Tag: red river rivalry

Advantages, disadvantages and early preview of Texas vs. Oklahoma

We take an early look at Red River for the 2024 season.

The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners play next season in the Cotton Bowl like they have since 1929. For the first time, the teams will play as members of the SEC.

The game will be of added importance for Texas after losing last year. While the Oklahoma game might have been on the back burner in preparation for Alabama last offseason, the Sooners should be the Longhorns’ top priority out of spring ball.

Oklahoma stunned Texas in Dallas in 2023. The game went down to the final seconds as the Sooners drove downfield with ease to take the lead with 15 seconds left.

Several faces from the game won’t be on the field for both teams. The Longhorns lose their dynamic interior defensive duo of T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy along with the majority of their receiving production. The Sooners will have a new offensive coordinator, quarterback and mostly new offensive line.

Let’s look at a few advantages and disadvantages each team will have in the game.

Social media reacts: Poor second half, officiating doom Sooners in loss to Texas

The Sooners didn’t play their best ball and didn’t get much help from the officiating crew either and here’s how social media reacted.

After rising back into the top 15 in the nation, the Oklahoma Sooners had a disappointing performance in their 75-60 loss to the Texas Longhorns.

In the second half, the Sooners were outscored by 16 and struggled to find their offensive touch, shooting just 38% from the field, while the Longhorns shot 54% in the second half.

Oklahoma certainly didn’t play well, but they didn’t get much help from the officials who called more fouls against the Sooners in the second half, including a questionable flagrant foul on Le’Tre Darthard.

It was a physical game at the Sooners’ offensive end of the floor, but OU didn’t seem to get the same benefit when they were playing defense.

Ultimately, it was a disappointing loss for the Sooners, who had an opportunity to make a statement in Big 12 play. Instead, they not only lost but had one of their worst performances of the season against their rival.

Oklahoma is now 15-4 on the season and 3-3 in conference play, and here’s how social media reacted to the Sooner’s loss to Texas.

Opinion: Red River should be Texas’ most important game in 2024

Alabama was Texas’ most important game last season, but the Oklahoma game should take priority this year.

Texas enjoyed its best season in several years in 2023. The team won 12 games, won its conference and made the College Football Playoff. Continue reading “Opinion: Red River should be Texas’ most important game in 2024”

‘Hornsdown4life’: Caleb Williams declares for the NFL draft

Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams declares for the NFL draft in post saying, “HornsDown4Life.”

Former Oklahoma Sooners quarterback and Heisman trophy winner Caleb Williams declared for the NFL draft on Monday.

In a post to the social media platform X, Williams said, “Since I was 10, all I ever wanted to do was to play football. The journey would be empty without the people who have supported and loved me. I will Fight On forever and rep HornsDown4Life. I’m ready to do whatever it takes. I am officially declaring for the NFL draft.”

Though he didn’t finish his career with the Oklahoma Sooners, Caleb Williams will live in OU-Texas lore forever.

The Sooners were down 28-7 early in the second quarter. Facing a fourth and one, Williams entered and, after a quarterback draw, ran 66 yards to the endzone for a touchdown.

More: Social media reacts to Sooners incredible comeback win over Texas

After Spencer Rattler’s second turnover of the game with 2:52 left in the quarter, Williams came in for good.

More: Caleb Williams shares message of support for former teammates ahead of Red River Showdown

On his next drive, Williams orchestrated a field goal drive to cut the Texas lead to 15. Though Texas would answer to go into halftime up 18 points, the first half set the stage for one of the most legendary comebacks in the history of the sport.

After punting on their first possession, Oklahoma scored on their next five possessions and the defense held Texas to just three points and the Sooners took the lead. Along the way, Williams hit Marvin Mims for a couple of deep balls, aided by some incredible catches by Mims.

Williams and Mims combined for one of the most incredible plays in the history of the game. Facing a 3rd and 19, Williams had time in the pocket, but as the protection began to break, he found space in the middle of the pocket and, on the run and on one foot, threw a dime to the front corner of the end zone. Mims made an incredible adjustment on the ball and made the iconic catch while diving into the endzone.

Though his relationship with Oklahoma may be complicated, Williams made an impact in his short time in Norman. Even in the wake of Lincoln Riley’s departure, Williams stuck around for the Alamo Bowl with Bob Stoops even though it was expected he’d follow Riley to USC.

He helped Oklahoma go 6-2 as the starting quarterback. Though games against Baylor and Oklahoma State were let-down performances, some of that responsibility falls on the coaching staff as well.

But for Williams, he’ll always be remembered for what he was able to accomplish in the Red River Showdown as the Sooners came back to stun the Longhorns.

More: Best photos of Caleb Williams time with the Oklahoma Sooners

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on Twitter @john9williams.

Oklahoma Sooners’ top 10 moments from 2023

From multiple national championships, to Red River heroics, what were the best moments from the Oklahoma Sooners in 2023?

The Oklahoma Sooners had magical moments in 2023. There were national championship runs and new records set. There were incredible individual performances and great team accomplishments.

Big things happened off the field as well for the Sooners that helped set the stage for their move to the SEC.

So what were the top moments of 2023? Here’s Sooners Wire’s top 10.

Oklahoma’s Ethan Downs threw out a Horns Down to troll Texas while being recognized during Sugar Bowl

The Red River Rivalry somehow made it to the Sugar Bowl.

