Texas Longhorns rivals ranked -- No. 5

This is part two in our series of ranking the Texas Longhorns’ top rivalries in football. In part one, we looked at the Longhorn’s rivals ranked eighth through sixth, and now were are looking at Texas’s number-five ranked rival.

No. 5: Arkansas Razorbacks

Even though there hasn’t been as much of a rivalry between these two schools in the twenty-first century due to the fact that they’ve only played each other six times this century. The rivalry with Arkansas is still significant historically and is important to both fan bases, and will be revived because both schools are now in the SEC.

Once referred to as one of the best rivalries in college football in the 20th century, this historical rival will once again be renewed as these two teams will meet on the football field this Fall.

Arkansas historically has been a formidable rival of the Longhorns primarily because, before Arkansas’s SEC admission, Texas was by far the largest rival of the Razorbacks. With the Longhorns joining the SEC, this rivalry should intensify and may become one of the top ten rivalries in the conference. Texas Longhorn supporters, fans, and alums believe that this rivalry is more relevant to those who were born before 1980, and Longhorn fans who are from the Baby Boomer and Generation X generations value this rivalry more than Texas fans who are under 40.

The past of these two football teams goes back to the 19th century. These two schools played each other for the first time in 1894 which was 130 years ago. During their first ten games against each other, Arkansas only managed six total points, and they didn’t score a point until the fifth game against the Longhorns. In addition, the Longhorns defeated the Razorbacks in their first 14 meetings. Arkansas would then defeat Texas five times out of six from 1933 to 1938 to make this rivalry more balanced in terms of wins and losses between these two football programs.

Heading into the 1940s, Texas would win 12 games in a row from 1939 to 1950, and both teams would win 8 games apiece from 1951 to 1966. From 1967 until 1985, the Longhorns would then take back control of the rivalry winning the vast majority of games against the Razorbacks. Since then, Arkansas has defeated Texas slightly more often as these two historical football teams revive their long-standing rivalry on the football field.

The separation between these two higher education establishments: The distance between the University of Arkansas and the University of Texas at Austin is about 496 miles. If there is no traffic and you don’t stop, driving there takes just under eight hours.

The most memorable game between the two teams: The 1969 game against Arkansas, dubbed the Game of the Century by some, is the most memorable game in this rivalry. #1 Texas and #2 Arkansas played the game in Fayetteville in front of a boisterous and rumbustious Razorback-dominated crowd. With a final score of 15–14, the Longhorns would win by just one point, ultimately allowing Texas to win the 1969 national championship.

Name of Rivalry: Technically, there is no name for this rivalry between the Razorbacks and Longhorns but some have referred to this rivalry as the welcome to the SEC rivalry or the intermittent rivalry.

Record of both teams over the last 15 games they have played one another: Texas 8-7 and Arkansas 7-8

Record of both teams over the last five games they have faced off against one another: Texas 2-3 and Arkansas 3-2

Last game between Arkansas and Texas: Texas went to Arkansas in 2021 in a non-conference match-up, where the Razorbacks beat the Longhorns 40–21.

Next game between the Razorbacks and the Longhorns: On November 16, Texas makes the journey to Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the Razorbacks as these two teams will square off in conference play for the first time as both teams are now members of the SEC conference. Kickoff is scheduled for noon and it should rekindle this historical rival.