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Big 12 Football: 3 teams that can dethrone Oklahoma in 2020

By Connor Muldowney

STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 30: Running back Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks for an opening against the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter on November 30, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OU won 34-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
STILLWATER, OK - NOVEMBER 30: Running back Chuba Hubbard #30 of the Oklahoma State Cowboys looks for an opening against the Oklahoma Sooners in the fourth quarter on November 30, 2019 at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Oklahoma. OU won 34-16. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 31: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns rushes for a touchdown which was called back by a penalty in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 31, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 31: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns rushes for a touchdown which was called back by a penalty in the fourth quarter against the Utah Utes during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 31, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

2. Texas Longhorns

We heard it before last season and after the Longhorns beat Georgia in the 2019 Sugar Bowl: Texas is back.

It came right from the mouth of Sam Ehlinger and caused a stir on social media because, well, the Longhorns hadn’t been nationally relevant in a decade. But a win over a Georgia team that many thought should have been playoff-bound was a huge statement.

However, Texas took a step back after those words from the starting quarterback. The Longhorns went from Sugar Bowl champs to 8-5 overall and 5-4 in conference play in 2019. Texas looked like a shell of its 2018 self and reverted back to mediocrity just when it looked like it was going to take strides in the right direction.

Depth was an issue, but with another elite recruiting class coming in, a plethora of solid receivers returning, Ehlinger back and talented players all over the defense, Texas should be much better than it was in 2019 and likely push Oklahoma for the Big 12 crown.

No, this isn’t me claiming that Texas is back, but the Longhorns are closer to being relevant heading into 2020 than they were at any point in 2019.

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