The Big 12 Conference finds itself with eight teams going bowling over the holidays, tying a record number of bids set in 2001. From Oklahoma to Iowa State, the conference proved again its incredible depth from top to bottom, with a total of nine teams having the needed six wins to become bowl-eligible.

However, with Kansas State and Texas falling out of BCS contention after Washington State’s win over UCLA, only eight of the nine teams found themselves in postseason play.

Other than Iowa State, those teams include:

Oklahoma

The Big 12 champion Sooners (11-2, 6-2 Big 12) meet Washington State in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. Oklahoma was thought of by many to be the one team that could dethrone Miami until they ran into Texas A&M at Kyle Field and fell 30-26. The Sooners then lost their last regular season game to intrastate rival Oklahoma State but rebounded to defeat Colorado in the Big 12 championship game.

Led by do-everything running back Quentin Griffin, the Sooner offense will trade points with the high powered Cougar attack spearheaded by quarterback Jason Gesser. If OU’s defense shows up to play, look for the Sooners to roll big.

Texas

Texas (10-2, 6-2) meets Louisiana State University in the Cotton Bowl in a game that matches two traditional powers. The Longhorns, who lost only to Oklahoma and Texas Tech, feature a high powered offense and fast and aggressive defense. Led by Chris Simms and a stable full of talented wideouts, the Horns shouldn’t have a problem with the Tigers in their record 22nd Cotton Bowl.

Texas head coach Mack Brown’s team has won nine or more games in each of the last five seasons.

Kansas State

Kansas State (10-2, 6-2), finished second in the Big 12 North and will face the Arizona State Wildcats in the Holiday Bowl as the Wildcats make a school-best 10th consecutive bowl appearance under head coach Bill Snyder.

K-State enters bowl play as one of the hottest teams in the country with five straight wins. Only seven points keep the Wildcats from being undefeated as Colorado’s 35-31 win and a 17-14 loss to Texas are the only two blemishes on Kansas State’s record.

Quarterback Ell Roberson and running back Darren Sproles with lead the Wildcats against NCAA sack leader Terrell Suggs and the Sun Devils.

Colorado

Big 12 North champion Colorado (9-4, 7-1) heads south to the Alamo Bowl to take on Barry Alvarez’s Wisconsin Badgers.

Head coach Gary Barnett rides the strength of a strong running game and looks to have leading rusher Chris Brown healthy in San Antonio, Texas. This is Colorado’s 15th bowl appearance in 21 years and the Buffaloes should have no problem with a Badger team that finished just 2-6 in the Big Ten conference.

Colorado wants to end the season on a positive note after losing to Oklahoma for the second time this year in the Big 12 championship game.

Nebraska

Nebraska (7-6, 4-5) limps into the Independence Bowl with one of the school’s worst records in recent memory. Plagued by an inconsistent quarterback in Jammal Lord, head coach Frank Solich recently fired three assistants in an effort to shake things up.

The Huskers’ opponent in Shreveport, La., is Mississippi of the SEC. Eli Manning, who has completed 58.1 percent of his passes for 3,088 yards and 20 touchdowns, leads the Rebels against a Nebraska squad that has been to 41 consecutive bowl games since 1962, and has played much better near the end of the season.

Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State (7-5, 5-3) won a bid to the Houston Bowl with a late season win over Big 12 champion Oklahoma. Led by 2002 AP Big 12 Coach of the Year Les Miles, the Cowboys will play Conference USA foe Southern Mississippi in what should be a very entertaining game.

OSU has won five of its last six games including the 38-28 stunner over the Sooners in Stillwater, Ok., 38-28.

Texas Tech

Texas Tech (8-5, 5-3) will travel to Orlando, Fla., to take on Clemson in the Tangerine Bowl. Tech brings a high-powered offense to the affair and once again will look to quarterback Kliff Kingsbury to direct them. Kingsbury passed for 4,642 yards and 42 touchdowns and also carried his team to a thrilling 44-41 win over intrastate rival Texas.

Head coach Mike Leach helped the Red Raiders score a school record 482 points and will try to outgun the Tigers of the ACC. While both teams don’t have a great defense, each are capable of making big plays that could turn the outcome of the game.