I think to be rivals you need to be on the same footings. Though I enjoy beating Texas most, maybe, they do not get excited about beating TCU, but rather relieved because they are a “blue blood“ of higher status with highest expectations. I do appreciate the
@Prime BEEF thought regarding the number of foes to banter with as I had not considered that measure, but...
@Nick Danger Like we think of SMU today as lower status because they are not in a P5 conference, that is how Baylor thought of TCU before TCU re-emerging in the Big 12. The status changed and thus the Revivalry was an appropriate name. TCU is now on the same P5 non-blue blood footings as Baylor and Texas Tech so they are #1 and #2 rivals. I make Baylor #1 because they are most similar as a private school and also the school we will be most compared with if any conference realignment.
Down the road, if SMU finds a Power conference home, they will be the #1 rival again because they are similarly sized and private and will be the crosstown DFW rival for recruits, fans and any further realignment. SMU was TCU’s #1 rival when on the same SWC foundation.
Again, I most enjoy beating Texas, but Baylor is right there with them, and I strongly dislike that Baylor won another football conference championship and are basketball national champs, especially when that may be used for them and against TCU in realignment.
Lastly, long term, TCU can’t beat the Longhorns and Aggies in the state’s national athletic recognition, but TCU can battle to fall in third, ahead of Baylor, Texas Tech, Houston and SMU.