2010 Alamo Bowl (December)
Encyclopedia
The 2010 Valero Alamo Bowl game was the 18th edition of the annual college football
bowl game
known previously as the Alamo Bowl
. It was played on December 29, 2010 (9:15 p.m. ET) between the Arizona Wildcats
and the Oklahoma State Cowboys
. ESPN
television broadcasted the game with Valero
as the title sponsor.
and entered the game with a 10-2 record. The team was led by star receiver Justin Blackmon who had 1665 yards receiving and 18 touchdown catches on the season. The Cowboys beat out Big 12 finalist, Nebraska for the selection in the contest. This is the first time in history that an Oklahoma State team had won 10 games in a season. This was the fifth straight year that the Cowboys had appeared in a bowl game. This was the third time in school history that Oklahoma State had played in the Alamo Bowl, having previously lost to Purdue
in 1997 and Ohio State
in 2004.
Oklahoma State was led offensively by Kendall Hunter
(261 rushes for 516 yards, 16 TD), Brandon Weeden
(317 of 470 passes for 4,037 yards, 32 TD) and Justin Blackmon
(102 catches for 665 yards, 18 TD). On the defense, the team was led by Orie Lemon (119 tackles, 93 solo), Jamie Blatnick (5.0 sacks for 29 yards) and Andrew McGee (5 interceptions for 90 yards).
Arizona led the conference in pass offense, completed 325 of 474 passes for 3,720 yards (310 yards per game) with 9 interceptions and 24 touchdowns. Individually, quarterback Nick Foles
led the Pac-10, completed 254 of 376 passes for 2,911 yards (291.1 yards per game) with 7 interceptions and 19 touchdowns. Top receiver was Juron Criner
, who caught 73 passes for 1,186 yards or 98.8 yards per game for 10 touchdowns. His longest catch was for 85 yards. Ricky Elmore led defensively with 10 sacks and 2 assists.
The Cowboys and Wildcats would meet again less than nine months later on September 8, 2011, and again the Cowboys
defeated the Wildcats
, though by a smaller margin of 37–14.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
bowl game
Bowl game
In North America, a bowl game is commonly considered to refer to one of a number of post-season college football games. Prior to 2002, bowl game statistics were not included in players' career totals and the games were mostly considered to be exhibition games involving a payout to participating...
known previously as the Alamo Bowl
Alamo Bowl
The Alamo Bowl is a major American college football bowl game played annually since 1993 in the 65,000-seat Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. It matches the second choice team from the Pacific-12 Conference and the third choice team from the Big 12 Conference.Traditionally, the Alamo Bowl has been...
. It was played on December 29, 2010 (9:15 p.m. ET) between the Arizona Wildcats
2010 Arizona Wildcats football team
The 2010 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the college football season of 2010. The team's head coach was Mike Stoops. The Wildcats played their home games at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona...
and the Oklahoma State Cowboys
2010 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team
The 2010 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team was coached by 6th year head coach Mike Gundy and played their homes game at Boone Pickens Stadium. They played in the Big 12 Conference in the South Division...
. ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
television broadcasted the game with Valero
Valero
Valero Energy Corporation is a Fortune 500 international manufacturer and marketer of transportation fuels, other petrochemical products, and power based in San Antonio, Texas, United States...
as the title sponsor.
Oklahoma State
The Cowboys were kept out of the Big 12 Championship Game after a late season loss to Oklahoma2010 Oklahoma Sooners football team
The 2010 Oklahoma Sooners football team represented the University of Oklahoma in the college football season of 2010–2011. It was the 116th year of season play for the Sooners. The team was led by head coach Bob Stoops, a two-time Walter Camp Coach of the Year award winner, who has a contract...
and entered the game with a 10-2 record. The team was led by star receiver Justin Blackmon who had 1665 yards receiving and 18 touchdown catches on the season. The Cowboys beat out Big 12 finalist, Nebraska for the selection in the contest. This is the first time in history that an Oklahoma State team had won 10 games in a season. This was the fifth straight year that the Cowboys had appeared in a bowl game. This was the third time in school history that Oklahoma State had played in the Alamo Bowl, having previously lost to Purdue
Purdue Boilermakers football
The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of...
in 1997 and Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
in 2004.
Oklahoma State was led offensively by Kendall Hunter
Kendall Hunter
Kendall Hunter is an American football running back for the San Francisco 49ers. He was chosen with the 115th pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He previously attended Oklahoma State University–Stillwater. He is the Cowboys' fourth all-time leading rusher...
(261 rushes for 516 yards, 16 TD), Brandon Weeden
Brandon Weeden
Brandon Kyle Weeden , is the starting American football quarterback for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys...
(317 of 470 passes for 4,037 yards, 32 TD) and Justin Blackmon
Justin Blackmon
Justin Blackmon is an American football wide receiver. He currently attends Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in his junior season. He is considered one of the best wide receivers of his class....
(102 catches for 665 yards, 18 TD). On the defense, the team was led by Orie Lemon (119 tackles, 93 solo), Jamie Blatnick (5.0 sacks for 29 yards) and Andrew McGee (5 interceptions for 90 yards).
Arizona
The Wildcats started the season 7-1 and looked like a serious contender for the Pac-10 championship. However, Arizona lost their last four games and come into the contest with a 7-5 record. The Alamo Bowl marks the third straight season that the Wildcats appeared in a bowl game after not appearing in one since 1998. This was the first time that Arizona played in the Alamo Bowl in school history.Arizona led the conference in pass offense, completed 325 of 474 passes for 3,720 yards (310 yards per game) with 9 interceptions and 24 touchdowns. Individually, quarterback Nick Foles
Nick Foles
Nick Foles is an American football quarterback for the Arizona Wildcats. During the 2011 season, Foles led the Pac 12 Conference and ranked fifth nationally in total offense with an average of 352.58 yards per game....
led the Pac-10, completed 254 of 376 passes for 2,911 yards (291.1 yards per game) with 7 interceptions and 19 touchdowns. Top receiver was Juron Criner
Juron Criner
Juron Criner is an American college football wide receiver with the Arizona Wildcats football team. A Las Vegas, Nevada native, Criner attended Canyon Springs High School.-2008:...
, who caught 73 passes for 1,186 yards or 98.8 yards per game for 10 touchdowns. His longest catch was for 85 yards. Ricky Elmore led defensively with 10 sacks and 2 assists.
Game notes
The game marked the 7th time in school history that the programs had played each other, but first time since 1942. The series was tied at 3-3. The two schools had never played each other in a bowl game prior to the Alamo Bowl.The Cowboys and Wildcats would meet again less than nine months later on September 8, 2011, and again the Cowboys
2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team
The 2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represents Oklahoma State University in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Cowboys will be led by seventh year head coach Mike Gundy and will play their home games at Boone Pickens Stadium...
defeated the Wildcats
2011 Arizona Wildcats football team
The 2011 Arizona Wildcats football team represented the University of Arizona in the 2011 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team plays their home games in Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona...
, though by a smaller margin of 37–14.