Oklahoma’s Big 12 swan song is soft rock compared with Texas’ tougher schedule

The first (and perhaps only) 14-team Big 12 season is almost upon us. In their final season in these parts, the Texas Longhorns have been anointed preseason favorites despite the fact they last won the Big 12 in 2009 and have played in just one conference championship game since then.

The Oklahoma Sooners are leaving for the riches of the SEC, too, of course. So I’m wondering why it is that the Big 12 chose to give the team that has dominated the conference much of the last two decades a considerably softer schedule than the Longhorns, who find ways to lose four games a year no matter what path is presented.

In fact, the only “break” Texas gets when one compares its final Big 12 schedule with the Sooners’ schedule could prove to be a trap. UT gets one last look at the University of Houston, which hasn’t been in the same league as Texas since the Southwest Conference imploded. Ah, but I remember the first time Texas played Houston as a conference opponent, and I believe that game had as much to do with Darrell Royal’s sudden retirement after the 1976 season as anything else.

I was sitting in the north end zone student section, an area we preferred in those days. Once the Longhorns got up on an opponent by three or four touchdowns, we could make our escape out the north tunnel and head over to the Posse to dissect another brilliant Texas performance over several pitchers of beer. Keep in mind UT had a 42-game home winning streak the day the new squad from Houston, ranked 19th to the Longhorns’ 20th, came trotting into this big-time SWC environment.

That game is now remembered as the Dad’s Day Massacre. Houston won 30-0, ending the long home winning streak in shocking fashion. Texas’ outdated Wishbone offense — minus an injured Earl Campbell that day — ran for 24 yards. Royal entered early retirement a month later while Houston went to the Cotton Bowl to represent the SWC.

Now there’s nothing about Texas’ trip to Houston on Oct. 21 that suggests big trouble ahead. I’m just saying I know how these things can go. And when you look at the four conference opponents Texas plays that Oklahoma does not, Houston is the only relatively weak one in the bunch.

Take preseason picks for what they are worth, but — given that it’s all we have this time of year — the Longhorns play Kansas State (picked to finish second right behind the mighty Steers), Texas Tech (fourth) and Baylor (sixth) along with Houston (12th). Two of those are home games, but, as you probably realize, it’s not like the Longhorns are bringing another 42-game home winning streak into play this season.

In fact, Texas has lost at least two home games each of the last 10 seasons except for 2019, when the only loss was to LSU. Every Big 12 team (except Oklahoma, which never plays there) has won at least one of its last six trips to Austin, and TCU and Oklahoma State have each won four of their last five.

So be careful in thinking that getting K-State and Tech at home is a big boost for the Longhorns.

Meanwhile, having seen that Texas faces clubs picked to finish 2-4-6-12 this season, the Sooners have been blessed with opponents picked seventh (OSU), eighth (Central Florida), 13th (Cincinnati) and dead last 14th (West Virginia). Obviously there’s a bit of a rivalry to contend with in Stillwater on Nov. 4, and that could turn out to be Oklahoma’s toughest challenge all season.

The rest of their, let’s say, non-Texas opponents are looking awfully beatable. Central Florida, one of the new unknowns in the Big 12, is a home game for Oklahoma. If you’re thinking “didn’t UCF have an undefeated team that got the Big 12′s attention,” the answer is yes, but it was in 2017. A 13-0 team beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl and self-proclaimed a national title. That’s been a minute. Last year’s 9-5 Knights lost to Navy, Duke and East Carolina.

Cincinnati falls into a similar category, although the Bearcats reached the College Football Playoff just two years ago. The club slipped last season (even lost to UCF), head coach Luke Fickell has gone to Wisconsin and the team suffered multiple losses in the transfer portal, so new head coach Scott Satterfield isn’t expected to be competing for a CFP spot anytime soon.

Now some of you with allegiance on either side of the Red River may recall a 49-0 victory for the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl last October, which would seem to suggest Oklahoma is a non-factor in 2023. Remember that quarterback Dillon Gabriel did not play against Texas and, basically, the Sooners tried to execute an offense that had no passing game at all that day. Even though Oklahoma was not good last year, once Gabriel returned, the team beat ranked OSU and Kansas teams to get back on its feet.

So I’m not sure why the Sooners deserved a sympathy exit from the conference in 2023, but they seem to be getting one. As for Texas? Call it a Longhorn Network parting gift. Texas may be pretty good this season — might even end that 12-year streak of four or more losses in the full seasons played since their 2009 title game appearance. But the schedule maker would like the Longhorns to earn it on their way out the door.