Kim O’Reilly, CBS Sports
A Red River runs through it. Well, if you’re Texas and Oklahoma headed to the SEC.
The two giants, which accounted for a large part of the Big 12’s glory over the years, get a giant sendoff Saturday in the Cotton Bowl. The Longhorns and Sooners, respectively ranked No. 3 and No. 11 in the latest Power Rankings, will battle with the winner not only gaining the inside track to its last Big 12 title but to the College Football Playoff as well.
If you need to be reminded, Texas has never been to the CFP. It has been almost four seasons for OU. So far in 2023, two of college football’s top stories are Steve Sarkisian turning around the ‘Horns in Year 3 and Brent Venables’ quickly turning around his Sooners in Year 2.
Texas is 5-0 for the first time since 2009. Oklahoma is the only team in the country to average at least 47 points offensively and allow less than 11 points defensively. And then there’s the bitterness lingering within the OU program after last year’s 49-0 skunking at the hands of UT.
Come for the turkey legs, stay for the fried ice cream at the Texas State Fair in what should a 2024 tentpole game.
In other Power Rankings chatter:
Is it time to open up the Is-Georgia-really-No. 1 discussion? The Bulldogs have trailed by double digits in consecutive SEC games for the first time since 2016. Welcome to the top 15, Kentucky. Ray Davis’ 280 yards against Florida are the second-most ever against the Gators. Alabama-Texas A&M this week looks like an elimination game in the SEC…..