Texas and Oklahoma’s Red River Rivalry remains one of the pettiest in all of college football.

It’s so petty that Sooners defensive end Ethan Downs didn’t miss an opportunity to troll the Longhorns while making an appearance during Monday’s Sugar Bowl to honor his off-field service work.

Downs made the 2023 AllState AFCA Good Works Team for his work in the community, and he threw out the infamous “Horns Down” symbol to mock Texas while he got some television time of his own.

If you’re an Oklahoma fan, you have to commend Downs for his dedication to the Red River Rivalry to bring it all the way to the College Football Playoff.

If you’re a Texas fan, well, you can hang your hat on the fact that the Longhorns actually played in the College Football Playoff and Oklahoma could only watch this year.

This rivalry will continue into the SEC next fall, and we wonder if Texas will remember this bit of unexpected “Horns Down” trolling in the next meeting.

Feature image courtesy of ESPN.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1372]

No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners vs No. 14 Arizona Wildcats: How to Watch and key players for game day

The Sooners play their final game of the season in the Alamo Bowl, here is how you can watch the game and some key players.

The Oklahoma Sooners are set to wrap up their 2023 season. The Sooners are 10-2, but will face an [autotag]Arizona Wildcats[/autotag] team that is 9-3 and ranked No. 14.

The Sooners’ two losses came by a combined eight points. The Wildcats also know about close losses. Their three losses came by a combined 16 points, and two came in overtime.

There is a strong argument there isn’t a hotter team in college football than Arizona. It has won six straight by an average margin of 20.2 points per game, including four against ranked teams.

The Wildcats bring in the nation’s 18th-ranked offense and the 36th-ranked defense. They rank in the top 26 in both scoring offense and scoring defense.

Outside the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag], Arizona might be the most complete team the Sooners have faced all season. So, let’s take a look at how you can watch the game, some key players and an update on who is playing.

Sooners DL gets huge boost for 2024 with the return of Da’Jon Terry

The Oklahoma Sooners got some more new good news as their anchor in the middle will return in 2024.

While it seems like this has been a crazy week for the Oklahoma Sooners, they did receive some more good news on Thursday. The Sooners have been waiting to see how many of their key players from the 2023 season would return and how many would leave.

They are still waiting on a few guys to make that decision, but one very big piece, no pun intended, made his announcement Thursday. [autotag]Da’Jon Terry[/autotag] announced on social media that he would be returning to the Sooners in 2024.

The 6-foot-3, 321-pound defensive tackle was arguably the Sooners best defensive lineman in 2023. He was the man who clogged up the middle of the defense on key goal-line stands, including the one in the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag].

 

His numbers aren’t eye-popping. He finished with 17 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack. But unless you are a superstar like Aaron Donald, for example, your numbers at that position usually aren’t off the charts. That position is key for clogging up the middle and holding blocks so the linebackers can fly around and make plays.

That’s what he did all season, and you need that big of a body when you head to the [autotag]SEC[/autotag]. Oklahoma is going to need more of those kinds of players before next season. Something they are trying to do in the portal.

But with the losses of [autotag]Isaiah Coe[/autotag] and [autotag]Jordan Kelley[/autotag], the Sooners needed Terry to come back. If so, they could only lose two key players at defensive tackle going into 2024.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

Nic Anderson and Cayden Green named freshman All-American by College Football Network

Nic Anderson and Cayden Green’s big freshmen seasons were capped off with All-American honors.

Coming into the 2023 college football season, wide receiver was a major question mark for the Oklahoma Sooners. By the time the season ended, it might have been the strongest position group on the team.

There’s some debate on that but there is no debate it was a pleasant surprise. A big part of that was redshirt freshman [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag]. Anderson finished with 31 catches for 725 yards and nine touchdowns. He led the nation with 23.4 yards per reception and was second on the Sooners in yards and touchdowns.

For his performance this season, Anderson was named a freshman All-American by the College Football Network. But he wasn’t the only one. True freshman guard [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag] was also named to the freshman All-American team.

Green started to receive real playing time after moving to guard from tackle during the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag]. He filled in nicely and never gave his spot back. Also, the Sooners’ running game took off in the back half of the season once he took over the position.

Both of these guys have a ton of potential. Green has a real chance at turning that freshman All-American nod into an All-American selection in the future. Anderson has the chance to do the same and could be a future high-draft pick in the NFL.

While former five-star true freshman [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] didn’t make the freshman All-American defensive team, he was an honorable mention. Injuries definitely played a role in him not making the team, but he made a strong first impression in Norman.

There is no doubt, they’ve all shown this season their futures are bright for the Sooners.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on Twitter @JaronSpor.

2023 Position Review and Recruiting Outlook: Sooners defensive line shows improvement

The Oklahoma Sooners’ defensive line showed improvement but not where it needs to be come the SEC.

The Oklahoma Sooners’ defensive line was a much deeper unit in 2023. It still didn’t have the game-changer they need but we knew they weren’t going to have that going into the season.

A lot of the highly-touted guys were still young or battled injuries like R Mason Thomas and Adepoju Adebawore. Still, it was a solid unit for the team. They had moments like the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag] where they dominated. But they had games they struggled in like the game against the [autotag]UCF Knights[/autotag] and the [autotag]BYU Cougars[/autotag].

That is what to expect from an average defensive line. It’s why recruiting and development are going to be so key for the future of that unit.