 In 2014, Briles's Bears finished with another 11 win season and repeated as Big 12 Co-Champions; this time earning a berth in the 2015 Cotton Bowl, one of the New Years Six bowl games.They entered the game against the Michigan State Spartans with high hopes after narrowly missing the College Football Playoff.The Bears jumped out to a 41–21 lead in the third quarter before giving up 21 unanswered points to lose 42–41.