Tag: red river rivalry

AllState Red River Rivalry to remain at Cotton Bowl in Dallas after extension reached

The University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas reached an agreement to keep the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl through 2036.

The greatest rivalry game in North American sports will remain in one of the most iconic venues in the history of college football. The University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas have reached a contract extension that will keep the Red River Rivalry in the Cotton Bowl through 2036.

The historic rivalry game has been played in the Cotton Bowl at the State Fair of Texas since 1932 and this contract extension will allow the two sides to reach a 100-year anniversary in 2032.

Though some have posited the idea of home site contests or a move to AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys, the natural site affair inside the Cotton Bowl is synonymous with college football.

Oklahoma and Texas have played some all-time classics at the Cotton Bowl, including this year’s win by the Sooners. Oklahoma needed a score in the final 1:17 of the game to either tie or win the game and Dillon Gabriel led the Sooners on a legacy-defining game-winning drive to hand the Longhorns what has been their lone loss in the 2023 season.

This agreement assures that the Cotton Bowl will receive necessary upgrades, while also increasing the revenue the teams earn from playing the game at the Cotton Bowl.

Enhancements include the addition of escalators, widening the concourses, adding more hospitality and premium environments, restrooms, and concessions as part of a $140 million improvement plan.

Next year, the Sooners and Longhorns first in the SEC, Oklahoma will serve as the home team for the annual event that draws the attention of national broadcasts and college football fans everywhere.

Official Release from the University of Oklahoma Athletics Department

The University of Oklahoma and University of Texas have agreed to a contract extension that will keep the historic Allstate Red River Rivalry football game at the Cotton Bowl through 2036, the schools announced Wednesday.

In addition to the Dallas Sports Commission and Dallas Tourism Public Improvement District increasing the game fees paid to each school, as part of the agreement, the City of Dallas has agreed to make the single largest investment in the Cotton Bowl Stadium’s history; an estimated $140-million, two-year renovation project that honors the Cotton Bowl Stadium’s celebrated legacy and distinctive architecture with sweeping enhancements, elevating the fan experience.

Improvements to Cotton Bowl Stadium include widening concourses and adding escalators, increasing fans’ comfort level while entering and exiting the stadium. This will also include renovations to concessions and restrooms, plus increasing the number of hospitality areas and premium environments, which will enhance the speed of service for fans during events. The first phase of renovations to the west side of the stadium is to be completed by September 2026. The city is also scheduled to finish a second phase of significant renovations to the east side of the stadium by September 2034.

“The relationship between the storied Allstate Red River Rivalry and the venerable Cotton Bowl is one-of-kind regardless of sport,” said OU Vice President and Director of Athletics Joe Castiglione. “Our new agreement guarantees this historic legacy of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas at the State Fair of Texas will stretch into a second century. Millions of fans throughout the years have cheered, in-person, for the Sooners or Longhorns on what’s become almost sacred ground. It only makes sense for us to do all we can with our partners to keep that tradition alive but also continue to improve upon the experience and access for our fans. The stadium renovations will be extensive, and we can’t wait for our fans to experience the enhancements.”

“We’re thrilled we’ve been able to extend the contract and continue our partnership with Oklahoma, the State Fair of Texas and the City of Dallas on our great game,” said UT Vice President and Lois and Richard Folger Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. “There is absolutely nothing like the Allstate Red River Rivalry game, and with all of its history, tradition and pageantry, it needs to stay in the Cotton Bowl. So many memories have been made by generations of fans at the iconic stadium surrounded by the spectacle that is the State Fair of Texas, and we’re excited to be continuing that long into the future.”

The long and storied rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma goes back to 1900 and the two teams played for the 119th time in 2023. It was the 95th consecutive year (since 1912) the game was played at a neutral site, equal distance from both schools, while the rivals have met on the grounds of the State Fair since 1929 and in the Cotton Bowl Stadium since it was built in 1930.

