USA TODAY Sports Bowl Projections: ‘The Battle of UT’

Latest bowl projections from USA TODAY Sports, the Texas would face off with the Tennessee Volunteers. They haven’t played since 1969.

Recently ESPN released their weekly bowl projections that pit the Texas Longhorns against their “rivals” the Arkansas Razorbacks. The Longhorns currently sit at 3-2 and fifth in the conference standings. Which likely means they are fifth in line for their bowl selection. If the Oklahoma State Cowboys don’t get a New Years Six game then that pushes them down into a less attractive bowl matchup.

According to USA TODAY Sports, they are currently projected to play in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Their opponent would be the “other” UT. Texas and Tennessee could matchup in this matchup for Big 12 against the Southeastern Conference. For years the two fan bases have battled over who is the real UT when it comes to talking about their team. In this scenario they can settle it on the football field. The game is played at Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis, Tennessee.

In their history the Volunteers and Longhorns have met on the football season three times total. The last came in 1969 when the Longhorns won 36-13 at the Cotton Bowl. They were awarded the 1969 Consensus National Championship. They have never met in the regular season but instead at the Cotton Bowl three times. They met in 1951 when the Vols won 20-14, then again in 1953 where the Longhorns won 16-0. Texas owns the all-time series lead 2-1 but they have not met on the football field in 50 years.

Big 12 Bowl Projections

Cotton Bowl Oklahoma State-Wisconsin
Alamo Bowl OklahomaSouthern California
First Responder Bowl Southern Methodist-Baylor
Cheez-It Bowl Miami (Fl)-Kansas State
Guaranteed Rate Bowl West Virginia-Michigan State
Texas Bowl Iowa State-Arkansas

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