The 2023 Big 12 Championship Game holds significant College Football Playoff implications for No. 7 Texas as they face off against No. 18 Oklahoma State. This marks the Longhorns' first appearance in the conference title game in five years, propelled by an impressive 8-1 record in conference play, a feat not achieved in nearly 15 years. Texas concluded their regular season with a commanding 57-7 victory over longtime rival Texas Tech.

Oklahoma State secured their spot in the Big 12 title game by upsetting Oklahoma in a crucial 27-24 home victory, taking control of the race. While the Cowboys stumbled in subsequent games against conference newcomers, losing 45-3 to UCF and narrowly avoiding defeat in a double-overtime game against BYU, they remain a formidable contender.

Despite an annual matchup since the Big 12's inception in 1996, Texas and Oklahoma State were not scheduled to play in 2023. The Longhorns hold a dominant 26-11 advantage in the overall series, but the Cowboys have won six of the last eight meetings and boast a 2-0 record against Texas under coach Steve Sarkisian.

In the spotlight for the Texas vs. Oklahoma State showdown is the clash between unstoppable force and immovable object. Oklahoma State's running back, Ollie Gordon II, a frontrunner for the Doak Walker Award with a nation-leading 1,580 rushing yards, faces a formidable challenge in Texas defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat. Sweat, along with Byron Murphy II, ranks as the top interior defenders in college football according to Pro Football Focus, leading a Longhorns defense that limits opponents to a remarkable 2.9 yards per carry.

Texas, under Sarkisian, has showcased versatility in creating scoring opportunities, adapting to the loss of starting running back Jonathon Brooks. CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue have each delivered 100-yard games in recent weeks, and the Longhorns demonstrated their scoring prowess with a 43-yard pick-six and a 95-yard kickoff return in the 57-7 win over Texas Tech.

As Texas heads into the final weekend, they find themselves in a precarious position in the College Football Playoff race, holding the seventh spot. To secure a playoff berth, the Longhorns may need more than just a win; style points could play a crucial role. Sarkisian must strategize to impress the committee, similar to Ohio State's memorable 59-0 victory over Wisconsin in 2014. The Longhorns are aware that they need to leave no stone unturned in their pursuit of a playoff spot.







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