“This game is nostalgic for so many,” said State Fair of Texas President Mitchell Glieber. “This rivalry has been played in the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas for nearly a century. It is the most unique setting in all of college football. Both Longhorns and Sooners fans have centered annual traditions around this game, traveling to Dallas every year to showcase their pride and be a part of the most iconic rivalry in college football history.”

“Growing up in Dallas and being a huge college football fan, I have always loved the annual Texas/Oklahoma game during the State Fair,” said Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson. “It is a tradition-filled matchup between historic rivals and does a wonderful job of showcasing Dallas and the State Fair of Texas nationally, while also contributing to the economic vitality of our city. I’m thrilled that both schools have committed to continue the tradition through at least 2036 – the bicentennial of the State of Texas.”

The City of Dallas has engaged Bryan Trubey, FAIA, project principal with Overland Partners, to head up the redesign efforts for renovations to Cotton Bowl Stadium.

“Overland is honored to work with an outstanding team of visionaries and stewards with the shared commitment of securing a bright, sustainable future for Fair Park starting with the renovations to the Cotton Bowl for the 2026 game,” said Trubey. “The Cotton Bowl harnesses our unique understanding of civic and cultural work, sports and entertainment venues, guest experience, and placemaking to reimagine one of Dallas’ – and our nation’s – most important and iconic venues.”

Additionally, Learfield will continue its partnership with the Allstate Red River Rivalry.

“We have partnered with Oklahoma and Texas on the Allstate Red River Rivalry for nearly 30 years, and it is our privilege to continue that relationship as they extend their agreement with the Cotton Bowl as the home of this iconic game,” said Andrew Wheeler, Learfield executive vice president, multimedia rights. “We look forward to many more successful years of connecting passionate fans to the tradition of the Allstate Red River Rivalry experience.”

Best Photos of Dillon Gabriel’s time with the Oklahoma Sooners

Take a look back at the best images of Dillon Gabriel from his time with the Oklahoma Sooners.

[autotag]Dillon Gabriel[/autotag] had a tremendous career with the Oklahoma Sooners. In two seasons, he threw for 6,828 yards and 55 touchdowns while completing 66% of his passes.

He also was a legit dual threat, running for 18 touchdowns, including 12 in 2023.

He was good in 2022. It was good enough for the Sooners to be better than 6-7, but the defense allowed 30 points per game. In 2023, he took his game to a whole different level, improving as a passer in the intermediate passing game and getting more explosive as a runner.

The Sooners too a big jump in offensive efficiency and points per game, largely because Gabriel was better. They were a better unit on third and fourth down and in the red zone. And although it didn’t end with a banner, Gabriel gave the Sooners an opportunity to achieve their goals in 2023.

Dillon Gabriel gave us a ton of great moments, but none was better than the drive to beat Texas in the Red River Rivalry this season. He and the offense got the ball with 1:17 left on the clock and Gabriel masterfully took the Sooners 75 yards in six plays for the game-winning drive.

He was 4-of-4 on the drive and Nic Anderson drew a pass interference call that set up first and goal. Two plays later, Gabriel found Anderson in the back of the end zone for the score.

Gabriel’s time comes to a close without the fanfare of quarterback greats before him. But he was the quarterback the Oklahoma Sooners needed when Brent Venables took over. He was good in his first year, and Heisman was worthy in his second season. His leadership was as important as the coaching staff’s to steadying Oklahoma’s foundation in the wake of the coaching change.

Dillon Gabriel made a lasting impact that will endure long after he makes the move from Norman.

Mahalo!

5 keys to an Oklahoma Sooners victory over Oklahoma State in Bedlam

5 keys to an Oklahoma Sooners victory over the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

The Oklahoma Sooners head to Stillwater for one final time as they get set to take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

The vibes surrounding each team are strikingly different. Oklahoma is coming off of their first loss of the season, to Kansas, no less. That loss was preceded by a scare at home from UCF coming out of their bye week.

Meanwhile, Mike Gundy has his Cowboys on a four-game winning streak and isn’t lacking in things he needs to say to motivate his team for this particular game.

