With the slightest shift in Bowl Championship Series decimals, the postseason fate of Oklahoma State took an amazing turn.

Faced with the prospect of meeting Northern Illinois in the Independence Bowl, the Cowboys were given a reprieve after Texas obtained a BCS at-large berth. Oklahoma State instead was pointed to the Alamo Bowl and a date with tradition-rich Ohio State.

"I remember being in the locker room with my dad, meeting Orlando Pace and some of the guys up close," said Oklahoma State OG Sam Mayes, an Ohio native who was eventually spurned by the Buckeyes. "Being in awe of the stadium and being in awe of the just the prestige of the school, I cannot think of a better way to end my career."

Except maybe to cap the opportunity with a victory over the Buckeyes.

Is it possible? Perhaps. But Oklahoma State needs to come out of its funk against good teams and actually prove itself after getting spanked by Texas, Texas A&M and Texas Tech, but playing Oklahoma close.

The Cowboys better not get caught up in the folklore of Woody Hayes or the star power of past Ohio State greats like Pace, Archie Griffin or Eddie George. If so, the Alamo Bowl bid may prove to be too rich for the undeserving Cowboys, who've lost three of their last four games.

That won't stop Oklahoma State from bringing a sizeable following to San Antonio for the Dec. 29 bowl game. What advantage the crowd provides could spur the Cowboys into proving they deserve this matchup.

BEST ATTRIBUTE: As long as its backfield is healthy and the offensive line is playing up to its capability, the Oklahoma State rushing attack is among the best in the country. TB Vernand Morency is the Cowboys' lead rusher, though backup Seymore Shaw proved capable as a fill-in when Morency was hobbled. The line, led by OG Sam Mayes and TE Billy Bajema, is among the most experienced in the Big 12. The group is comfortable in the red zone, scoring on all but three of its 45 opportunities.

NEEDS IMPROVEMENT: Dependency on the run game led to some questionable play-calling by the Oklahoma State staff, especially in the regular-season finale against Texas Tech when the Cowboys needed points but relied too much on time-consuming runs. Although QB Donovan Woods proved capable of generating a passing game with an athletic receiving corps led by his brother, D'Juan, Oklahoma State was too one-dimensional.

GAME OF THE YEAR: Needing to regroup following an uninspired 16-point loss at home to Texas A&M, the Cowboys traveled to Missouri and quickly dug a 14-0 hole. Still, they recovered for a 20-17 victory, which now looms large in their invitation to an bowl in the upper-tier of the Big 12 breakdown. The win at Missouri was followed by losses in three of the last four games. OSU started 5-0.

MATCHUP TO WATCH: Oklahoma State PR Darrent Williams vs. Ohio State PR Ted Ginn Jr. -- OK, so they won't get to tackle each other unless Williams plays on the Cowboys' cover units. Oklahoma State was adversely affected this season when Williams, the Big 12's top return man, broke his forearm against Iowa State on Oct. 2 and was slow to return. Ginn, meanwhile, returned four punts for touchdowns as a freshman and is averaging 26.9 yards.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I will certainly recognize their uniform. I look forward to rekindling an old rivalry." -- Oklahoma State coach Les Miles, a Michigan graduate who also served as an assistant for the Wolverines, on playing Ohio State in the Alamo Bowl.

BOWL AT A GLANCE: Oklahoma State vs. Ohio State, Alamo Bowl, San Antonio, Texas, Dec. 29 -- The second half of the season was tough for the Cowboys, who lost to their last four bowl-bound teams they played -- Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas Tech. A win here would be a nice way to go out.

PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Donovan Woods -- Doesn't possess glossy stats because of his team's reluctance to throw the ball more, though he did emerge as a decent passer and certainly played a key role in the Cowboys' .933 conversion rate in the red zone. OSU has scored on 42 of 45 trips into the red zone, including 34 touchdowns.

TB Vernand Morency -- The overload heaped on Morency early in the season when Oklahoma State was slow to groom Woods probably contributed to different nicks, which forced the junior to sit out a Nov. 13 win against Baylor. He has 1,454 yards and 12 touchdowns, with a 5.8-yard average per carry.

PRO POTENTIAL: OG Sam Mayes -- The best player among an experienced Oklahoma State line, Mayes has the potential to move on to the next level. He not only possesses the blocking skills, but is a sharp kid who understands the game and all the intricacies of different offensive schemes.

TE Billy Bajema -- Though rarely used as a receiver in an offense that didn't throw much anyway, Bajema was recognized throughout the Big 12 as an exceptional blocker. That skill could get him to the next level.

ROSTER REPORT: CB Darrent Williams, an All-America candidate before breaking his forearm in an Oct. 2 game against Iowa State, is confident he will return for the Alamo Bowl. ... TB Vernand Morency also is probable for the Alamo Bowl after limping off the field with the aid of a crutch following the Cowboys' last regular-season game on Nov. 27 against Texas Tech.