Oklahoma State presents a tough challenge for Texas A&M in the Texas Bowl as the Cowboys feature star running back Chuba Hubbard.

Here are five things to know about the Cowboys:

Bowl success under Mike Gundy

Oklahoma State has seen consistent postseason success under coach Mike Gundy.

In his 14 years as the Cowboys’ head coach, Gundy has led his team to 13 bowl appearances with the Pokes holding a 9-4 record. Oklahoma State has also won its last three bowl games.

Even when Gundy was a player at Oklahoma State, the Cowboys won in bowl games. Gundy guided the team to wins in the 1987 Sun Bowl and 1988 Holiday Bowl at quarterback.

Of Oklahoma State’s 19 all-time bowl wins, Gundy has been a part of 11 of them. However, the Cowboys lost their one bowl matchup against Texas A&M in the 1981 Independence Bowl.

Running away from the competition

Chuba Hubbard, a Doak Walker Award finalist, has been electric this season.

The redshirt sophomore running back leads the nation in rushing yards (1,936) and has 21 rushing touchdowns this season. Averaging 161.3 yards per game, Hubbard is hard to hold.

Not only is Hubbard tough to tackle, he’s explosive, too. According to Pro Football Focus, Hubbard has 1,191 yards after contact this season, which leads the nation. He also has 18 carries of 20-plus yards.

The Aggies will need the entire next two weeks to scheme well against Hubbard.

Starting quarterback’s status in question

The Cowboys’ chances of winning could also depend on if starting quarterback Spencer Sanders, who was sidelined with a broken thumb against Kansas on Nov. 16, can play.

Since the injury, Sanders, a Denton Ryan product who was named Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, underwent surgery. During a bowl announcement teleconference, Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said Sanders will be reevaluated on Dec. 16.

Sanders was up-and-down in his first year as a starter. He led the Cowboys to a 7-3 mark before being injured, throwing for 2,065 yards and 16 touchdowns, but also had 11 interceptions. Sanders has shined with his legs though, rushing for 625 yards this year to compliment Hubbard.

If Sanders can’t go, the Cowboys will roll with Dru Brown, a graduate transfer from Hawaii, who has completed 72.2 percent of his passes in six games, including two starts, this season.

Star receiver out for the season

Junior standout receiver Tylan Wallace had his third season in Stillwater cut too short after suffering a season-ending ACL injury during a practice in late October.

Wallace, a Fort Worth native, was in contention for the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the nation’s top receiver, after being named a finalist in 2018.

At 6-feet, 185 pounds, Wallace reeled in 53 catches for 903 yards and eight touchdowns in eight games of action this season. Those totals still lead the Cowboys.

A&M won’t have to face one of the nation’s top wideouts, and the Cowboys are missing a true star.

Starting strong, ending poor

Oklahoma State has seemed to bookend its best and worst quarters this season.

In the first quarter, the Cowboys are outscoring opponents 102-50, but in the fourth, they’ve been outscored 107-75. In Oklahoma State’s four losses, the Cowboys were outscored 47-28 in the final quarter of the game.

If A&M can capitalize early and keep the Pokes from pulling ahead out the gates, the Aggies might be able to settle in for the remainder of the game.