Auburn Football: Five Potential Non-Conference Rivals

Oct 11, 2014; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (18) runs off the field after scoring a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. Oklahoma beat Texas 31-26. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Texas Longhorns

Enough with the ACC already, right? The basketball conference might make the most sense geographically, but how about an exciting matchup?

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Well, a semi-annual meeting with Texas would spice things up a bit. The Longhorns are one of college football’s most historically successful programs and they play plenty of high profile out of conference games. Recently, Texas has played UCLA (2010, 2011 and 2014), Ole Miss (2012 and 2013), and Arkansas (2008) out of conference and has future games scheduled with Notre Dame, USC, LSU, Ohio State and Michigan, among others.

While such big time matchups could make it difficult to fit in a series with Auburn, a recent rivalry development could help. Since they’ve halted the series with bitter in-state rival Texas A&M after the Aggies left the Big 12 for the SEC, there is still plenty of room on the Texas schedule for such showdowns.

It’s worked before. Auburn and Texas have played eight times in the past, the most recent a 14-10 Tigers win in Austin in 1991. Overall, Auburn is 3-5 against the Longhorns, 1-1 at Jordan-Hare Stadium, 1-3 in Austin and 1-1 on neutral fields.

Interestingly, because Auburn and Texas met in 1983, 1984, 1987 and in ’91, the Tigers have played the Longhorns in the regular season more than they have Clemson over the last 35 years. A few more would be nice.

What do you say, Auburn fans? Who should the Tigers look to schedule in future years, and who are the best possible candidates for a non-conference football rivalry? Let us know in the comments below.

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