DALLAS (Ticker) -- Eli Manning could be following in the footsteps of Troy Aikman.
Back in the 1988 season, Aikman closed his college career at UCLA by leading the Bruins to a 17-3 victory over Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl and went on to become the top pick in the NFL draft a few months later.
Manning closes his college career in the same postseason game when he leads No. 18 Mississippi against No. 22 Oklahoma State in a game that will be played on January 2 - the same date as Aikman's swan song.
Mississippi (9-3) will be playing in the Cotton Bowl for the first time since the 1961 season and the main reason is Manning, a Heisman Trophy finalist who walked away with the Maxwell Award as the college player of the year.
Manning directed the Rebels to a share of the Southeastern Conference's West Division title and has passed for 3,341 yards and 27 touchdowns with nine interceptions. He will join his brother Peyton in the NFL next season and there is a possibility that he could be the No. 1 pick overall.
The Rebels distinguished themselves this season in the always-tough SEC, posting impressive road wins at Florida and Auburn. Mississippi established a respectable if unspectacular running game this season behind Tremaine Turner and that has taken some of the pressure off Manning. His favorite target is Chris Collins, who has caught 69 passes and has seven touchdowns.
The Rebels also feature Jonathan Nichols, who won the Lou Groza Award as top kicker in the country.
Mississippi's last trip to the Cotton Bowl was a 12-7 loss to Texas. The last time the Rebels played on New Year's Day or beyond was in the 1990 season, when it fell to Michigan, 35-3, in the Gator Bowl.
The invitation to the Cotton Bowl is a notable achievement for Oklahoma State (9-3), which has not played in a January bowl since a 20-0 Delta Bowl loss to William & Mary following the 1948 season.
The Cowboys beat Southern Mississippi in the Houston Bowl last season and are making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 1987-1988.
Oklahoma State has a marquee player of its own in wide receiver Rashaun Woods, who had his third straight 1,000-yard season. Woods has 14 touchdown catches, seven of which came in a win over Southern Methodist.
Tailback Tatum Bell, a native of Desoto, Texas, registered his second straight 1,000-yard season.
The biggest wins for the Cowboys this season was a 38-34 decision over Kansas State. But Oklahoma State was routed by Oklahoma and Texas in consecutive weeks in November by a combined score of 107-25.
Oklahoma State - then known as Oklahoma A&M - beat TCU in its only previous Cotton Bowl appearance following the 1944 season.
The teams are meeting for the first time.
