Former conference rivals Texas, Arkansas to meet in Texas Bowl

HOUSTON – Growing up as a child in Arkansas, Charlie Strong loved watching the Razorbacks and Texas play.

In his first season as the Longhorns' coach, he can't wait to renew the old rivalry Monday night in the Texas Bowl.

"No one ever lets you forget about the rivalry," Strong said.

These teams have met 77 times, with the first game coming in 1894. The old Southwest Conference foes met 60 years in a row before Arkansas left for the SEC after the 1991 season.

They haven't played much since then, with the last game coming in a 52-10 victory by Texas in 2008.

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema has worked to teach his players about the history of the rivalry, telling them about the schools' coaching greats: the Razorbacks' Frank Broyles and Texas' Darrell Royal.

"I think they've bought into it," Bielema said. "I say all the time we only stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. To be a part of something where Frank Broyles and Darrell Royal were such a big part of the game that we know today, it's just truly amazing."

"You love to see those old rivalries continue," Strong said.

Bielema agreed and hopes that he's part of it if it happens.

"It would be fun," he said. "It would be an easy one to sell. ... We're talking about games in 2021. I'm hoping to be alive and kicking. I just get crazy when we start talking about these event schedules."

Some things to know about Arkansas and Texas meeting in the Texas Bowl.

• Texas receiver Jaxon Shipley has been cleared to play after missing the regular-season finale against TCU with a hamstring injury. Shipley is second on the team with 58 receptions for 571 yards. He is the third player in school history with three seasons of at least 50 receptions.

• The Longhorns are tied for seventh in the nation with 39 sacks. Malcolm Brown leads them with 6½ sacks and 14 tackles for loss.

• Senior receiver John Harris leads the Longhorns with 64 catches for 1,015 yards and seven touchdowns. His 1,015 yards receiving are the eighth-most in school history. Harris, who had just nine career catches before this season, has averaged 84.6 yards receiving, which is fifth in the Big 12.

• Martrell Spaight leads the SEC with 123 tackles, which are the most by an Arkansas player since Tony Bua had 126 in 2003. He has 8½ tackles for loss, a sack and an interception and has forced two fumbles and recovered one. He piled up a season-high 15 tackles against both Missouri and Mississippi State.