Oklahoma and Texas, one of college football's most storied rivalries, open a new chapter in the SEC
Perhaps the only way the Oklahoma-Texas rivalry could have become even more intense happened when both joined the powerful Southeastern Conference in July
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Perhaps the only way the Oklahoma-Texas rivalry could have become even more intense happened when both joined the powerful Southeastern Conference in July.
The series that began in 1900 immediately will rank with the best of the SEC’s older ones — Alabama vs. Georgia, the Iron Bowl between Auburn vs. Alabama, the Egg Bowl featuring Ole Miss and Mississippi State, and the Florida-Georgia matchups in Jacksonville, long known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.
First, there’s the atmosphere. The Cotton Bowl in Dallas is a neutral site virtually equal distances from the campuses in Norman, Oklahoma, and Austin, Texas. The stadium is split with half Oklahoma crimson and half Texas burnt orange. The game takes place during the State Fair of Texas, creating a vibrant scene and a unique experience.
Then, there's the history. Although Alabama and Georgia have played many high-stakes games in the past decade, even that series doesn't measure up long term. Oklahoma and Texas have 10 AP national titles between them — Oklahoma boasts seven and Texas has three. In each case, the winner in Dallas won the national championship.
