2020 Cotton Bowl Classic

The 2020 Cotton Bowl Classic was a college football bowl game played on December 30, 2020, with kickoff at 8:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. local CST) on ESPN.[4] It was the 85th edition of the Cotton Bowl Classic, and was one of the 2020–21 bowl games concluding the 2020 FBS football season. Sponsored by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, the game was officially known as the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

2020 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
85th Cotton Bowl Classic
Florida Gators Oklahoma Sooners
(8–3) (8–2)
SEC Big 12
20 55
Head coach: 
Dan Mullen		 Head coach: 
Lincoln Riley
APCoachesCFP
10107
APCoachesCFP
876
1234 Total
Florida 31007 20
Oklahoma 17141014 55
DateDecember 30, 2020
Season2020
StadiumAT&T Stadium
LocationArlington, Texas
MVPOffense: Rhamondre Stevenson (RB, Oklahoma)
Defense: Tre Norwood (DB, Oklahoma)[1]
FavoriteOklahoma by 8.5 (O/U: 65.5) [2]
RefereeChris Coyte (Pac-12)[3]
Attendance17,323
United States TV coverage
NetworkESPN and ESPN Radio
AnnouncersESPN: Joe Tessitore (play-by-play)
Dusty Dvoracek (analyst)
Holly Rowe (sideline)
ESPN Radio: Brad Sham, Jordan Rodgers, Ian Fitzsimmons

Teams

As one of the New Year's Six bowl games, the participants of the game were determined by the College Football Playoff selection committee. The committee matched No. 7[lower-alpha 1] Florida of the Southeastern Conference (SEC) against No. 6[lower-alpha 1] Oklahoma of the Big 12 Conference.[5] The teams had only met once previously, a 24–14 Florida victory in the 2009 BCS National Championship Game.[6] Several players from both teams opted not to participate in the game, choosing to prepare for the 2021 NFL Draft.[7] The opt-outs included three of Florida's receivers: Trevon Grimes, Kyle Pitts, and Kadarius Toney.[7]

Florida Gators
Main article: 2020 Florida Gators football team

Florida entered the bowl with an 8–3 record. The Gators were 8–2 in SEC play, then lost the SEC Championship Game to top-ranked Alabama. The Gators' other losses were to Texas A&M and LSU. Florida defeated one ranked team during the season, Georgia. This was the Gators' first appearance in a Cotton Bowl.

Oklahoma Sooners
Main article: 2020 Oklahoma Sooners football team

Oklahoma entered the bowl with an 8–2 record. The Sooners were 6–2 in Big 12 play, then won the Big 12 Championship Game over Iowa State. The Sooners had lost earlier in the season to Iowa State; their only other loss was to Kansas State. Oklahoma defeated two ranked teams during conference play; Texas and Oklahoma State. The Sooners had played in two prior Cotton Bowls, winning in January 2002 and losing in January 2013.

Game summary
2020 Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic
Period 1 2 34Total
No. 7 Florida 3 10 0720
No. 6 Oklahoma 17 14 101455

at AT&T Stadium • Arlington, Texas

Game information
First quarter
  • (12:59) OKLA – Marvin Mims 27 yard pass from Spencer Rattler, Gabe Brkic kick (Drive: 5 plays, 79 yards, 2:01; Oklahoma 7–0)
  • (12:22) OKLA – Tre Norwood 45 yard interception return, Gabe Brkic kick (Oklahoma 14–0)
  • (8:08) OKLA – Gabe Brkic 43 yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 30 yards, 1:03; Oklahoma 17–0)
  • (0:31) FLA – Evan McPherson 21 yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 33 yards, 3:02; Oklahoma 17–3)
Second quarter
  • (8:08) FLA – Emory Jones 1 yard rush, Evan McPherson kick (Drive: 16 plays, 88 yards, 5:54; Oklahoma 17–10)
  • (5:57) FLA – Evan McPherson 35 yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 12 yards, 1:33; Oklahoma 17–13)
  • (4:08) OKLA – Theo Wease 38 yard pass from Spencer Rattler, Gabe Brkic kick (Drive: 4 plays, 60 yards, 1:49; Oklahoma 24–13)
  • (0:16) OKLA – Spencer Rattler 1 yard rush, Gabe Brkic kick (Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 2:34; Oklahoma 31–13)
Third quarter
  • (7:51) OKLA – Gabe Brkic 20 yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 86 yards, 1:46; Oklahoma 34–13)
  • (3:58) OKLA – Rhamondre Stevenson 15 yard rush, Gabe Brkic kick (Drive: 5 plays, 87 yards, 2:25; Oklahoma 41–13)
Fourth quarter
  • (10:30) OKLA – Charleston Rambo 20 yard pass from Spencer Rattler, Gabe Brkic kick (Drive: 8 plays, 97 yards, 3:42; Oklahoma 48–13)
  • (6:11) OKLA – Marcus Major 46 yard rush, Gabe Brkic kick (Drive: 6 plays, 79 yards, 2:52; Oklahoma 55–13)
  • (3:18) FLA – Jordan Pouncey 27 yard pass from Anthony Richardson, Chris Howard kick (Drive: 6 plays, 89 yards, 2:47; Oklahoma 55–20)

Statistics
Statistics FLA OKLA
First downs2825
Plays–yards84–52165–684
Rushes–yards39–25040–435
Passing yards271249
Passing: comp–att–int25–45–315–25–0
Time of possession33:2026:40
TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
Florida PassingKyle Trask16/28, 158 yards, 3 INT
RushingEmory Jones10 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingTrent Whittemore2 receptions, 47 yards
Oklahoma PassingSpencer Rattler14/23, 247 yards, 3 TD
RushingRhamondre Stevenson18 carries, 186 yards, 1 TD
ReceivingSeth McGowan3 receptions, 70 yards

The Sooners tied the Cotton Bowl record for most points scored, with 55, and set new Cotton Bowl records for rushing yards, with 435, and total yards, with 684.[8]

See also

Notes
  1. Per final CFP Rankings released on December 20.

References
  1. @RyanLewis_TFB (December 30, 2020). "Tre norwood wins the cotton bowl defensive MVP Rhamondre Stevenson wins the cotton bowl offensive MVP" (Tweet). Retrieved December 31, 2020 – via Twitter.
  2. "ESPN Game Summary - Florida vs. Oklahoma - December 30, 2020". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  3. Austro, Ben (December 23, 2020). "2020-21 bowl officiating assignments". footballzebras.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  4. "College Football Bowl Schedule | 2020". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
  5. Oliveras, Seth (December 29, 2020). "Oklahoma Sooners Football vs. Florida: Cotton Bowl preview, storylines & predictions". crimsonandcreammachine.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  6. "Florida Gators vs. Oklahoma Sooners football series history games list". winsipedia.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  7. Tramel, Berry (December 30, 2020). "Florida and OU football opt-outs are an indictment of the bowl system". oklahoman.com. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
  8. "Sooners Hang Half-a-Hundred in Cotton Bowl Rout". soonersports.com. December 30, 2020. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
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