Fans can expect a high-scoring match when No. 6 Oklahoma takes on No. 7 Florida in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas at 7 p.m. on December 30.

This is probably the best bowl game outside the College Football Playoff.

And it’s a long-awaited rematch of the 2008 National Championship game between then-No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Oklahoma. Florida won 24-14 and won the national championship. That is the only game between the two schools.

OU won their record-setting sixth-in-a-row Big 12 Championship by topping No. 10 Iowa State, 27-20, also in Arlington. The Sooners started the season 1-2, including back-to-back losses to Kansas State (35-38) and Iowa State (30-37). OU now won seven games in a row.

“We love playing there. It’s been a great stadium. We’ve had some pretty good memories over the last several years,” Oklahoma coach Lincoln Riley said. “Now is that going to make a difference in this game? I doubt it. It’s just going to be two good football teams going at it, like it should be. But we certainly enjoy it, and it’s one of the best venues in all of sports, in my opinion … I guess if you’ve got to choose, having some good memories there is a good place to start.”

Florida (8-3) nearly won the SEC Championship Saturday but fell to No. 1 Alabama, 46-52. Florida lost to Texas A&M, 38-41, and to LSU 34-37.

 “…the quarterback (Spencer Rattler) can run around, extend plays, scramble, and make things happen with his feet as well as having a really live arm,” said Florida coach Dan Mullen said. “And you always know they have great skill players out in the perimeter that can make plays with the ball in their hands and have always been a very physical team up front.

“So, (it) ought to be a big challenge for our guys to go against not just great offensive players but a great offensive scheme.”

The Gator offense is impressive. Quarterback Kyle Trask, the top-rated passer in the nation and a Heisman candidate, passed for 4,125 yards this season. He hit 285 of 409 passing attempts (70%) with 43 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Against Alabama’s defense, Trask hit 26 of 40 pass attempts (65%) with three scores and no interception.

Florida’s offense averages 508 yards per game (388 yards passing and 188 rushing).

For Oklahoma, redshirt freshman quarterback Spencer Rattler has passed for 2,784 yards, hitting 200 of 294 attempts (68%) for 25 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Against Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship game, Rattler hit 22 of 34 attempts (65%) for 272 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.

“I thought he probably played his best game of the year today,” Riley said. “I thought he was poised. I thought he did a great job in the scramble situations, threw some elite throws. I thought he made good decisions with the ball, really. I mean, he was in the right place a lot. I mean he, his eyes were where he was supposed to be. He went where he was supposed to go. Really, a big, big portion of the day.

“And Iowa State, as we knew they probably would, showed us some different looks and I thought he handled it well. These are big moments. I mean, you go win a four overtimer in the Red River game, you come here and play like he did and win the Big 12 championship here, I mean, these are big moments for a young guy and he’s certainly not afraid of them. He’s going to, he’s got so much room to grow and he’s going to get, have a chance to really get better if he’ll keep his head down and keep working. But for a redshirt freshman, this is a pretty darn good start.”

OU’s offense averages 475 yards per game (321 passing and 154 rushing.) Oklahoma is allowing only 333 yards per game (243 passing and 90 yard rushing). The rushing defense is third in the nation.

OU players were inspired against Iowa State because no Sooner defenders were on the Big       12 first team while three Cyclone players were first-teamers. Iowa State players won the offensive player of the year (running back Breece Hall), defensive player of the year (linebacker Mike Rose), offensive newcomer of the year (wide receiver Xavier Hutchinson), defensive co-freshman of the year (defensive back Ishemm Young) and coach of the year, Matt Campbell.

Riley was thankful for the motivation.

“Whoever did it, I need to send them a little gift basket,” Riley said.

OU has had to overcome cancelations, limited seating at home games, reduced revenue and salaries and other restrictions in 2020 due to the Chinese coronavirus pandemic.

“Everybody’s talked about how negative that 2020 has been and just it’s almost kind of become a catchphrase now,” Riley said “And I do think though the adversity also provides an unbelievable opportunity to do something special and that’s how we have tried to look at it this entire time through anything that came up was how awesome would it be to come back and everybody will remember. I think everybody will remember who won it this year. It’s the most challenging year any of us have ever had.”

Mordecai to transfer

OU quarterback Tanner Mordecai, a backup last year to Jalen Hurts and this year to Spencer Rattler, is entering the transfer portal.

Chandler Morris, who had a 2-yard touchdown run in the Big 12 Championship game win over Iowa State, will be the backup for the Cotton Bowl game. Five-star quarterback Caleb Williams signed with the Sooners’ 2021 class.

OU bowl history

This marks OU’s third Cotton Bowl appearance. The Sooners beat Arkansas 10-3 on Jan. 1, 2001, at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas and lost 41-13 to Texas A&M on Jan. 4, 2013, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Bob Stoops was the Sooners’ head coach for both games.

OU is making its 54th bowl appearance, tied for fourth most nationally. The Sooners are making their 22nd straight bowl appearance. Heading into this season, only two schools owned longer active consecutive streaks of bowl appearances recognized by the NCAA: Virginia Tech (27) and Georgia (23). Oklahoma has a 29-23-1 all-time bowl record.

Bowl games canceled

The NCAA dropped the stipulation that a team must win at least six games to be eligible for a bowl game because of the Chinese coronavirus pandemic. But some bowls were canceled and some teams have decline to accept a bowl bid.

The bowls that have been canceled include: Redbox Bowl, Hawaii Bowl, Bahamas Bowl, Holiday Bowl, Quick Lane Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl, Pinstripe Bowl, LA Bowl, Sun Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl.

These teams will decline bowl invitations: Kansas State, Arizona State, USC, Stanford, UCLA, Utah, Washington, Washington State, Penn State, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan State and Boise State.