JUST IN: 5 greatest Red River, Oklahoma and Texas’s heading to a new conference
The Red River Rivalry is undergoing significant changes, including a new time slot and a shift to a different conference. Despite these shifts, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte remains unfazed, expressing his belief in the uniqueness of the game compared to other rivalries in the SEC. He specifically mentioned the Cocktail Party and the Iron Bowl but emphasized that nothing compares to the atmosphere of the game at the State Fair.
Del Conte’s remarks, while intended to bolster excitement for Texas entering the SEC, inadvertently caused some controversy among fans of traditional SEC rivalries like Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Auburn. However, his comments also mark the beginning of a new era for the Red River Rivalry, signaling the end of a 28-year chapter where both Texas and Oklahoma were part of the Big 12 conference.
Both universities joined the Big 12 in 1996, a result of the expansion of the former Big 8 conference, which had included Oklahoma since its inception in 1928. Out of the 28 matchups during the Big 12 era, Del Conte highlighted these five as particularly memorable.
5. 2023 No. 12 Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Texas
In recent years, the Red River Rivalry has produced numerous thrilling games, and the 2023 edition, serving as the final game of the Big 12 era, lived up to expectations. Oklahoma held a 27-20 lead heading into the fourth quarter, but Texas staged a remarkable comeback, scoring 10 unanswered points. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, the momentum shifted when Oklahoma’s offense faced difficulties following an injury to wide receiver Andrel Anthony.
Nevertheless, with just 1:17 remaining on the clock, Dillon Gabriel and the Oklahoma team took possession of the ball. The seasoned quarterback orchestrated a remarkable 75-yard touchdown drive, culminating in a pass to Nic Anderson in the back of the end zone with only 15 seconds remaining. Gabriel’s heroic performance solidified his status as a legend of the Red River Rivalry and nearly prevented Texas from advancing to the College Football Playoff.