Oklahoma State University Athletics
The Most Fun I’ve Ever Had Playing Football – Bowman’s Season in Stillwater
December 21, 2023 | Cowboy Football
STILLWATER – Alan Bowman's 2023 season was an unconventional, yet unforgettable one.
He described the last year of his life as a "whirlwind." Bowman transferred to Oklahoma State after acting as Michigan's backup for two seasons. He felt he had more to offer and extra fuel in the tank and found Stillwater as home for 2023.
Bowman quarterbacked OSU's football team to a 9-4 record prior to bowl season. He won eight games as the team's starter. He led OSU to its second appearance in the Big 12 title game and the TaxAct Texas Bowl against Texas A&M. Despite the teams' early struggles, he's helped lead the team to one of its most improbable seasons to date.
"I was telling my family, 'If you would have told me a year ago that I would be playing in the Big 12 Championship game, I would have said you're crazy,'" Bowman said.
Bowman has quietly put together an impressive season at the helm of OSU's offense. Entering bowl season, Bowman has thrown for 3,058 yards, which effectively puts his name in the OSU record books. He sits at No. 9 all-time for OSU in yards for a single season and is just the sixth Cowboy to reach 3,000 yards in a single season. The last time a quarterback reached 3K was Taylor Corneluis in 2018.
This accomplishment is more impressive considering OSU's three-quarterback system for the first three games of the year, where Bowman started two of them. In those three games, he reached triple digits only once. Since becoming QB1, he has reached at least 200 yards in every game. Paired with Ollie Gordon II's Doak Walker Award-winning season, OSU's offense has ranked highly throughout the season.
Despite the age and experience difference between Bowman and Gordon, the two have developed a unique bond. Bowman said it's been special to watch Gordon's success and that it's deserved.
"He's one of my better friends on the team," Bowman said. "I've been fortunate to be around a lot of great guys in my college career, and he's at the top of that list."
On his third collegiate team, Bowman said he's having the most fun in his career this season with OSU.
"Obviously, it kind of had ups and downs," Bowman said. "We've had some tough losses and some huge wins, but this is the most fun I've ever had. I love this place and this team."
One of the big wins Bowman is referring to is the Bedlam finale in November. Bowman put together 334 yards on over 65 percent completion rate. He also ran for a score in that game. Bowman famously took a knee on OSU's logo and pointed toward the sky after icing the game in victory formation. That moment will remain synonymous with Bedlam for the remainder of its history, as the Cowboys claimed the final game on home turf.
In Bowman's debut season with the Cowboys, he also helped several receivers reach closer to their fullest potential. Brennan Presley set career highs in receptions, reception touchdowns and yards as Bowman's top receiver. Rashod Owens' became a reliable No. 2 option after putting up 53 catches for over 700 yards and three touchdowns. Additionally, Leon Johnson III established himself as a deep ball playmaker for the Cowboys in the second half of the season. Prior to an injury, De'Zhaun Stribling had a promising start to the season as well.
Bowman and the Cowboys now set out to take on Texas A&M in the latest edition of the TaxAct Texas Bowl. OSU and A&M faced off in the 2019 Texas Bowl, where the Aggies claimed the victory in a tight 24-21 game.
Alongside avenging 2019's loss, Bowman said there's more to play for, especially after all this team has gone through to make it to this point.
"It capitalizes the season," Bowman said. "I think 10 wins sounds really nice … Definitely the Bowl game is huge; you want to go out as champions. You want to cap the season off with a win."
Understanding the importance of the game to the Cowboys and himself, Bowman said he recognizes it won't be an easy task to beat A&M.
"They were the No. 1 defense in the SEC, top-five defenses in the country this year," Bowman said. "They have a lot of really, really good players, a lot of good talent, a good scheme. So, I think they're going to be really good. They're going to be hard to beat."
Bowman and the Cowboys are set to take on the Aggies on December 27 at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
He described the last year of his life as a "whirlwind." Bowman transferred to Oklahoma State after acting as Michigan's backup for two seasons. He felt he had more to offer and extra fuel in the tank and found Stillwater as home for 2023.
Bowman quarterbacked OSU's football team to a 9-4 record prior to bowl season. He won eight games as the team's starter. He led OSU to its second appearance in the Big 12 title game and the TaxAct Texas Bowl against Texas A&M. Despite the teams' early struggles, he's helped lead the team to one of its most improbable seasons to date.
"I was telling my family, 'If you would have told me a year ago that I would be playing in the Big 12 Championship game, I would have said you're crazy,'" Bowman said.
Bowman has quietly put together an impressive season at the helm of OSU's offense. Entering bowl season, Bowman has thrown for 3,058 yards, which effectively puts his name in the OSU record books. He sits at No. 9 all-time for OSU in yards for a single season and is just the sixth Cowboy to reach 3,000 yards in a single season. The last time a quarterback reached 3K was Taylor Corneluis in 2018.
This accomplishment is more impressive considering OSU's three-quarterback system for the first three games of the year, where Bowman started two of them. In those three games, he reached triple digits only once. Since becoming QB1, he has reached at least 200 yards in every game. Paired with Ollie Gordon II's Doak Walker Award-winning season, OSU's offense has ranked highly throughout the season.
Despite the age and experience difference between Bowman and Gordon, the two have developed a unique bond. Bowman said it's been special to watch Gordon's success and that it's deserved.
"He's one of my better friends on the team," Bowman said. "I've been fortunate to be around a lot of great guys in my college career, and he's at the top of that list."
On his third collegiate team, Bowman said he's having the most fun in his career this season with OSU.
"Obviously, it kind of had ups and downs," Bowman said. "We've had some tough losses and some huge wins, but this is the most fun I've ever had. I love this place and this team."
One of the big wins Bowman is referring to is the Bedlam finale in November. Bowman put together 334 yards on over 65 percent completion rate. He also ran for a score in that game. Bowman famously took a knee on OSU's logo and pointed toward the sky after icing the game in victory formation. That moment will remain synonymous with Bedlam for the remainder of its history, as the Cowboys claimed the final game on home turf.
In Bowman's debut season with the Cowboys, he also helped several receivers reach closer to their fullest potential. Brennan Presley set career highs in receptions, reception touchdowns and yards as Bowman's top receiver. Rashod Owens' became a reliable No. 2 option after putting up 53 catches for over 700 yards and three touchdowns. Additionally, Leon Johnson III established himself as a deep ball playmaker for the Cowboys in the second half of the season. Prior to an injury, De'Zhaun Stribling had a promising start to the season as well.
Bowman and the Cowboys now set out to take on Texas A&M in the latest edition of the TaxAct Texas Bowl. OSU and A&M faced off in the 2019 Texas Bowl, where the Aggies claimed the victory in a tight 24-21 game.
Alongside avenging 2019's loss, Bowman said there's more to play for, especially after all this team has gone through to make it to this point.
"It capitalizes the season," Bowman said. "I think 10 wins sounds really nice … Definitely the Bowl game is huge; you want to go out as champions. You want to cap the season off with a win."
Understanding the importance of the game to the Cowboys and himself, Bowman said he recognizes it won't be an easy task to beat A&M.
"They were the No. 1 defense in the SEC, top-five defenses in the country this year," Bowman said. "They have a lot of really, really good players, a lot of good talent, a good scheme. So, I think they're going to be really good. They're going to be hard to beat."
Bowman and the Cowboys are set to take on the Aggies on December 27 at 8 p.m. CT. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
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