Oklahoma football: 5 reasons Sooners will win the Big 12, again

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 01: Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley raises the trophy after winning the Big 12 Championship Game between Oklahoma and Texas on December 1, 2018 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, TX. (Photo by George Walker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Texas has a harder schedule

The Texas Longhorns are the biggest threat to the Oklahoma Sooners for the Big 12 title. They did their best to take the title from them last year, beating them on their home field in one of the best games of the entire season. It showed the Red River Rivalry was back and better than ever. Now, these two teams are going into the season both ranked in the top ten.

The Longhorns could have won the Big 12 last season. They went up against the Sooners again in the Championship Game but did not come to play as they did earlier in the season. This team will likely once again see them in the Big 12 Championship Game again, but the result will be the same.

On top of the Big 12 schedule, Texas has to play LSU in the second week of the season. Losing that early game with a lot of new starters will hurt their confidence immensely. Then in the next month, they play West Virginia, Oklahoma State before their big matchup with Oklahoma. Sure, OK State and WVU aren’t the teams they’ve been in years past, but they are always upset worthy. Just look at what Will Grier did last season to rip out the Longhorns hearts.

If they get into two straight barn burners before their matchup with Oklahoma, while the Sooners take on Texas Tech and Kansas in the two prior matchups, it’s quite lopsided. The Longhorns have high aspirations for this season, but the schedule makers did them no favors. They also play Iowa State, Baylor and TCU on the road, there could be an upset or two in there. Heck, Texas might not even make the Big 12 Title Game if the schedule ends up being their downfall.