Red River Rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas likely to be battle of unbeatens
Crawford looked at each of the 16 teams in the Southeastern Conference and predicted when each would be handed its first loss in league play. For Oklahoma, it comes in the second SEC game, though by that point, OU will already have been, at least, 4-1, in Crawford's predictions.
That second SEC game, by the way? It's the Red River Rivalry.
Imagine the hype for Red River if both teams come in unbeaten and inside the top 10? It's possible. If the Sooners take out Michigan and Auburn during the opening month of the campaign, Brent Venables' new-look team will have a perfect record going to Dallas. - Crawford, CBS Sports
It wasn't that long ago when OU and Texas both met as undefeateds in the regular season. Back in 2023, the 12th-ranked Sooners and No. 5 Longhorns played to a 34-30 Oklahoma win at the Cotton Bowl. Brent Venables' team would stumble over the next month with losses against Kansas and Oklahoma State to stifle a potentially massive season, but that was then.
Texas may enter 2025 as the No. 1 team in the nation, and Oklahoma appears likely to be ranked in the top-25. Another year of each entering Dallas unbeaten may provide a mutual top-10 matchup. The Sooners, and Venables specifically, could really use it, and with John Mateer and Jadyn Ott on offense, it's definitely possible.
Crawford believes that Venables needs a strong start to the 2025 season more than just about any other coach. With games against Michigan and Auburn in the first four weeks, Venables and the Sooners have an early opportunity to make a statement heading even before they get to the Red River Showdown.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions.
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