COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Ollie Gordon II flirted with the idea of leaving Oklahoma State, with the star running back entering the transfer portal earlier this month.
But he announced Sunday ahead of the team’s matchup with Texas A&M (7-5) in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday night that he’ll remain with the 22nd-ranked Cowboys (9-4) next season.
Gordon led the nation with 1,614 yards rushing to become the first Oklahoma State player to win the Doak Walker Award for the nation’s top running back and was named a unanimous All-American. He ran for at least 120 yards in six straight games this season, highlighted by two consecutive games with more than 270 yards rushing.
Now he’ll try to lead the Cowboys to their third bowl win in four seasons when they play in their school-record 18th consecutive bowl game.
Gordon, who was a bit banged up at the end of the regular season, appreciates the extra time they’ve had to prepare for the Aggies.
“Our schedule is more like our spring schedule, so I feel like it’s helping us rejuvenate our bodies and get back to what we were toward the beginning of the season,” he said. “Everybody can be healthy. Everybody can go out firing on all cylinders. Looking at it from that perspective, it’s really good.”
The Aggies return to a bowl game for the first time since 2020 after opting out of the Gator Bowl in 2021 because of COVID-19 issues and not qualifying in last year’s 5-7 season.
Mike Elko was hired last month to replace Jimbo Fisher, who was fired after another disappointing season, but he will not coach the bowl game. Interim coach Elijah Robinson will lead the team Wednesday night before leaving to take a job as the defensive coordinator at Syracuse.
Robinson knows the key to this game will be slowing down Gordon.
“He is elite,” Robinson said. “He won the Doak Walker for a reason. He’s a patient runner. He’s getting downhill. We understand the challenge.”
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