Stormin in Norman
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Oklahoma football: OU’s 3 toughest SEC opponents in near term

By John Makuch

January 1, 2018; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (9) catches a pass against Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tyrique McGhee (26) during the second half in the 2018 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 1, 2018; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver CeeDee Lamb (9) catches a pass against Georgia Bulldogs defensive back Tyrique McGhee (26) during the second half in the 2018 Rose Bowl college football playoff semifinal game at Rose Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Steven Jenkins #45 of the Texas A&M Aggies lines up against the Oklahoma Sooners.  (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
Steven Jenkins #45 of the Texas A&M Aggies lines up against the Oklahoma Sooners.  (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

3. Texas A&M

The long-awaited return of this border war matchup is here and more heated than ever.

The Sooners currently hold the advantage in this matchup with an all-time record of 19-12 against the Aggies. Both of these schools are former members of the BIG 12 and now look to establish their own dominance in the SEC.

Aggie football surprised not just Oklahoma football fans but all football fans with their return to the top 10 in such a quick fashion. The main factor in this is former Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher, now at the helm at College Station.

ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 4: Sterling Shepard #3 of the Oklahoma Sooners breaks free against the Texas A&M Aggies during the AT&T Cotton Bowl on January 4, 2013, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – JANUARY 4: Sterling Shepard #3 of the Oklahoma Sooners breaks free against the Texas A&M Aggies during the AT&T Cotton Bowl on January 4, 2013, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) /

The recruiting classes began to see tremendous growth, and with a quarterback like Kellen Mond, they were deadly on offense and built a solid defense last year, as well.

Mond is gone, but with this pace A&M is on, they are putting together top-ranked recruiting classes, which means elite quarterbacks will come. Yes, the days of Johnny Manziel are long over, but the new era for the program has begun, and Oklahoma will have to one-up them in all facets.

Texas A&M enters this season at No. 6 in the AP Top-25 poll, while Oklahoma enters at No. 2, with expectations high for this season and beyond for both teams.

This football series, however, while not a full-fledged rivalry, is storied and dates back all the way to 1903 when the Sooners won 6-0. Over a century of blowouts, close games, and fan conflicts have led to many great and entertaining games and then some.

The most recent matchup between the Sooners and the Aggies resulted in a 41-13 A&M victory The Aggies currently have the last laugh, but all Oklahoma football needs to do is keep doing what it is doing and all that will take care of itself.

Oklahoma football defensively is improving at an elite rate, the offense remains the most consistent and prolific in all of college football, and head coach Lincoln Riley is bringing in talent at an elite rate.

Road games will be difficult for either team as the desire for this matchup to return has been boiling for almost a decade now. Norman and College Station or the Cotton Bowl will be beyond loud when these two teams come to town and rightfully so.

Regardless of the outcomes, this will be a fun series for college football fans to get back after such a long time without it every year.

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