SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey to attend final Big 12 Red River Showdown between Texas and Oklahoma
Greg Sankey will be live and in person to watch the final Big 12 Red River Showdown between Texas and Oklahoma this weekend, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger.
On Monday, Dellenger revealed the SEC Commissioner will be watching the two future SEC squads do battle over the weekend, before heading over to watch the Texas A&M Aggies take on the Alabama Crimson Tide.
“SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is scheduled to be on hand to watch current Big 12 teams and future SEC teams Texas and Oklahoma,” tweeted Dellenger. “… He’ll also drop by Texas A&M-Alabama.”
Alas, it’ll be fascinating to see how the Big 12 feels about Sankey wanting to attend the game, but you can’t blame him. The SEC Commissioner is ready to see his two new toys in action, and it’s bound to be an amazing contest.
As for Brett Yormark, the Big 12 Commissioner spoke with ESPN’s Heather Dinich regarding Sankey’s attendance, and it’s evident he has no qualms.
“That’s his future,” Yormark told Dinich, adding that he won’t be at the Red River Showdown. “He should support them.”
Both Oklahoma and Texas enter the showdown undefeated, and a victory would put them in the College Football Playoff conversation. That’s the type of play Sankey envisioned when he welcomed the two Big 12 squads to his conference.
Time will tell if it’ll continue when they make their move to the SEC, but Texas and Oklahoma are ready to have the eyes of the college football world gaze upon them this weekend.
Paul Finebaum claims Texas will be legitimately back with win in Red River Showdown vs. Oklahoma
Continuing, ESPN’s Paul Finebaum believes after all the hoopla, Texas will officially, legitimately be “back” if they’re able to get a victory on Saturday.
The ESPN commentator said this is the biggest opportunity for Texas to prove itself. So far so good after a blowout win over previously ranked Kansas and a win in Tuscaloosa over Nick Saban this year. But this is the turning point, good or bad, for Texas coming up.
“As you frame the game, obviously a lot of history to consider this is the last time not in the SEC,” Finebaum said on the Matt Barrie Show. “Last year was just one of the worst days in Oklahoma history. And you know how that plays into this, no idea. Truly have no idea whether that’s a factor or not. I’m not a big believer in those things, Matt.
“But if Texas continues here, they’re in a phenomenal position. They’re no longer ‘Hey, this is a joke about Texas being back.’ I mean, they look legitimately back. And I just wish this game was already in the SEC because it just seems like a waste for these two schools who have been scorned and treated shabbily by the Big 12 in the schedule-making to give that league a showcase.”