Colt McCoy backs Longhorns for national title in Red River Rivalry

Colt McCoy, a former Texas Longhorns quarterback, stated on Friday that the current squad possesses the talent and coaching necessary to win a national championship. He made the remarks in Dallas ahead of Saturday's Red River Rivalry game against the Oklahoma Sooners.

McCoy, who is currently promoting Red River Rivalry merchandise for Fanatics, described the matchup as a pivotal moment in the college football calendar. He noted that the game is traditionally played in October at the Cotton Bowl, serving as a kickoff to the conference season. McCoy told Fox News Digital that the intensity of the rivalry means even the top-ranked team faces serious trouble if it fails to execute or loses focus on game day.

During his four years with Texas, McCoy went 3-1 in the rivalry. His record included a 45-35 victory over the No. 1 ranked Sooners when Texas was ranked fifth in the country. Texas has won three of the last four meetings after losing 10 of the previous 13, which included the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game.

McCoy acknowledged that while he maintains strong relationships with former Oklahoma teammates such as Trent Williams, Adrian Peterson, and Kyler Murray, his allegiance to Texas is absolute now that he has left professional football. He recalled that during his playing days, the intense rivalry made it difficult to focus on other games, but he admitted his team did not always perform well in the weeks leading up to the matchup.

"Generally, we didn't play great if I can remember right," McCoy said. He referenced a 41-21 loss to unranked Kansas State while Texas was ranked No. 7, though he went 3-1 in games preceding the rivalry during his career. He added that the locker room atmosphere after losing to Oklahoma would fuel his motivation for the following week.

Looking at this year's Longhorns, McCoy highlighted their undefeated 4-0 record and their current No. 1 national ranking. He characterized the roster as arguably the most talented Texas has had in over two decades, citing strength on both sides of the ball. "The sky's the limit for this team. They're super talented. They're well coached," he said. "They kind of have all the makings from both sides of the ball to be really special."

McCoy emphasized that the team's internal confidence is high and that they are never outmatched man-to-man. He concluded by expressing his belief that the squad will follow through on its potential to secure a title.