Texas Football: Ranking Longhorns’ 2020 opponents by toughness

How is Oklahoma not No. 1? Well, when you have a matchup with the defending national champs on the road, that one has to take the cake as the toughest on the 2020 slate.

The Sooners won’t be much easier of a matchup than LSU, though. They bring back a 1,000-yard rusher in Kennedy Brooks, an elite receiving corps and a defense that improved tenfold under Alex Grinch. The main question mark will be at quarterback. Will Jalen Hurts’ departure hurt or will Spencer Rattler’s arrival be just what the program needs to get over the hump?

Oklahoma will be back as the top team in the league and Rattler may very well be the latest Heisman-contending Sooner quarterback. This Red River Shootout will be a classic.

A year ago, Texas had a chance to beat LSU in the second week of the season in Austin, but the Longhorns came up just short, losing by a touchdown.

LSU won’t be quite as scary in 2020, but Ed Orgeron has built the program back up and playing in Death Valley is probably the most intimidating atmosphere Texas will face all season. This one is going to be winnable, but it’ll undoubtedly be the toughest matchup for Texas even without Joe Burrow.

The Tigers may not have the reigning Heisman winner or top running back, but Ja’Marr Chase returns after a 1,700-yard receiving season and John Emery Jr., Chris Curry and Tyrion Davis-Price will form a scary backfield trio. Dave Aranda is gone as the defensive coordinator, but Bo Pelini has plenty of experience there.

LSU may not be No. 1-worthy, but the Tigers will be a New Year’s Six-caliber team in 2020.