Who are the biggest villains in Texas football history?
I’ve been thinking a lot about villains in sports. Maybe it’s because of the knife Nico Harrison stuck in Mavericks fans’ backs. The greatest NFL coach of all time being undone by a 24-year-old vixen probably has something to do with it as well. But who are the greatest villains in Longhorns history? Here’s our next installment in the offseason Mount Rushmore series.
[Sign up for Inside Texas TODAY and get the BEST Longhorns scoop!]
Keep in mind, this article is about individuals, not rival schools. (Though a member of the IT staff did have a good suggestion: Texas’ greatest rival might just be our own reflection in the mirror. Touché.) That’s part of the reason I put an Oklahoma coach other than Bob Stoops on this mountain. Did Mack Brown have more to do with the Sooners’ success against Texas in 2000 than Stoops himself? Probably.
Like the real Mount Rushmore, this isn’t a ranking, simply four faces of equal gravitas who are etched into stone for eternity, side by side. Find Rushmore Volume One, Two and Three.
Barry Switzer, Oklahoma
Nobody deserves a spot on this mountain more than Oklahoma’s coach. Switzer was the ultimate villain to Darrell Royal. In many ways, he was Royal’s antithesis—the kind of coach who helped drive the Texas legend into early retirement. He took Texas’ wishbone offense to the next level with better athletes and a more, cough, modern approach to player recruitment.
Before Spygate hit the NFL, it dominated Red River. In 1976, Royal accused Switzer’s staff of spying on Texas practices for years. That final Red River Shootout of DKR’s career was a bloodbath in the press before the game even kicked off, and it ended in a 6–6 tie. Beyond Switzer’s sliminess, the real reason he’s here is because he went 9-5-2 against the Longhorns before his program collapsed under the weight of his own doing.
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
The Austin native who loved to hate Texas with all his heart. The Sooners’ Heisman Trophy winner crafted his own narrative—the Big Bad hometown school who didn’t offer the Lake Travis quarterback. He won his last two shots at the Golden Hat while Texas wandered in the wilderness.
Top 10
- 1New
Blurred out QB
Vols protect INT thrower
- 2Hot
Top 25 WR units
Ranking the pass catchers
- 3
OLB rankings
Top 25 in college football
- 4
College Football Playoff
Ranking Top 32 teams for 2025
- 5Trending
Top 25 College QBs
Ranking best '25 signal callers
Get the Daily On3 Newsletter in your inbox every morning
By clicking "Subscribe to Newsletter", I agree to On3's Privacy Notice, Terms, and use of my personal information described therein.
Mayfield doesn’t hold back in his absolute hatred of burnt orange, and I have to admit, I respect that about him. In an era of sports where everything feels a little too buddy-buddy, the mutual loathing between Mayfield and Texas is primal. It’s what these rivalries were built on.
Jackie Sherrill, Texas A&M/Mississippi State
You can tell when an Aggie fan was born based on their attitude toward Texas. If they came up during the Sherrill era, it’s usually one of superiority. He’s the closest thing Texas A&M has ever had to a Switzer. Sherrill weaponized their paranoia, passion, and cult-like nature into success. But more than anything, he knew the way to win a fanbase over was to beat your rivals.
Before he unceremoniously resigned after a hush money scandal, the ‘Prince of Darkness’ won five straight against the Longhorns and kicked off a decade of dominance over Big Brother. He wasn’t done giving Texas problems while wearing maroon after he left College Station. Sherrill won two-of-three over Texas in the 1990s as Mississippi State’s head coach.
[Order THE LONGHORN ALPHABET today and teach your little ones the A to Z’s of Texas Football!]
Marcel Dareus, Alabama
I was tempted to put Michael Crabtree here, but one hit to a shoulder changed an entire decade of Longhorn football. There was also the freaking shovel pass. Come on, Greg Davis.
