Top 5 Texas Longhorns Football rivalries now include SEC, Big Ten antagonists

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16 hours ago

A lot has changed for the Texas Longhorns as a program since joining the SEC. One change the teams UT is and will be rivals with. Almost every team that plays Texas considers them a rival. "Horns Down" much? There are some rivals that never truly go away. But as the landscape UT plays in changes, so do the rivalries.
The Sooners are always there. Heck, the rivals joined forces, held hands and joined the SEC together. Even though there was a huge break, the Aggies are always there too. But some of Texas past rivals aren't really in the picture for the foreseeable future.
Texas Tech might be the biggest example of an idle rivalry. It's likely, the only way these two teams play in the future is the occasional random bowl game or in the college football playoff, if both teams make it.
Certainly, there will be recruiting battles with the Red Raiders. But they're not an active rival anymore. It does not seem Texas is looking to fill its future non-conference schedule with teams from the past. The break from Tech seems more final than the break with A&M felt.
Some argue over the past decade, TCU has been one of the Longhorns biggest rivals. The two battled for a century and then had some tight Big 12 games as the Horned Frogs improved and the Horns didn't. Baylor has been a rival in the past. Even Rice. But they aren't now and won't be again.
Texas has some new rivals now. One is a team UT will be battling against in the SEC for years. Another is a team Texas seems to be playing more and more and for big stakes.
Here are the Texas Longhorns Top 5 current rivalries:
5. Ohio State Buckeyes
When Texas travels to Columbus, OH on Aug. 30 to face Ohio State, it will only be the fifth meeting between the two blue blood programs. But make no mistake, the Buckeyes are a rival now. As Sark has lifted the Texas program to greater heights, the Horns now regularly face traditional national title contenders in the college football playoffs.
Texas and Ohio State could literally meet every year in the postseason since both will probably be in the tournament, no matter how big it is. The teams also play again next year in Austin. Texas also has dozens of recruiting battles against Ryan Day on the Buckeyes.
4. Georgia Bulldogs
As the to dog (so to speak) in the SEC over the past several years, Georgia was always going to be the target when the Longhorns joined the conference. The Bulldogs and Horns seem to compete for everything, including rankings, recruits and championships.
Both UGA coach Kirby Smart and Sarkisian coached under former Alabama coach Nick Saban and run their programs in his image. Texas and Georgia recruit head-to-head on dozens of recruits a year. The 'Dawgs and Longhorns will be battling over everything over the next few years.
3. Arkansas Razorbacks
During college football's boom from the 1950s-1970s, the Texas-Arkansas rivalry was one of the biggest in the sport. The "Game of the Century" in 1969 decided the national championship. President Richard Nixon was in the crowd and crowned Texas in the locker room after the game.
Arkansas fans hate the Longhorns. A 30 year break as conference members didn't dim that burning Hog fire. Texas saw it last year and two seasons before when the Razorbacks upset Texas. Now back in the same conference, it is hot again.
2. Oklahoma Sooners
The second Saturday of October is one of the biggest traditions in college football. The Red River Rivalry, played at a neutral site in Dallas, is like a bowl game in the middle of the season.
The unique neutral site seating at the Cotton Bowl Stadium, with the fans split at the 50-yard line as opposed to the more traditional neutral seating with each fan base getting a side with the split in the end zones, also makes the game during the Texas State Fair more of a spectacle.
1. Texas A&M Aggies
When Texas plays OU, fans generally want both teams to be undefeated, with the winner entering the national title race in mid-October. When Texas plays A&M, many fans want a win over the Aggies to make them 0-12.
The Aggies are the Longhorns biggest rival, by a mile. The anger, hatred and vitriol that emerged as the two teams met last season for the first time in over a decade sealed it. The series goes back over a century and it's good to have it back.
Honorable Mention: LSU Tigers
LSU and Texas have battled recently in other sports, but not in football. That's about to change. If the Tigers are good this year, UT could see them across the field at the SEC title game. Or the college football playoff.
But Texas and LSU are going to play next year and will continue to play for years. Tigers fans already have tacit resentment of Texas so far. Wait until the teams play over and over. The Tigers and Horns should be at or near the top of the SEC for years to come and they are neighbors. They're coming.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Who are Longhorns biggest rivals? Top 5 now includes SEC, Big Ten foes