Good info, thanks -- I wasn't sure what the pecking order was in those situations. If by some chance ISU had won the B12 title game -- curious what would've happened then for what would've been 7-4 and 8-3 teams, in respective seasons.
Here's how it actually played out those two years.
2004:
1. Orange/NCG: Oklahoma (11-1, 8-0, Big 12 champ)
2. Rose/BCS: Texas (10-1, 7-1)
3. Cotton: Texas A&M (7-4, 5-3)
4. Holiday: Texas Tech (7-4, 5-3)
5. Alamo: Oklahoma State (7-4, 4-4)
6. Independence: Iowa State (6-5, 4-4)
7. Houston: Colorado (7-5, 4-4, Big 12 runner-up)
8. Champs Sports: (empty)
9. Fort Worth: (empty)
2005:
1. Rose/NCG: Texas (12-0, 8-0, Big 12 champ)
2. Cotton: Texas Tech (9-2, 6-2)
3. Holiday: Oklahoma (7-4, 6-2)
4. Alamo: Nebraska (7-4, 4-4)
5. Independence: Missouri (6-5, 4-4)
6. Houston: Iowa State (7-4, 4-4)
7. Champs Sports: Colorado (7-5, 5-3, Big 12 runner-up)
8. Fort Worth: Kansas (6-5, 3-5)
There was some speculation in 2005 that if ISU had just gotten to the Big 12 title game (at 8-3), the Holiday Bowl would have been in play.