Oklahoma State QB Alan Bowman posts photo marking start of "19th grade," 7th college season

Alan Bowman has jokes. On Monday, the seventh-year Oklahoma State quarterback made a post on social media, poking fun at his unusual age.

The 2024 season will be Bowman’s seventh in college football and second with the Cowboys. He began his collegiate career at Texas Tech but dealt with numerous injuries before transferring to Michigan, where he was a backup for two years.

Bowman had a breakout season in 2023, completing 60.7% of his passes for 3,460 yards and 15 touchdowns in 14 games. Bowman also threw 14 interceptions. Bowman was born in March 2000 and is 24 years old.

Happy 1st Day of 19th Grade !! #education pic.twitter.com/4D8ylIxxlQ

— Alan Bowman (@alanbowman_) August 19, 2024

How is Alan Bowman eligible?

Of course, it’s not normal for a collegiate player to suit up for seven years. When Oklahoma State announced Bowman’s return, it explained how a seventh year was possible for the standout QB.

“Alan met the criteria for an extension of his eligibility due to his season ending injury in 2019 combined with redshirting at the University of Michigan,” OSU’s senior associate athletics director for compliance Ben Dyson said. “We appreciate the assistance of the Texas Tech training staff for providing us the documentation we needed to quickly process our waiver request.”

During his time at Michigan, Bowman played in seven total games and no more than four in a single year. He was allowed to count one of those as a redshirt, and that, combined with the COVID year and a season-ending injury in 2019 when Bowman played in three games, helped him qualify for an additional year in the eyes of the NCAA.

Bowman also made a brief post on his X page following the announcement in early January that he’d be eligible for another season of college football.

“Just want to say thanks to all my Oklahoma State teammates, the coaches and fans for helping make the 2023 season the most fun I’ve ever had playing football,” Bowman wrote. “That said, I just heard back that I was granted another year of eligibility, and we have unfinished business. I love Stillwater and this program, so I’ll be back in 2024 to make a championship run. Go Pokes!”

With Alan Bowman back under center, expectations are high for Oklahoma State in the 2024 campaign. The team currently has the third-best odds to win the Big 12, trailing only Utah and Kansas State, per FanDuel.

Oklahoma State will kick off its season with a showdown against South Dakota State at 2 p.m. ET on Aug. 31. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.