Upon further review, and another review – and another – Texas Tech is the front-runner for a spot in the Cotton Bowl.

There were three plays reviewed in the final 31 seconds of the Red Raiders’ game against Oklahoma, two going in their favor. That included Taurean Henderson’s two-yard touchdown run on the game’s final snap.

Was Henderson’s knee down before he stretched the ball across the goal line as time expired?

Television replays from multiple angles didn’t provide enough evidence to overturn the call on the field, made by a side official who seemed hesitantly to rule touchdown, pausing after the play before giving his signal.

No matter how inconclusive that final play Saturday, Texas Tech’s 23-21 victory won’t be overturned.

“I was there, and I was able to watch Taurean go down and roll over all in motion,” quarterback Cody Hodges said. “I was real confident in they weren’t going to overturn it. I said a quick prayer that some replay wasn’t going to cost us our last win at home.”

Or a trip to the Cotton Bowl.

The No. 18 Red Raiders (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) almost certainly will be in Dallas on Jan. 2 as the Big 12 representative for their first Cotton Bowl appearance since 1995.

If not for the first reviewed play that went in Tech’s favor, Henderson would not have even had the chance to score a controversial game-winning touchdown, and Oklahoma (6-4, 5-2) could be in line the Cotton Bowl.

On a fourth-and-three play with 31 seconds left, Danny Amendola caught a deflected pass and came down near the first-down marker. The replay was reviewed to determine the spot, and the Red Raiders had just enough for a first down.

The other reviewed play came on Joel Filani’s catch in back corner of the end zone with nine seconds left. That was initially ruled a touchdown, but was overturned when the replay showed clearly that Filani was bobbling the ball when he went out of bounds.

There were no controversial finishes in the two other Big 12 games this weekend.

Kansas State (5-6, 2-6 Big 12) overcame a two-touchdown deficit after halftime and beat bowl-bound Missouri 36-28 in the Wildcats’ final game for retiring coach Bill Snyder. The loss knocked the Tigers (6-5, 4-4) out of contention for the Big 12 North title.

Like Kansas State, Baylor (5-6, 2-6) ended a five-game losing streak in its season finale. The Bears beat Oklahoma State 44-34 to end bowl hopes for the Cowboys (4-6, 1-6).

With one week left in the regular season, the Big 12 North title is still undecided and two more teams still have to chance to join the seven already eligible for bowl games.

Big 12 South champion Texas, Colorado, Iowa State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas Tech are bowl bound. The bowl invitations will be extended a day after the Dec. 3 league championship game in Houston.