Oklahoma will lose this game if they play like they have the last two weeks. In a rivalry game, mistakes are magnified.

There is nothing more Oklahoma State fans want more than to beat Oklahoma as the Bedlam series comes to a close with the Sooners’ departure to the SEC.

The last two games have shown us Oklahoma is improved. However, they are still capable of losing games if they don’t bring their best.

What do the Sooners need to do to come away with a win. Here are five keys to this week’s matchup.

Tyler Guyton rising to outside expectations for the Oklahoma Sooners

Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton living up to the lofty preseason expectations.

Coming into the 2023 college football season, there were high expectations for Oklahoma Sooners’ offensive tackle, [autotag]Tyler Guyton[/autotag]. Guyton had only started a few games at tackle in his career, but his talent was off the charts.

Offensive line coach [autotag]Bill Bedenbaugh[/autotag] said Guyton is one of the most talented players he’s ever coached this offseason. That’s high praise considering the [autotag]NFL[/autotag] is littered with former Bedenbaugh proteges. Guyton was also included among Dane Brugler’s top 50 draft prospects for the 2024 NFL draft.

For the most part, he’s lived up to those lofty expectations. No, he hasn’t been perfect, and there are definitely some things he can improve on as a player. But in the Red River Rivalry game, the Texas Longhorns came into that game with a tackle who many think will be a high first-round pick after next season. Still, Guyton was the best tackle on the field, and it wasn’t particularly close.

Guyton has played a big role in the Sooners having one of the better pass-blocking teams in the country. The Sooners currently rank No. 9 in the nation in sacks allowed, with only five. Really they are No. 3, only allowing four because [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] acknowledged against Texas that the play that was counted as a sack was actually a quarterback run play.

Guyton talked to reporters after practice on Tuesday about the Sooners pass-blocking. “We can always do better,” Guyton said. “There’s always pass pro reps you want to get back. But, in general, I feel like we’ve done a great job of it, and we’re going to continue to do the same thing.”

Gutyon and that Sooners’ offensive line will have their work cut out for them as the Big 12 leaders in sacks, [autotag]Tre’mon Morris-Brash[/autotag], comes to Norman this weekend. A challenge I’m sure Bedenbaugh will have them ready for.

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.

Sooners defensive tackle Jacob Lacey reflected on his offseason scare after Tuesday’s practice

Jacob Lacey once thought he might not get a chance to play this year but ultimately made one of the biggest plays in the biggest game.

Much has been made of the improvement of the Oklahoma Sooners’ defense. One of the unsung heroes has been defensive tackle [autotag]Jacob Lacey[/autotag].

Lacey only has 10 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one sack but he’s been one of the best run defenders for the Sooners this season. That sack came at a pivotal moment in the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag]. It ultimately led to the Texas Longhorns kicking a field goal, giving the Sooners enough time to mount their incredible last-minute comeback.

But all of that success almost didn’t happen for Lacey. He told reporters about the battle he faced this offseason.

“I got out of spring ball, and I was working out on my own, and my leg started hurting,” Lacey said. “Being a football player, I just thought it was a knot or something like that. Just go to the training room. I had done an internship with Chick-fil-A at the time, and we had flown around, but everything was fine. Just had a little pain in my leg.”

Ultimately everything wasn’t fine. After being checked out, it was determined Lacey had multiple pulmonary embolisms due to a blood clot in his leg.

“I flew back to Notre Dame to see one of my friends graduate, and on that plane ride, I started losing my breath and coughing up blood,” Lacey said. “That day, when I landed, I went to the hospital at 3:00 a.m. by myself. My friends were graduating, so they dropped me off. The doctor said I shouldn’t be alive. He said straight up, I don’t know how you are breathing. He said I’ll probably never play football again.”

Lacey admits during the summer and fall, it was tough watching his teammates practice while he was sidelined. Then came the news on Aug. 29, 2023, that he long awaited.

“I was cleared,” Lacey said. “Something that allowed me to play so fast was staying locked in, staying engaged, taking notes, doing everything I would do like I was practicing.”

