Red River Rivalry - Texas 34, Oklahoma 3
Despite the bookmakers' odds and AP rankings, the Red River Rivalry rarely follows suit. Oklahoma delivered a sucker punch to the Longhorns' early season momentum in 2023, with a Dillon Gabriel-inspired comeback giving the Sooners an unexpected victory. The year before, Quinn Ewers and Texas dismantled Oklahoma, thrashing their rivals from across the Red River, 49-0 in an unusually one-sided affair.
The 120th instalment of this historic Red River Rivalry, named after the river that separates these two great states, looked like it would be stacked in favour of Texas. Coming into the Cotton Bowl ranked No.1, the Longhorns welcomed back starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, recovered from an abdominal strain, and ready to assume control of the Texas offense from Arch Manning, who led the Longhorns' offense comfortably in QB1's absence and offered teasers of an exciting future in Austin.
No.18 Oklahoma have had challenges with their offense. Jackson Arnold, their five-star recruit who the Sooners envisaged leading their attack following the departure of Gabriel to Oregon in the transfer portal, struggled in the limelight in their loss to Tennessee, benched in favour of true freshman Michael Hawkins, Jr. at quarterback. While Hawkins has injected energy and optimism into the Sooners' floundering attack, he is the first true freshman in Oklahoma history to face Texas and leading an offense of which not one player was involved in last year's Red River game. A task big enough in facing the current top-ranked team n the country was made harder still by the absence of Oklahoma's top five receivers, notably Deion Burks.
Slow start for Texas
Ewers was slow to shrug off some ring rust and was sacked by Oklahoma's defensive end Ethan Downs on the first play. Two plays later, the returning Longhorns quarterback overthrew his receiver and intercepted by Billy Bowman Jr. Oklahoma couldn't convert their turnover and missed a 44 yard field goal. Ewers' shaky start continued but the Texas defense stepped up to sack Hawkins for a 13-yard loss and forced the Sooners to punt.
Tyler Keltner's 42-yard field goal capped an 11 play-drive over 38 yards to put Oklahoma 3-0 up. This was the first time Texas have trailed all season. The Longhorns failed to register a first down in the first quarter.
“A nightmare second quarter for Oklahoma”
A 26-yard pass Ewers to DeAndre Moore seemed to revive Texas at the start of the second quarter. A 21-yard pass to Gunnar Helm followed and three plays later, Helm reeled in a 7-yard reception for a touchdown, completing a 10-play 75-yard drive to wrestle back a lead for Texas that they wouldn't relinquish.
The Texas defensive line was getting through. Hawkins was sacked by Barryn Sorrell and both teams swapped punts. Ewers launched a 43-yard pass to the impressive freshman Ryan Wingo. Although Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith and Alabama's Ryan Williams have made the headlines as outstanding freshman receiving talents, it won't be long before Wingo is mentioned in the same breath. The 6'2", 210lb receiver hauled in two catches for 49 yards and ran for 25 yards on a slashing play through the Sooners' defense.
Silas Bolden embodied the hustle and spirit in the Texas camp that has propelled them to the top of the national rankings. Running back Quintreveon Wisner burst out of the Longhorns' backfield to Oklahoma's three-yard line where a last-gasp tackle knocked the ball out of his hands, sending it tumbling towards the back of the end zone for an Oklahoma touch back until Bolden jumped on the loose ball to recover the fumble for a touchdown. Bolden had been in the backfield making a block to allow Wisner to break free, then followed the play 55 yards, accelerating with great hustle to extend the Longhorns' lead to 14-3 and finish a 4-play, 84-yard scoring drive, taking up just 1:58.
With 1:51 left in the first half, the imposing linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. stripped the ball from Hawkins and defensive lineman Vernon Broughton recovered. Hill was a huge presence against the Sooners, racking up ten tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss. Wisner, who had fumbled so close to a scoring opportunity earlier, made up quickly and scored immediately on a 43 yard run with the Longhorns' first drive. Safety Derek Williams knocked the ball loose on Oklahoma's next possession, handing Texas the ball back on the Sooners' 38-yard line. Ewers span the ball out wide to receiver Matthew Golden who launched the ball downfield on a trick play but underthrew his intended receiver and Bert Auburn missed a 44-yard field goal.
Texas had scored 21 unanswered points since conceding an early lead, prompting ESPN's Chris Fowler to describe "a nightmare second quarter for Oklahoma."
A first quarter that had started unconvincingly for Texas with just 13 yards, saw them gain 222 yards and three touchdowns in the second. Oklahoma managed just 54 yards in the half.
Texas extend their lead
Jovantae Barnes was making some early gains in the run game for Oklahoma early in the second half. The Longhorns' defense were getting wise to Hawkins' threat as a runner from the quarterback position. Texas linebacker Liona Lefau had eyes on Hawkins with the intention of reducing run gains from Oklahoma's quarterback. With Lefau lining up alongside fellow sophomore Anthony Hill Jr, Texas have a talented linebacking corps.
Ewers had fully tuned back into the Longhorns' offense, with Helm becoming a go- to target, finding the tight end on a 26-yard gain. Having lost Jonathan Brooks, Roschon Johnson and Bijan Robinson to the NFL in recent seasons, you could have been forgiven for worrying about the depth of the Texas run game. Step in Quintreveon Wisner, who had gained over 100 yards early in the third quarter, and Jaydon Blue, who were making gains with the receiving corps unselfishly blocking. After Ryan Wingo had made a 25-yard gain on a slick reverse play. Ewers missed him at the back right of the end zone on a 4th-and-2, handing the ball back to Oklahoma on their own 8-yard line.
Bert Auburn's 41-yard field goal with 1:01 left in the third, gave Texas a convincing 24-3 lead.
The Longhorns don the Golden Hat
Anthony Hill sacked Hawkins on a 1st-and-20 play, forcing Oklahoma to punt early on. Texas drove down the field and a 29 yard Bert Auburn field goal stretched their lead to 27-3 after Bolden couldn’t keep a Ewers pass in bounds in back corner of end zone on third and goal.
Ewers found Matthew Golden for a second attempt at the earlier double pass trick play which Helm hauled in successfully at the two yard line. An entertaining drive culminated with a one-yard touchdown run from Ewers, putting the exclamation mark on his return and an impressive 34-3 Texas win.
In a post-game interview with ESPN's Laura Rutledge, donning the Golden Hat, the famous trophy for the winner of one of college football's most iconic rivalries, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said: "Our defense played fantastic. They did a great job stopping the run.”
“Things got a little dicey early on in the ball game and then we settled in offensively and got it going in the second quarter.”
Quinn Ewers, interviewed by ESPN's Holly Rowe, shrugged off his shaky start, finishing the game with 199 passing yards, having completed passes to nine different receivers. "I feel good," he said. "I didn't really have any issue with it. I'm just glad to have the Golden Hat back. Couldn't be more proud of everybody."
Oklahoma, who slip to 4-2, will regroup in Norman, where they will host South Carolina, who ran Alabama close this weekend.
Texas move to 6-0 following this convincing win over their arch rivals. Their attempt to win the SEC title in their first year in the conference will come under serious scrutiny as they host Georgia in Austin next week in what could be one of the games of the season.
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