Oklahoma State football: 3 reasons to watch 2018 Liberty Bowl vs. Mizzou
By John Scimeca
The Liberty Bowl features a stout SEC defense against a powerful Big 12 offensive attack. Here’s why you should watch Mizzou vs. Oklahoma State football.
For the 13th straight year, the Oklahoma State Cowboys (6-6, 3-6 Big 12) are going bowling. Though it may seem an afterthought now, the more “experienced” Cowboy fan knows that things were a little different during, say, the Bob Simmons era, before newly minted Kansas head coach Les Miles was the boss in Stillwater, Okla.
This year’s Cowboys squad managed to underwhelm and excite at the same time before crashing down to earth in the season a finale, a 31-24 loss to a 5-6 TCU squad. The Pokes fought for victories against No. 14 Texas and No. 15 West Virginia and even came within a failed two-point conversion of knocking off No. 4 Oklahoma, a CFP participant this year.
On the other hand, OSU has several ugly losses to mediocre conference opponents, enough to land the team at .500 heading into the postseason. Quarterback Taylor Cornelius has stepped up as a replacement for last year’s star, Mason Rudolph, and enjoys a talented offensive backfield highlighted by wideout Tylan Wallace (79 catches, 1,408 yards, 11 touchdowns).
The Missouri Tigers (8-4, 4-4 SEC), bring a No. 23 national ranking to Memphis and a strong defense led by linebacker Cale Garrett (98 tackles). The Tigers are No. 22 in the nation in stopping the run, only allowing 122.9 yards per game.
After a heartbreaking 15-14 loss to Kentucky in Week 9, the Tigers reeled off four consecutive wins to finish the 2018 regular season. Mizzou began this streak by traveling to Florida and defeating the No. 11-ranked Gators 38-17.
Here are three reasons to tune in to this year’s Liberty Bowl.