SAN ANTONIO -- The Alamo Bowl will get the first pick from the Big 12 under a new six-year deal with the Pac-12 announced Friday.

It makes the Alamo Bowl the marquee game for the Big 12 outside the new four-team College Football Playoff that begins next year. The Cotton Bowl had previously been the signature game for Big 12 teams that didn't make the Bowl Championship Series.

The Alamo Bowl will also continue to get first dibs from the Pac-12 outside the playoff.

Started in 1993, the Alamo Bowl is on a streak of exciting postseason games. Texas rallied to beat Oregon State last year, while two seasons ago, Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III led Baylor to victory in a 67-56 thriller over Washington.