Red River Rivalry was epic. Just wait until it's an SEC game: Buck's Ballpark

Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns have several promising standouts now and on the way in the high school ranks

In a series chock-full of classic games between Oklahoma and Texas, Saturday’s latest installment of the Red River Rivalry may go down as the best.

There were dozens of twists and turns, a multitude of weird and wacky plays and momentum shifts all over the Cotton Bowl.

After Texas seemed to have the game won with a late field goal, the Sooners quickly answered with a breathtaking final drive. But the Longhorns nearly had one last monumental possession of their own, before the Sooners were able to knock away a pass in the end zone on the game’s final play, capping a 34-30 OU win.

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Sometimes, when you see a great game like that, you start to wonder, there’s no way both teams can top that when they play against one another next time.

Right?

On the contrary, I’m thinking this Red River Rivalry is really just getting started. 

Especially next year.

Now, before I espouse that belief even more, I know full well that it’s quite possible the Sooners and Longhorns can face off one more time as Big 12 rivals — that being each other’s final Big 12 championship game this December at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. And if that’s the case, there could be a lot more at stake, not only with a conference title trophy but also a berth in the College Football Playoff could go to the winning side.

To be honest, I will be surprised if there’s not a rematch between the Red River rivals in a couple of months at “Jerry World.” They’re clearly the two best teams in the Big 12, and it’s hard to figure out who the third-best team in the conference really is.

Still, while I'm looking forward to that potential rematch in the Big 12 title game, I’m equally eager for what will happen one year from now in the Cotton Bowl. And the Red River Rivalry in 2025, 2026 and beyond.

Next year’s Red River Rivalry will be the first for the Sooners and Longhorns as Southeastern Conference compadres. They already seem to pass the eye test on whether they can cut it in their new league.

They have the tradition and they have the pageantry. Saturday's game felt like an Alabama-Auburn game, a Georgia-Florida game, an Ole Miss-Mississippi State, or any other classic SEC rivalry game at times.

Heck, even SEC commissioner Greg Sankey avoided the rush early, as he was in attendance at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday to check out his soon-to-be newest members, whereas the Big 12 commish was a no-show.

But another great thing about OU and Texas once they resume its rivalry under the SEC banner will be getting to see some promising young players on both sides, either already in Sooner crimson and Longhorn burnt orange, or soon to be signing with those schools. Both OU coach Brent Venables and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian have recruited well and are stockpiling SEC-ready talent.

One of the great things about being with SBLive is getting the chance to see some of those players up close and personal, and how their exploits in future Red River Rivalry games can be beamed on TV screens all across America.

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Just think, in a couple of years, the quarterback matchup could be OU’s Jackson Arnold and Texas’ Arch Manning, already at their respective schools. Or, it could be OU commit Michael Hawkins Jr. - now at Frisco Emerson - going up against Texas commit Trey Owens, who is at Cy-Fair.

Already making an impact as a Sooner true freshman is Peyton Bowen, who was playing at Denton Guyer at this time a year ago. Could his younger brother, Eli, an OU commit also at Guyer, have a similar impact?

What about maybe players from perhaps the best defensive line in Texas high school football this season, Duncanville? Two of the Panthers’ front four are Longhorn commits in Colin Simmons and Alex January. Think of what they can do in the Cotton Bowl? Maybe they’ll team up with another d-line talent from the Metroplex, Allen's Zina Umeozulu.

Since Venables took over at OU before the 2022 season, he and his staff have made recruiting their home state an even greater priority. There could be a few players from Oklahoma that can make an immediate impact in future Red River Rivalry games.

Those homegrown players include Midwest City Carl Albert tailback Xavier Robinson, Edmond Santa Fe offensive lineman Josh Aisosa and defensive linemen like Tulsa NOAH’s Danny Okoye and David Stone, who currently plays at Florida’s IMG Academy but previously was a Del City Eagle.

Stone also has a couple of teammates at IMG he could see on the opposite sideline of the Cotton Bowl, UT commits in defensive back Jordon Johnson-Rubell and running back Jerrick Gibson.

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Maybe UT receiver commit Parker Livingstone, now at Lucas Lovejoy, will make a key catch or two against the Sooners. Or, as Oklahoma traditionally has had over the years, someone from Texas might have a big game against the Longhorns, like Arnold, either Bowen or current Melissa defensive lineman and OU commit Nigel Smith.

So, the Red River Rivalry will be in good hands for the foreseeable future. And especially after both OU and Texas become bona fide SEC members.

Now, if they can only move the kickoff times in the Cotton Bowl back to 2:30 p.m., traditionally the time slot for the biggest game each week in the SEC. That would really make the Sooners and Longhorns feel even more legit in their new league. 

-- Buck Ringgold | buck@scorebooklive.com | @SBLiveTX | @SBLiveOK

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Photo of Midwest City (Okla.) Carl Albert's Xavier Robinson (21) by Michael Kinney