2010 Cotton Bowl Classic
Encyclopedia
The 2010 AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys
, representing Oklahoma State University, from the Big 12 Conference
and the Ole Miss Rebels
, representing the University of Mississippi
, from the Southeastern Conference
that took place on Saturday, January 2, 2010, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
, Texas
. The 2010 game was the first game in Cowboys Stadium after leaving its namesake venue
and was the concluding game of the season for both teams involved.
Ole Miss has the distinction of playing in the last ever Cotton Bowl Classic held in the old Cotton Bowl stadium and playing in the first ever Cotton Bowl Classic held in its new home at Cowboys Stadium.
This was Ole Miss' second consecutive Cotton Bowl Classic appearance as the Rebels also played in the 2009 Cotton Bowl Classic where they defeated Texas Tech
47–34.
This was also the second meeting between Ole Miss and Oklahoma State in a Cotton Bowl Classic game. The two teams met in the 2004 Cotton Bowl Classic, which Ole Miss won 31-28 on the arm of quarterback Eli Manning
.
This was Oklahoma State's third appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Their first was a 34–0 win over in 1945. This was Ole Miss' fifth appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Aside from the 2004 and 2009 games, Ole Miss defeated TCU 14–13 in 1956 and lost to Texas
7–12 in 1962.
In this 2010 edition of the Cotton Bowl Classic, Ole Miss defeated Oklahoma State by a score of 21-7. With the win, Ole Miss became the first team to win back-to-back Cotton Bowl Classics since Notre Dame did so in 1993 and 1994. Ole Miss' Dexter McCluster
was awarded the offensive MVP, making him only the second back-to-back offensive MVP in the Cotton Bowl Classic's 74 year history. The other was SMU's Doak Walker
in 1948 and 1949. McCluster's 86-yard run for a touchdown was the longest actual completed run in Cotton Bowl Classic history but is not the longest officially. In the 1954 Cotton Bowl Classic, Rice University's Dicky Moegle began a run from his team's 5 yard line down the sideline near the University of Alabama's bench. As Moegle passed Alabama's bench, Alabama player Tommy Lewis
jumped off the bench, wearing no helmet, and tackled Moegle at the 42-yard line. The referee saw what happened and signaled touchdown therefore making it officially a 95-yard run for a touchdown.
2009 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team
The 2009 Oklahoma State Cowboys football team represented Oklahoma State University in the 2009 NCAA Division I FBS college football season. The Cowboys, led by 5th year head coach Mike Gundy, played their home games at Boone Pickens Stadium...
, representing Oklahoma State University, from the Big 12 Conference
Big 12 Conference
The Big 12 Conference is a college athletic conference of ten schools located in the Central United States, with its headquarters located in Las Colinas, a community in the Dallas, Texas suburb of Irving...
and the Ole Miss Rebels
2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team
The 2009 Ole Miss Rebels football team represented the University of Mississippi during the 2009 college football season. The team was led by Houston Nutt, who was in his second season as the Rebels' head coach...
, representing the University of Mississippi
University of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
, from the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
that took place on Saturday, January 2, 2010, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington
Arlington, Texas
Arlington is a city in Tarrant County, Texas within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. According to the 2010 census results, the city had a population of 365,438, making it the third largest municipality in the Metroplex...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. The 2010 game was the first game in Cowboys Stadium after leaving its namesake venue
Cotton Bowl (stadium)
The Cotton Bowl is a stadium which opened in 1929 and became known as "The House That Doak Built" due to the immense crowds that former SMU running back Doak Walker drew to the stadium during his college career in the late 1940s. Originally known as Fair Park Stadium, it is located in Fair Park,...
and was the concluding game of the season for both teams involved.
Ole Miss has the distinction of playing in the last ever Cotton Bowl Classic held in the old Cotton Bowl stadium and playing in the first ever Cotton Bowl Classic held in its new home at Cowboys Stadium.
This was Ole Miss' second consecutive Cotton Bowl Classic appearance as the Rebels also played in the 2009 Cotton Bowl Classic where they defeated Texas Tech
2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team
The 2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders football team represented Texas Tech University in the college football season of 2008/09. The team was coached by Mike Leach. The Red Raiders played their home games at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. The football team competed in the Division I Football Bowl...
47–34.
This was also the second meeting between Ole Miss and Oklahoma State in a Cotton Bowl Classic game. The two teams met in the 2004 Cotton Bowl Classic, which Ole Miss won 31-28 on the arm of quarterback Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
.
This was Oklahoma State's third appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Their first was a 34–0 win over in 1945. This was Ole Miss' fifth appearance in the Cotton Bowl Classic. Aside from the 2004 and 2009 games, Ole Miss defeated TCU 14–13 in 1956 and lost to Texas
Texas Longhorns football
The Texas Longhorns football program is the intercollegiate football team representing The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas. The team currently competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Big 12 Conference which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National...
7–12 in 1962.
In this 2010 edition of the Cotton Bowl Classic, Ole Miss defeated Oklahoma State by a score of 21-7. With the win, Ole Miss became the first team to win back-to-back Cotton Bowl Classics since Notre Dame did so in 1993 and 1994. Ole Miss' Dexter McCluster
Dexter McCluster
Dexter Marquise McCluster is an American football wide receiver and running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, formerly of the Ole Miss Rebels. He was considered one of the top athlete prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft...
was awarded the offensive MVP, making him only the second back-to-back offensive MVP in the Cotton Bowl Classic's 74 year history. The other was SMU's Doak Walker
Doak Walker
Ewell Doak Walker, Jr. was an American football player who is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was a teammate of Bobby Layne in high school and the NFL.-Early life:...
in 1948 and 1949. McCluster's 86-yard run for a touchdown was the longest actual completed run in Cotton Bowl Classic history but is not the longest officially. In the 1954 Cotton Bowl Classic, Rice University's Dicky Moegle began a run from his team's 5 yard line down the sideline near the University of Alabama's bench. As Moegle passed Alabama's bench, Alabama player Tommy Lewis
Tommy Lewis (American football)
Tommy Lewis of Greenville, Alabama played fullback for the Alabama Crimson Tide in the 1951, 1952 and 1953 seasons. He wore number 34...
jumped off the bench, wearing no helmet, and tackled Moegle at the 42-yard line. The referee saw what happened and signaled touchdown therefore making it officially a 95-yard run for a touchdown.
Scoring summary
| Scoring Play | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd Quarter | |||
| MISS - Dexter McCluster Dexter McCluster Dexter Marquise McCluster is an American football wide receiver and running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, formerly of the Ole Miss Rebels. He was considered one of the top athlete prospects for the 2010 NFL Draft... rush for 86 yards for a TOUCHDOWN, Joshua Shene extra point GOOD, 11:19 |
MISS 7–0 | ||
| 3rd Quarter | |||
| OKST - Keith Toston pass complete to Wilson Youman for 1 yard for a TOUCHDOWN, Dan Bailey extra point GOOD, 7:13 | TIE 7–7 | ||
| 4th Quarter | |||
| MISS - Dexter McCluster rush for 2 yards for a TOUCHDOWN, Joshua Shene extra point GOOD, 4:03 | MISS 14–7 | ||
| MISS - Patrick Trahan fumble recovery returned 34 yards for a TOUCHDOWN, Joshua Shene extra point GOOD, 3:12 | MISS 21–7 | ||