Diverging Destinies: Texas and Oklahoma Take Opposite Paths Since Red River Rivalry

Six weeks after Texas dominated Oklahoma 23-6 in the Red River Rivalry, the two programs have taken dramatically different paths. While Texas faltered against elite competition, Oklahoma surged to become a College Football Playoff contender. The contrast between these two SEC rivals tells the story of November football at its finest.

The Red River Meeting: October 11, 2025

Final Score: Texas 23, Oklahoma 6 Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas Texas Record After: 4-2 Oklahoma Record After: 5-1

What appeared to be a dominant performance by Texas would prove to be the high point of the Longhorns’ season.

Texas’s Post-Red River Collapse

Since defeating Oklahoma, Texas has struggled significantly:

Record Since Red River: 4-1 (misleading—quality losses hurt) Wins: Vanderbilt (34-31), Mississippi State, Kentucky, Arkansas (52-37) Loss: Georgia (35-10)

The Georgia Game: A Turning Point

The loss to #5 Georgia on November 15 was catastrophic for Texas’s playoff hopes. The 35-10 defeat was a statement loss that dropped Texas from #10 to #17 in the AP Poll—a seven-spot tumble that effectively eliminated the Longhorns from serious playoff consideration.

Current Status:

Overall Record: 8-3
SEC Record: 5-2
AP Ranking: #17
Playoff Positioning: On the bubble; must beat Texas A&M to have realistic playoff chance

Oklahoma’s Rise to Prominence

Remarkably, Oklahoma—which started this stretch at 5-1—has compiled a 3-0 record in their post-Red River slate:

Record Since Red River: 3-0 Notable Wins: Alabama (23-21), Tennessee (33-27), Missouri (17-6)

The Alabama Upset: A Turning Point

Oklahoma’s 23-21 victory over Alabama on November 15 was a seismic shift in the playoff race. The win over the Crimson Tide—Alabama’s first home loss since 2001—gave Oklahoma the kind of signature victory that playoff selection committees respect.

Current Status:

Overall Record: 9-2
SEC Record: 5-2 (tied with Texas in conference)
AP Ranking: #8
Playoff Positioning: Legitimate contender; likely in at 10-2

Head-to-Head Comparison: Post-Red River

Metric	Texas	Oklahoma
Record Since Oct 11	4-1	3-0
Quality Wins	Vanderbilt (34-31)	Alabama (23-21), Tennessee (33-27)
Marquee Losses	Georgia (35-10)	None
AP Ranking Change	#10 → #17 (↓7)	#11 → #8 (↑3)
Playoff Outlook	Uncertain	Strong
Latest Game	Arkansas 52-37 (W)	Missouri 17-6 (W)

The Divergence Explained

Texas’s Struggles

Tough Schedule: Texas faced #5 Georgia after playing well-rested opponents
Defensive Vulnerabilities: Against elite offenses, Texas’s defense has struggled
Momentum Loss: The Georgia loss appeared to demoralize the team heading into Arkansas

Oklahoma’s Strengths

Defensive Excellence: Allows just 14.0 points per game (6th nationally)
Signature Wins: Beating Alabama and Tennessee at home signaled readiness
Trending Up: Three straight wins heading into the regular season finale against LSU

Remaining Schedules

Texas

Next Opponent: Texas A&M (11-0, #3 ranked)
Challenge Level: Extreme (undefeated team, playoff implications)
Path to Playoffs: Must win; even then, may need help from other results

Oklahoma

Next Opponent: LSU
Challenge Level: High but manageable
Path to Playoffs: 10-2 record with Alabama win likely secures spot

Statistical Comparison: Full 2025 Season

Category	Texas	Oklahoma
Overall Record	8-3	9-2
Conference Record	5-2 SEC	5-2 SEC
AP Ranking	#17	#8
Strength of Schedule	High	High
Points Per Game	29.8	27.3
Points Allowed	20.0	14.0

Oklahoma’s significantly better defense (14.0 vs 20.0 ppg) has been the difference-maker in November.

Playoff Committee Perspective

The College Football Playoff Selection Committee will likely view these two teams very differently:

Texas:

Strong non-conference wins (Ohio State loss, though early)
Quality SEC wins (Oklahoma, Vanderbilt)
But: Blown out by Georgia; inconsistency against elite teams
Status: Likely out unless they beat A&M AND get help elsewhere

Oklahoma:

Three straight quality wins heading into Selection Sunday
Road perfection (4-0 away from home)
Signature Alabama victory
Strong defensive profile
Status: Likely in as an at-large regardless of LSU result (10-2 with Alabama win seems to be the floor)

The Red River Legacy

The October 11 game, which seemed so significant at the time, now appears to be just a moment in two very different seasons. Texas’s victory is now viewed as a paper tiger—a win over a team that was figuring itself out. Oklahoma’s loss to Texas is almost forgotten in light of their subsequent hot streak.

What’s Next

For Texas

The November 28 game against #3 Texas A&M is essentially a “win or go home” playoff game. A loss likely ends their postseason dreams, while a win gives them hope but not certainty.

For Oklahoma

The LSU game is a victory lap. Whether they win or lose, Oklahoma’s combination of a dominant defense and signature road wins makes them playoff-worthy.

Final Analysis

The Red River Rivalry is appropriately named because the games are separated by geography and recent results. While both teams occupy the same conference (5-2 in SEC), their trajectories couldn’t be more different:

Texas: Peaking at the wrong time, hoping for a miracle run
Oklahoma: Finding their rhythm exactly when it matters most

The November story of Texas football isn’t about a loss to Oklahoma—it’s about a loss to Georgia that coincided with Oklahoma’s rise. That single game shifted the entire narrative of how 2025 would be remembered for both programs.

Texas must beat Texas A&M. Oklahoma just needs to finish the season strong.

Key Dates:

November 28: Texas vs Texas A&M (6:30 p.m. CT, ABC)
November 29: Oklahoma vs LSU (2:30 p.m. CT)
December 2: College Football Playoff Selection Show (Noon ET, ESPN)

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