2012 Alamo Bowl

The 2012 Valero Alamo Bowl, the 20th edition of the game, was a postseason college football bowl game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oregon State Beavers at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, held on December 29, 2012 at 5:45 p.m. CST and was broadcast on ESPN.

Texas was held to no first downs in the first quarter, the first occurrence of such since losing 21–63 to Oklahoma earlier in the year.

At the end of the half, Oregon State led 20–10, which included two rushing touchdowns by the Beavers by running backs Storm Woods and Terron Ward.

The second half of the game in contrast featured a dominant performance by Texas.

Texas would score first in the half on a rushing touchdown by quarterback David Ash.

Oregon State would respond with a touchdown at the end of the quarter; however, Texas would score 14 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take their first lead of the game and would subsequently win after stopping Oregon State on their last possession, 31–27.

Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin was named offensive player of the game.

[4] This caused Texas, ranked third in the conference at the end of the season, to be selected to play in the Alamo Bowl.

As Pac-12 champion, the Stanford Cardinal was awarded an automatic invitation to the Rose Bowl after defeating the UCLA Bruins in the 2012 Pac-12 Football Championship Game.

Despite not participating in the conference championship because of its loss to Stanford, Oregon was selected to fill the at-large position in the BCS.

[4] This left Oregon State, the only remaining ranked team in the Pac-12 conference, to be selected to play in the Alamo Bowl.

[14] Texas opened the regular season at home with a non-conference win against Wyoming, 37–17, after trailing 9–7 in the first quarter.

[20] Texas won the conference game 41–36, on the heels of a controversial 2 yard touchdown run by runningback Joe Bergeron in the final minute of regulation.

[21] The final, game-winning drive also included a 29-yard throw from David Ash to tight end D.J.

[24] Following the two game losing skid, Texas rebounded with a shootout win against Baylor, 56–50.

[27] However, Texas had to rely on a touchdown pass from backup quarterback Case McCoy to tight end D.J.

[19] Following a second and final bye week, Texas faced recently joined Big 12 member TCU on Thanksgiving.

During the season, wide receiver Markus Wheaton set a career reception record with 224 catches.