(December 2, 2012) -- After missing out on the BCS, Big 12 co-champion Oklahoma will instead take on Johnny Football and former conference rival Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl.

The 12th-ranked Sooners (10-2) had their chances of an at-large BCS bid extinguished Sunday when Mid-American Conference champion Northern Illinois moved up far enough to claim an automatic bid. Instead, they'll take on Heisman Trophy contender Johnny Manziel and the 10th-ranked Aggies, who had been divisional rivals and yearly opponents for the past 16 seasons before A&M left for the Southeastern Conference.

It'll be the first chance for Oklahoma's Bob Stoops to coach against Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin, who was an assistant with the Sooners for five years.

The game will be played at Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Jan. 4.