
By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
December 27, 2023
Founded in 1993, the Alamo Bowl is one of College Football’s top postseason destinations.
Not quite on the level of the New Year’s Six games, the bowl is solidly at the top of the second tier of games during Bowl Season. Since 2010, the contest has featured a matchup between the Pac-12 and Big 12.
This year, the game presents an opportunity for the Conference of Champions to help show why it was the top league in College Football this season.
I preview the matchup here and the picks of our writers and broadcasters appear at the bottom.
No. 14 Arizona vs No. 12 Oklahoma
Thursday, December 28
6:15 pm PT, ESPN
San Antonio, TX
It was only three years ago that Arizona went 0-5 and then 1-11 the following season, including a loss to FCS Northern Arizona for the first time since 1932.
Jedd Fisch and his staff have rebuilt the program through elite talent development and recruiting.
Defensive coordinator Johnny Nansen and the defensive coaches as a whole deserve much of the credit for pushing the Cats to the next level.
Nansen bolstered his defensive line through the transfer portal and used innovative formations to extract the most out of his personnel.
Willing to vary his 4-2-5 base formation with the unique 3-1-7 and other uncommon looks, Nansen experimented with a healthy rotation at multiple positions while shuffling players into different roles.
The result is a plug-and-play culture where each player has accepted their role and is willing to adapt to whatever the coaches ask them to do.
It all came together to produce the nation’s No. 26 scoring defense and one of the best seasons in program history.
And that’s just on defense.

On the other side of the ball, Fisch’s recruiting and play-calling has shined through.
With one of the top receiving corps in the nation, one of the deepest running back rooms in the Pac-12, and a home run recruiting find in quarterback Noah Fifita, Arizona has all the pieces on offense that it needs.
But, most importantly, offensive line coach Brennan Carroll has transformed the offensive line into one of the best in the country.
The talent development up front has been transformative and his ability to recruit high-level prospects is game-changing.
Senior tackle Jordan Morgan has opted out of the Alamo Bowl to protect his draft stock, but the Cats shouldn’t miss a beat.
For all the culture that UA has going for it, the same arguably can’t be said about Oklahoma.
The Sooners lost their starting quarterback to the transfer portal and are starting a true freshman who has attempted just 24 passes.
Making matters worse, multiple starters along the offensive line have either opted out or transferred.
That could be a problem facing a fully available Arizona front seven that is No. 28 nationally in sacks. That ranking would put the Cats No. 1 in the Big 12 in sacks per game, even above Texas.

The Sooners lost their offensive coordinator, too, and are debuting replacement Seth Littrell in San Antonio.
Those are not good signs facing an Arizona team motivated to make a statement.
Look for Arizona to utilize variable formations and personnel groupings in an attempt to confuse first-time starter Jackson Arnold.
The secondary, in particular, could take advantage and generate multiple interceptions that change the game.
Up front, watch for defensive stalwarts Taylor Upshaw, Bill Norton, and Jacob Manu to take advantage of the depleted Oklahoma O-Line.
If the Cats can get consistent pressure on Arnold to speed up his decision-making process, Nansen should like his chances.
On offense, it’s a pick-your-poison dilemma for OU.
Arizona is more than willing to run the ball with Michael Wiley, Jonah Coleman, Rayshon Luke, and DJ Williams.
But if the Sooners overcommit to defending the ground game, Fifita can find Tetairoa McMillan over the top or Jacob Cowing across the middle.

And even if Oklahoma finds a way to cover both of Arizona’s elite receivers, tight end Tanner McLachlan is a matchup problem.
At the same time, Fisch’s scheme always has a check down to a running back in the flats or to empty space in the middle of the field.
Wide receiver Cowing, in particular, could be used as the ultimate safety valve. Fisch uses his skills to perfection, designing route trees to get him the ball in open space and make plays with his legs after the catch.
If Oklahoma doesn’t have an answer for Cowing, or for McMillan on the deep throws, it could be a long day for the Sooner defense.
There’s a reason the Wildcats won nine games in the regular season and are on the brink of one of the top seasons in program history.
With a strong defense and variable options on offense, the Cats have what it takes to get the job done.
Combined with a lack of player availability on the Oklahoma sideline and the motivation advantage in Fisch’s program, it’s a safe bet to predict an Arizona victory in San Antonio.
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