Two of the last three years, Texas has obliterated Oklahoma. In a series not known for blowouts, Texas has blown out Oklahoma twice since the pair joined hands and posted their SEC engagement photos on Instagram.
I like the rivalry. I like the name. I like the festivities. I like the tie to the Texas State Fair. I like that the game gives the Cotton Bowl a reason to not be torn down and turned into a low-rise apartment building with a DJ in the swimming pool on weekends. I hope the game keeps happening. I hope the SEC relents and switches to a nine-game schedule, making Texas A&M and Texas annual opponents anyway while leaving room for Texas and Oklahoma.
But if the SEC doesn’t do that…
Come on, Texas.
Cut ‘em loose.
Texas football looks great right now, and maybe Texas football will stay great in perpetuity. But what if it doesn’t? What if this is Texas’s only chance to get really, really snooty about this? Everybody knows that Texas and Texas A&M want to play each other annually. Everybody knows that Texas and Texas A&M are way too proud to schedule each other in nonconference during years when the SEC doesn’t have them playing. Why doesn’t Texas make the call to Greg Sankey and inform the commissioner that they would like to switch their annual opponent? Make Oklahoma play Arkansas. Make Missouri play LSU, or whoever Texas A&M is playing every year. Set up an annual game at Jerry World against a different SEC team every season, and when Oklahoma does come up in the rotation, skip Jerry World and play OU back at the Cotton Bowl. Surely, Texas can pay the stadium’s water bill for the in-between years.
The point of college football rivalries is to demonstrate to people in parallel but different portions of society that you are better than they are. That’s why we, as a country, play this great sport. If Texas really hates Oklahoma, it’ll take this opportunity to twist the knife. Would college football lose something if the Red River Shootout became non-annual? Yes. Is it worth it for Texas if it gives them a chance to swing their weight around? Also yes.
Again, *I’m* not in favor of making this a non-annual game. But I think Texas should be. This is a consultant view. Then, in a few years, if Texas can blow out Texas A&M a few times, I think Texas should ask for LSU to be its annual opponent. Keep kicking teams to the curb until the SEC gives CDC the nine-game schedule that he wants.
Texas Joined a Basketball League
The preseason kenpom rankings are out, and Texas might have accidentally joined a basketball conference. The SEC is rated the best conference in men’s hoops, with Texas expected to be the fifth-best team in the league. What to make of all of this? Chaotic bubble. Really chaotic bubble picture in the SEC.
Also, though, Texas might be halfway decent this season, and even if they aren’t, they might get away with it. Rodney Terry’s presence at the helm necessitated scheduling seven games it might be impossible to lose. Mississippi Valley State. Houston Christian. New Orleans. Houston Christian. There are more!!! It’s a funny schedule, but I think that’s the move. You pick up wins while the football team’s still playing. Then, when all the fans tune into a basketball game for the first time on January 25th, you should at least be 12–7 or 13–6.
The women’s preseason AP poll comes out today, or at least I think that’s what’s going on. I try to stay away from that poll. I was taught that ranking women is sexist and demeaning.
