video games within the Bedlam Collection, due to OU’s transfer to the SEC.

Tech’s victory was one other key step in sustaining momentum in Joey McGuire’s first season. Whereas few coaches could also be a optimistic as McGuire, the mindset was examined when Tech (6-5, 4-4 Massive 12) misplaced 4 of 5 video games halfway by way of the season to drop underneath .500 and put its postseason hopes in jeopardy. The Pink Raiders had already began every of its three prime quarterbacks due to accidents and holes on protection and the offensive line had been uncovered.

“I at all times discuss how laborious we apply and the way a lot we’re bettering,” McGuire mentioned. “It doesn’t at all times present up; we had a pair weeks back-to-back the place that didn’t present up. However we come again to work and have an important week of apply, so for them to be rewarded with a bowl sport is big.

“We ask numerous them and we’re extraordinarily demanding, however we wish to have enjoyable once we’re all collectively, too.”

Now, Tech is headed someplace most decidedly hotter than Iowa State was Saturday, with a game-time temperature of twenty-two levels.

Not fairly the Ice Bowl however nonetheless fairly awfully chilly for a staff from Texas. McGuire gave props to his workers for preparation of each precaution recognized to trendy know-how or people knowledge.

“I assumed we had an important plan on how we had been going to remain heat, from sizzling cocoa and hen broth, to heated benches and Vaseline on all the pieces,” McGuire mentioned. “I feel our gear workers did a tremendous job of getting all the pieces these guys needed.”

The most effective guess is that Tech could wind up within the Assured Fee Bowl in Phoenix or possibly the Texas Bowl in Houston, not a nasty comfort prize.

The Pink Raiders will get 15 extra practices, which can be as essential for subsequent season as it’s for the bowl sport.

One other win or two – relying on what occurs this week towards Oklahoma – may very well be a pleasant launching pad for McGuire and Co.

The temper was far completely different at Oklahoma (6-5, 3-5). Whereas nothing will actually salvage Brent Venables’ first season, no less than OU bought a win over its in-state rivals and proved they’ve improved from nightmarish early season losses to TCU and Texas. A late-season skid towards Baylor and West Virginia referred to as that progress into query.

As a substitute quarterback Dillon Gabriel accounted for 289 yards and three touchdowns. The protection had 4 interceptions. Michael Turk averaged 49 yards on 11 punts after which proposed to his girlfriend, standout OU shortstop Grace Lyons, on the sphere afterwards.

“Growing a mindset firstly is what we’ve been making an attempt to do,” Venables mentioned. “Why can’t we? There’s a bunch of men been scarred up. There’s not a straightforward factor to heal a few of these wounds. However our guys have simply saved their heads down. That is simply one other alternative, one other second for us, this sport. Actually once more, I feel we’ve got a possibility that we are able to take off once more.

“We bought a protracted methods to go however tonight was undoubtedly a step in the fitting path from a improvement standpoint and a perception standpoint.”

Takeaways and lookaheads from the week in school soccer:

— Texas closes the common season Friday towards Baylor with longshot hopes of reaching the Massive 12 title sport towards TCU. The Longhorns should beat the Bears and hope Kansas can upset Kansas State.

— Although TCU kicker Griffin Kell had missed an additional level try earlier, his teammates had full religion he would join towards Baylor on the finish. Quarterback Max Duggan mentioned his solely thought was: “Griff’s gonna go win the sport.”

— Searching for a cause for Baylor’s drop-off this season? After going 7-0 at McLane Stadium in 2021, Baylor went 3-3 at residence this season, shedding its ultimate two video games to Kansas State and TCU.

Twitter: @ChuckCarltonDMN

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