247Sports doesn't consider OU-Texas the most intriguing neutral site game
247Sports doesn't consider OU-Texas the most intriguing neutral site game
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John Mateer growing relationships with Deion Burks, Javonnie Gibson
OU football QB John Mateer growing relationships with WRs Deion Burks, Javonnie Gibson
The annual Red River Rivalry clash between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns is one of the most anticipated games of the college football season every single year.
No matter how good both teams are, OU-Texas almost always delivers. The unique environment that's become a part of the game only helps to add to the intrigue. Played in Dallas, Texas at the legendary Cotton Bowl that is equidistant between the two campuses in Norman and Austin, the entire game takes place in the middle of the Texas State Fair every October. With the fans split 50-50 inside the stadium, there's truly no other environment like Red River.
The rivalry game is always played at this neural site in South Dallas, and it's one of the key pillars of every college football season. The game has survived conference realignment, as OU represented the Big Eight for many years and Texas represented the Southwest Conference. As the two teams joined the Big 12 and later broke off to join the SEC, the Red River Rivalry has stood the test of time, even as neutral-site rivalries are not extremely commonplace in college football.
247Sports college football writer Cody Nagel compiled a list of the most intriguing neutral-site games for the 2025 season. Surprisingly, OU-Texas was not at the top of his list, instead getting the runner-up spot behind Florida-Georgia.
Texas won in a blowout last season, but the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl delivers on drama more often than not. Oklahoma has lost two of the past three meetings since winning four straight before Brent Venables took the helm. But a potential resurgence could be in the cards for the Sooners with coveted transfer quarterback John Mateer leading the offense after an impressive spring. The star power is not lacking with the Longhorns either, as former five-star prospect Arch Manning steps into the spotlight for his first season as Texas' starter. - Nagel, 247Sports
All due respect to Nagel and to "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party", but there's never a year where the Red River Rivalry shouldn't top a list like this. Florida has beaten Georgia just once (2020) since 2016, and the last one-score game was in 2019. OU-Texas, on the other hand, is typically always a close game, and the schools have split the last four matchups, with nine out of the previous 12 contests being decided by one score. The Red River Rivalry isn't just the best and most intriguing neutral-site game in college football. It's one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.
The Longhorns won 34-3 a year ago, as the Sooners were completely inept on offense all season. Oklahoma won 34-30 in 2023, and they'll look to get revenge for last season's loss when the Red River Rivalry returns to the iconic Cotton Bowl Stadium on October 11th.
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