Stillwater, Okla. ? Since the preseason, Oklahoma State football players have worn orange wristbands with black lettering that reads “Big 12 Champs.”

It’s a goal that no longer can be reached. The Cowboys’ 56-20 loss at No. 2 Texas Tech on Saturday night knocked them out of contention for the conference title. Oklahoma State (8-2, 4-2) conceivably could share the Big 12 South title but would lose tiebreakers to represent the division in the conference title game.

With their long-stated primary goal now out of reach, the 11th-ranked Cowboys figure now to try and qualify for the best possible bowl – perhaps the Cotton or Holiday, or even a Bowl Championship Series game if everything falls just right.

But coach Mike Gundy said any potential bowl destinations haven’t crossed his mind.

“We just concern ourselves with the next game,” Gundy said, which for Oklahoma State will be at Colorado (5-5, 2-4) today.

Gundy said that the Cowboys’ goal now is “to win the next game. It’s always that way. We try to prepare each week. We’ve watched some of Colorado, and this is a good defense that we’re getting ready to face. They’ve been pretty sound except for against Missouri (a 58-0 loss). They’ve got guys who can make some plays.”

In the wake of the loss to the Red Raiders, Oklahoma State players maintained the party line that the defeat, while lopsided, didn’t have to mark the end of their unexpected run as a Big 12 heavyweight.

“We’re going to try our best to look past this and get ready for next week,” sophomore receiver Dez Bryant said. “Practice hard and leave this off to the side and get fired up about Colorado.”

Added senior safety Ricky Price: “We’ve got to take this and learn from it. We’ve got to get out there and prepare for next week.”

Gundy said the atmosphere of Oklahoma State’s trip home to Stillwater after the game indicated the maturity of his team.

“Guys were disappointed and there wasn’t much talk,” he said. “It was a quiet bus ride and a quiet plane ride.”

After three straight road games against top-three opponents – with one win, one close loss and one blowout defeat – Oklahoma State’s final road game of the regular season might seem easier, as Colorado merely is trying to become bowl-eligible. But Gundy cautioned against complacency.

After playing Colorado, the Cowboys will have an open date before closing the regular season at home against No. 5 Oklahoma.