How Oklahoma State Football Would Stack Up In Expanded 24 Team CFP

The Big 12 coaches unanimously voted to support a 24-team College Football Playoff field on Friday at the Big 12 Meetings in Frisco, Texas.

While fans remain divided on if the CFP should expand, history says that it would be highly favorable to the Cowboys if the field was larger.

Sporting News and PistolsFiring put together a list of how CFP would have looked with an expanded field dating back to 2008. The Cowboys would've had 10 total playoff appearances in that stretch. 

For further context, the Big 12 would've had nine teams make the College Football Playoff in the last two seasons. That is more than the ACC with seven, but behind the SEC and Big Ten, as the SEC had 14 and the Big Ten had 11.

In the simplest of terms, if Oklahoma State is basically a top 20 team in a 24-team format, they would qualify for the postseason, which makes things very favorable for the Pokes.

Oklahoma State "What If" in a 24-Team College Football Playoff 

2008: No. 13 Oklahoma State (9-3) hosting No. 20 Pittsburgh (9-3), Winner gets: No. 4 Alabama (12-1)

2009: No. 19 Oklahoma State (9-3) at No. 14 BYU (10-2), Winner gets: No. 3 Cincinnati (12-0)

2010: No. 14 Oklahoma State (10-2) hosting No. 19 Utah (10-2), Winner gets: No. 3 TCU (12-0)

2011: Second round: No. 3 Oklahoma State (11-1) hosting winner of No. 14 Oklahoma (9-3) vs No. 19 Houston (12-1)

2013: No. 13 Oklahoma State (10-2) hosting No. 20 Fresno State (11-1), Winner gets: No. 4 Michigan State (12-1)

2015: No. 16 Oklahoma State (10-2) hosting No. 18 Houston (12-1) [avoids rematch with No. 17 Baylor], Winner gets: No. 1 Clemson (13-0)

2016: No. 12 Oklahoma State (9-3) hosting No. 21 Tennessee (8-4), Winner gets: No. 5 Penn State (11-2)

2020: No. 21 Oklahoma State (7-3) at No. 12 Coastal Carolina (11-0), Winner gets: No. 5 Texas A&M (8-1)

2021: No. 9 Oklahoma State (11-2) hosting No. 24 San Diego State (11-2), Winner gets: No. 8 Ole Miss (10-2)

2023: No. 20 Oklahoma State (9-4) at No. 13 LSU (9-3), Winner gets: No. 4 Alabama (12-1)

So based on history, it is safe to say that the Cowboys would greatly benefit from the College Football Playoff expanding. 

Oklahoma athletics director Roger Denny also stated earlier this week at SEC Meetings in Destin, Florida that an expanded CFP field could also lead to the return of the Bedlam Series.

Nothing is decided yet, but Cowboy fans might have their opinions on whether or not to expand the playoff, swayed by what history says, and the potential return of the Bedlam Series with OU.