There is much debate about ranking the Longhorn’s top rivals in football but we will rank their top five rivals.
The Texas Longhorns have a rich history of rivalries on the football field as many fans can imagine. While the departure of Texas from the Big 12 has shifted who the Longhorns will consistently play on the football field, a group of football programs continue to hold significant importance on the football field with Texas. Here is a brief look at the Longhorns’ football rivals before we rank them one through five.
Oklahoma Sooners: This is arguably one of the most historic and popular rivalries in college football. Known simply as the Red River Shootout, but the name has changed over the years as it was briefly named the SBC Red River Rivalry as the name was used in 2005 to distance the game from gun violence and then the AT&T Red River Showdown in 2014 after AT&T became a sponsor and finally, the Allstate Red River Rivalry used in 2023 after Allstate secured naming rights for the annual game.
TCU Horned Frogs: The rivalry intensified once the Horn Frogs joined the Big 12, fueled by both teams’ success in conference play. They have played one another every year from 2012 to 2023 but that is changing with the Longhorns’ move to the SEC. This matchup has become increasingly competitive throughout the past four years with each game being decided by a touchdown or less.
Texas A&M Aggies: The Lone Star Showdown is arguably one of the top three fierce and intense in-state rivalries with deep-rooted animosity between the two schools. The move of Texas to the SEC has only intensified the rivalry as these two teams will play one another in football for the first time since 2011.
Arkansas Razorbacks: Although not as intense of a rivalry in the 21st century compared to the 20th century since these two schools have played one another only six times this century, the rivalry with Arkansas has historical significance and carries importance for both fanbases and is revised since both schools are now in the SEC.
Nebraska Cornhuskers: Although the Cornhuskers left the Big 12 in 2012, there is still a great deal of animosity among alums and fans of both teams. Though the two programs have only faced off 14 times, a good number of those matches have been exciting with them playing one another three times in the Big 12 Championship game. The last four times they have played one another, the games have been decided by seven or less points.
Rice Owls: The Longhorns and Owls were conference rivals years ago in the Southwest Conference from 1915 to 1995. The Longhorns have played the Owls nearly a hundred times on the football field throughout the years.
Baylor Bears: While not always at the same level as the other in-state rivals, the in-state rivalry with Baylor has grown in intensity, especially with Baylor’s success in recent years with the Bears winning two of the last five games they have played one another. However, like TCU, these two teams are unlikely to play one another with the Longhorns now in the SEC.
Texas Tech Red Raiders: The last time that these two teams did not play one another was way back in 1959. In the Battle For The Chancellor’s Spurs, this rivalry has been intense and high-scoring recently in games going back to 2015. The Longhorns have the upper hand in this historic meeting but Texas Tech even if they lose to Texas, they make the games more interesting than not in terms of the final score.