Uncover the Oklahoma Connections in College Football Bowl Games

Dec. 14 - Cricket Celebration Bowl

In this early bowl game, South Carolina State's safeties coach/special teams coordinator Kevin King spent time as an assistant at Panhandle State. It's a small but significant connection that adds to the Oklahoma flavor of the tournament.

South Alabama has a redshirt junior safety, Lardarius Webb Jr., who is an Oklahoma State transfer. He has shown great potential with 39 tackles, two interceptions, and three pass breakups in 12 games this season. Freshman offensive lineman DeShaun Gonzales is also a Panhandle State transfer, bringing another Oklahoma connection to the field.

Dec. 14 - South Alabama vs. Western Michigan

Western Michigan's redshirt junior running back, Jaden Nixon, is an Oklahoma State transfer. He has rushed for 876 yards and 12 touchdowns, along with nine catches for 74 yards in 12 games. This shows the impact that Oklahoma State transfers can have on other teams.

South Alabama's redshirt junior safety, Lardarius Webb Jr., is not the only Oklahoma State transfer on the field. Freshman offensive lineman DeShaun Gonzales is also a Panhandle State transfer, adding to the Oklahoma influence.

Dec. 17 - Memphis vs. West Virginia

Memphis has a senior defensive lineman, Reggie Grimes II, who is an OU transfer. He has two tackles, a quarterback hurry, and a sack in 10 games, demonstrating his skills on the defensive line.

West Virginia's redshirt junior wide receiver, Jaden Bray, is a Norman product and Oklahoma State transfer. He has two catches for 88 yards in five games and also has a tackle. Redshirt senior cornerback Dontez Fagan is an Ardmore native and former Millwood standout, adding local flavor to the team.

Dec. 18 - Western Kentucky vs. James Madison

Western Kentucky's redshirt senior offensive lineman, Stacey Wilkins, is an OU transfer. He has appeared in three games, including starting the Conference USA Championship Game at left tackle, showing his value on the offensive line.

Redshirt senior tight end Colton Cable is a Tulsa Union product. He has appeared in 13 games, primarily on special teams with some action as an offensive lineman, bringing a local touch to the team.

Dec. 18 - Cal vs. UNLV

Cal has a sophomore defensive back, Jasiah Wagoner, who is an OU transfer. He has one tackle in three games, adding to the Oklahoma presence on the defensive side of the ball.

Redshirt senior punter Lachlan Wilson is a Tulsa transfer. He is averaging 45.02 yards on 51 punts, providing a valuable special teams contribution.

Dec. 19 - Georgia Southern vs. Sam Houston

Fifth-year wide receiver LV Bunkley-Shelton is an OU transfer for Georgia Southern. He has 28 catches for 306 yards in 12 games, showing his receiving skills.

Sam Houston has a redshirt freshman running back, DJ McKinney, who is a Tulsa Union alum. He has 95 carries for 479 yards and three touchdowns, along with 11 catches for 79 yards in 11 games. He also has four tackles and a fumble recovery, demonstrating his all-around abilities.

Dec. 20 - Ohio vs. Jacksonville State

Ohio's redshirt freshman running back, Rickey Hunt Jr., is a Millwood product. He has 74 carries for 362 yards and two touchdowns and six catches for 23 yards, showing his running and receiving skills.

Jacksonville State's senior cornerback, Kenney Solomon II, is a Tulsa transfer. He has three tackles and a pass breakup in seven games, adding to the Oklahoma influence on the defensive side.

Dec. 20 - Tulane vs. Florida

Tulane's junior wide receiver, Mario Williams, began his college career at OU. He leads the Green Wave with 54 catches for 940 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games, showing his offensive prowess.

Florida's secondary coach, Will Harris, coached defensive backs at Northwestern Oklahoma State in 2013, adding another Oklahoma connection to the team.

Dec. 21 - SMU at Penn State

SMU has a redshirt junior offensive lineman, Savion Byrd, who is an OU transfer. He has started nine games at left tackle and two at right guard and has played in every game this season, providing stability on the offensive line.

Redshirt junior offensive lineman Nate Anderson is also an OU transfer. He started the season opener at right tackle and has appeared in every game this season, adding to the Oklahoma presence on the offensive line.

Dec. 21 - Clemson at Texas

Graduate safety Tyler Venables is the son of OU head coach Brent Venables. He has appeared in 13 games with one start and has 16 tackles, one for loss, showing his potential on the defensive side.

Texas' running backs coach, Tashard Choice, began his college career at OU, adding another Oklahoma connection to the team.

Dec. 21 - Tennessee at Ohio State

Tennessee's coach, Josh Heupel, is an OU alum and spent 2006-14 as an offensive assistant with the Sooners, coaching quarterbacks and serving as co-offensive coordinator. His coaching career began as a graduate assistant with the Sooners in 2003-04. Outside linebackers/special teams coordinator Mike Ekeler began his collegiate coaching career as a defensive graduate assistant at OU in 2003-04. Offensive line coach Glen Elarbee was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State in 2008-09. Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Joey Halzle is an OU alum who began his college coaching career as an offensive quality control assistant for the Sooners in 2009-11 before serving as a graduate assistant from 2012-14. Secondary coach Willie Martinez was OU's secondary coach from 2010-11, showing the deep Oklahoma roots within the Tennessee coaching staff.

Ohio State's defensive coordinator, Jim Knowles, was Oklahoma State's defensive coordinator from 2018-21, adding another Oklahoma connection to the team.

Dec. 23 - Myrtle Beach Bowl

Coastal Carolina's offensive line coach, Derek Warehime, is from Choctaw and a Tulsa alum. He began his coaching career as a student assistant for the Golden Hurricane in 2005, bringing local and Oklahoma ties to the team.

UTSA's defensive coordinator/safeties coach, Jess Loepp, is a Turpin native and UCO alum. He began his coaching career as a volunteer coach at Oklahoma Bible in 2002, was a graduate assistant at Tulsa from 2003-05, coached safeties there in 2007, served as the Golden Hurricane's director of high school relations in 2009 before coaching safeties there once again from 2010-12, showing his extensive Oklahoma coaching background.

Dec. 23 - Idaho Potato Bowl

No Oklahoma connections in this bowl game, but it still adds to the diverse range of bowl games throughout the season.

Dec. 24 - Hawaii Bowl

South Florida's head coach, Alex Golesh, was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma State in 2008. Pass game coordinator/wide receivers coach L’Damian Washington served as OU’s interim wide receivers coach in 2022, adding to the Oklahoma influence on the coaching staff.