Lacey said he had to do blood thinners for three months, but now he’s back to normal. His presence was felt in the biggest game of the year (to this point) with one of the biggest plays of the game.

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Nic Anderson not worried about Sooners’ ability to fill in for injured Andrel Anthony

After losing their leading receiver, the wide receiver room is ready for the challenge to step up so the offense doesn’t take a step back.

The Oklahoma Sooners are going to have to play the second half of their season without their leading receiver. Andrel Anthony was lost for the year during the win over Texas in the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag].

Anthony led the team with 429 yards and was second on the team with 27 catches. He was injured in the third quarter.

His replacement, [autotag]Nic Anderson[/autotag], caught the game-winning touchdown pass. Anderson leads the team with receiving touchdowns on the season.

He talked to reporters about the mindset of the receiving room after losing Anthony.

“Just making sure we step up and fill those shoes so we don’t miss a beat on offense,” Anderson said. “That’s the most important thing. We have a lot of competitive depth, so I’m not worried about anybody not being able to do that.”

It will be interesting to see if the Sooners change anything with their scheme. Prior to the win over the Texas Longhorns, we hadn’t seen many four wide receiver sets, but we saw that fairly often until Anthony went out with his injury.

It seemed to have some success. Anderson will almost assuredly take Anthony’s starting spot, but the question is who will take Anderson’s spot if the Sooners go with four wide receivers, or do they just scrap that package ?

The most likely answer is [autotag]Brenen Thompson[/autotag] or [autotag]Gavin Freeman[/autotag] if they choose to keep that package. Jayden Gibson will likely see more opportunities moving forward as well.

Another reason why it was a good week to have a bye and better yet, to have as much depth as the Sooners have at wide receiver.

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Cayden Green’s performance in the Cotton Bowl should lead to more opportunities.

Cayden Green impressed in his first Red River Rivalry game and could be the answer to the Sooners left guard inconsistencies.

Coming into the 119th edition of the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag], there was a feeling the Texas Longhorns‘ great defensive line would provide UT a significant advantage. Texas came into the game with two dominant interior defensive linemen, [autotag]T’Vondre Sweat[/autotag] and [autotag]Byron Murphy II[/autotag].

Both are going to have a future in the [autotag]NFL[/autotag]. It was going to be a tough battle for [autotag]Troy Everett[/autotag], who has spent more time at center than guard in his collegiate career. Early in the game, Everett struggled to handle Sweat and Murphy.

Enter true freshman [autotag]Cayden Green[/autotag].

Green was recruited to play tackle, and his future could be on the outside. However, he’s shown that he has the skill set to be a dominant guard. He further proved that in the biggest game of the year against arguably the best defensive lineman in the conference.

Once Green was inserted, rarely did we hear Sweat’s name called. Holes started to open up that weren’t there before Green started to play. Green was the one who paved the way on Tawee Walker’s walk-in touchdown.

Green talked to reporters on Monday about playing against Texas’ defensive line. “Their line was pretty nice-sized, but at the end of the day, it’s just football. You just have to do your job,” Green said.

And he certainly did his job.

He might have performed so well he should have a starting role along the offensive line this season. Oklahoma hasn’t been able to solidify their left guard spot. Savion Byrd and Everett have struggled with consistency. Green may go through some growing pains, but his ceiling is so high that it may be better to get his future going now.

With the likelihood that OU and Texas could meet again in the Big 12 title game, there’s no better time to get your future going along the offensive line. Green’s shown he’s good enough to play along Oklahoma’s offensive line. The next six games provide a significant opportunity to get the former four-star offensive lineman significant snaps and be better prepared for a possible Red River title game rematch.

As the Sooners work to improve their ground game and solidify their offensive line, Cayden Green has earned an opportunity to run with the starting offensive line. There’s no bigger stage to announce your arrival to college football than on the grandest stage of them all.

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Brent Venables named a Coach of the Year favorite by On3 Sports

In Year 2, Brent Venables is getting recognized nationally for his great coaching job.

