Paul Finebaum predicts whether Texas or Oklahoma will have a better season in 2024

The Red River Rivalry will belong to a new conference this season but it will have the same intensity. During an appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning,” Paul Finebaum revealed which team he believes will have the better season.

“Texas,” Finebaum said. “They’re better prepared for it and I think their roster is probably inherently better. I’ll defer to you guys, but I think it’s pretty obvious [with] what they have across the board. I think there’s some unknowns at Oklahoma.

“The schedules could be the equalizer because Texas’ schedule is challenging. Oklahoma’s is tricky. But, by the way, with the exception of maybe Missouri, we might be able to say that about everybody else in the SEC.”

During the two programs’ final meeting in the Big 12 last year, No. 12 Oklahoma upset No. 3 Texas in 34-30 fashion. It was a back-and-forth slugfest, with Oklahoma scoring the go-ahead touchdown with only 15 seconds left in the game.

Despite the loss, Texas got the last laugh, ultimately winning the Big 12 Championship and reaching the College Football Playoff. Now, the two teams will look to make waves during their debut campaign in the SEC.

Previewing Texas’ 2024 campaign

Expectations are high for Texas again. Starting quarterback Quinn Ewers stunned fans around the nation when he announced was returning for a third season. Although Texas lost numerous starters to the NFL Draft, head coach Steve Sarkisian replenished his roster via the NCAA Transfer Portal.

During the offseason, the Longhorns added the No. 5 class in On3’s Transfer Portal Team Rankings, highlighted by standouts such as Isaiah Bond (Alabama), Amari Niblack (Alabama) and Andrew Mukuba (Clemson).

With starters like Anthony Hill Jr., a freshman All-American in 2023, returning on the defensive side of the ball, Texas is set for another dominant season. In contrast, Oklahoma has many more question marks surrounding its program.

Let’s take a look at Oklahoma

To start, the Sooners lost starting quarterback Dillon Gabriel to Oregon in the transfer portal. Now, Oklahoma will be forced to rely on unproven sophomore quarterback Jackson Arnold. While Arnold showed promise in OU’s 38-24 bowl game loss to Arizona, he also committed four of the team’s six turnovers.

Moreover, the Sooners’ offensive line will be five fresh faces. While the change could benefit OU, there’s no way to know until the season begins. Oklahoma’s defense saw far less changes following the 2023 campaign.

Eleven of the team’s top 13 tacklers return, led by All-Big 12 First-Team members linebacker Danny Stutsman and safety Billy Bowman Jr. The Sooners’ defense has all the pieces to be one of the top defenses in the country in 2024.

Narratives aside, one thing is certain: both teams believe they can defeat the other. Oklahoma and Texas will square off in the Red River Showdown on Oct. 12 in the Cotton Bowl.