The 2023 Alamo Bowl features the 9-3 Arizona Wildcats against the 10-2 Oklahoma Sooners. Here is the 2023 Alamo Bowl Preview.
Arizona won nine games to make their first bowl game since 2017. They defeated three bowl-eligible teams this season: Oregon State, UCLA and Utah. They had one loss to a team that didn’t make a bowl game: Mississippi State.
The Wildcats score 34 points per game, ranking 27th in the country. They pass for 304.5 yards (ranked 12th) and rush for 148.9 yards per game (ranked 80th).
Noah Fifita has taken over the starting quarterback job for the Wildcats this season. He has passed for 2,515 yards, 23 touchdowns and five interceptions on 73.6 percent completion. Six players have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Tetairoa McMillan leads the team with 80 catches for 1,242 yards and 10 touchdowns. Jacob Cowing has also contributed with 83 catches for 696 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Three running backs have at least 200 rushing yards on the season. Jonah Coleman leads the team with 851 rushing yards and five touchdowns. DJ Williams and Michael Wiley have contributed with 345 and 292 yards respectively.
Defensively, the Wildcats allow 20.8 points per game, ranking 26th in the country. They concede 111.3 rushing yards (ranked 19th) and 229.6 passing yards per game (ranked 73rd). Jacob Manu leads the team with 97 tackles. Taylor Upshaw has been their best pass rusher with 8.5 sacks. Tacario Davis has made plays in the secondary with 15 passes defended and one interception.
Oklahoma won 10 games to make their 25th-straight bowl game. They defeated six bowl-eligible teams this season: Arkansas State, SMU, Iowa State, Texas, UCF and West Virginia. Both of their losses were to bowl-eligible teams.
The Sooners score 43.2 points per game, ranking them third in the country. They pass for 321.8 yards (ranked sixth) and rush for 180.6 yards per game (ranked 38th).
Dillon Gabriel started for Oklahoma this season, but he is transferring. Jackson Arnold will take over after passing for 202 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the regular season. Five players have at least 300 receiving yards this season for the Sooners. Drake Stoops has the team-high with 78 receptions for 880 yards and 10 touchdowns. Nic Anderson has also been great with 31 catches for 725 yards and nine touchdowns.
Running back Gavin Sawchuk leads the team with 610 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. With Tawee Walker, Marcus Major and Gabriel transferring, the Sooners will need players to step up behind Sawchuk.
Their defense gives up 22.3 points per game, ranking 41st in the country. They allow 147.8 rushing yards (ranked 58th) and 242.2 passing yards per game (ranked 99th). Linebacker Danny Stutsman has made a major impact with 99 total tackles and has already stated his intentions to return for next season. Ethan Downs has the team-high with 4.5 sacks. Woodi Washington has been impressive with seven passes defended.
Oklahoma has plenty of players in the portal, but their defense can create problems for Arizona’s offense. Arizona’s best player, left tackle Jordan Morgan, has opted out for this game. Oklahoma still has plenty of talent on their roster to get the job done.
Oklahoma Sooners 34 Arizona Wildcats 31
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