We are just a little more than six weeks since the offseason concluded. All offseason the talk was if [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] was the guy for the job for the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Sooners had their worst season since 1998 in 2022 and had a historically bad defense in Venables’ first year as a head coach. That led many to question if he was just a great coordinator but not a head coach.

In the offseason, Venables and his staff went to work to improve his group in year two. He talked over and over again about how they analyzed everything, including game management which plagued them a year ago.

How things change just six weeks later.

Oklahoma is 6-0 and coming off of a massive win in the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag]. Now On3 has Venables as one of their favorites for Coach of the Year.

With the looming move to the SEC, Venables entered this fall facing as much pressure as any second-year head coach, and the man has certainly quieted his critics by retooling the roster through the portal and leading OU to an upset over Texas and back into the Top 5. Through six weeks, it’s been a redemptive arc for Venables. The Sooners are again atop the Big 12, and the team has embraced Venables’ hair-on-fire attitude. – Jesse Simonton On3 Sports

The defense is much improved this season. The team currently ranks No. 50 in total defense, No. 12 in 3rd down defense, No. 2 in interceptions, No. 31 in rush defense, No. 11 in scoring defense, and No. 2 in turnovers. All of those are major improvements from a season ago.

But there’s still work to be done. The Sooners have only hit the halfway point of the season.

But can they overcome what’s been a common theme since 2004? Can they avoid losing to a team they shouldn’t lose to? Everyone is telling them how great they are after beating the Longhorns. It’s up to them to stay focused on the bigger goals of the season.

If they do that, the awards for players and coaches will come. Deservedly so.

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Brent Venables named Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week

Brent Venables named the coach of the week after Red River Rivalry win.

The Oklahoma Sooners are fresh off a massive win this weekend in the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag]. With that win comes weekly accolades.

[autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]has joined the group as he was named the [autotag]Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week[/autotag]. The weekly Dodd Trophy celebrates the head coach of an FBS team who enjoys success on the gridiron, while also stressing the importance of scholarship, leadership and integrity.

According to a press release from the University of Oklahoma, the Sooners notched its first win over an Associated Press top-three team since the 2017 season and its fifth victory in the last six meetings over its Red River rival. The Sooners registered season highs in rushing yards (201) and sacks (five) while allowing only one sack. The Texas Longhorns entered the game allowing just 94.6 rushing yards and 1.8 sacks per game and averaging 2.6 sacks per contest.

It’s crazy how in just six weeks, the narrative has changed. All offseason we heard time and time again why Venables wasn’t the guy for the job. We heard why he couldn’t get the job done.

Now, just six weeks into the season, it’s starting to look more like Oklahoma fans and media knew what they were talking about.

This weekly award is just another validation of that.

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Sooners freshman Peyton Bowen continues to make a name for himself

Peyton Bowen continues to show why stars matter on the football field.

We are six games into the 2023 college football season, and it seems like in every game, [autotag]Peyton Bowen[/autotag] is making a key play. Whether it’s blocking a punt or forcing a fumble in the [autotag]Red River Rivalry[/autotag], Bowen has been everywhere.

The Sooners haven’t had a player like Bowen on the defensive side of the ball in a long time. He’s the perfect example why you bring in a coach such as [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag]: to get those guys to wear the crimson and cream.

Bowen reflected on his first six games as a Sooner.

“It’s been fun,” Bowen said. “There’s games where it’s like the same, but then there’s games that it’s big time. The plays are bigger, the moments are bigger.”

The best attribute Bowen possesses might be how those big games and big moments never seem too big for him. He stays calm and collected at all times.

Bowen doesn’t act like a freshman off the field, either. While everyone is already talking about a rematch, Bowen admitted to feeling that way, too, he knows there’s still work to be done.

“We just have to take care of business,” Bowen said. “Job ain’t finished. There are still teams out there that can give us a little problem. We just have to keep playing. Can’t get complacent.”

That’s been the mindset for the team this season. Time and time again, we hear them talk about wanting to go 1-0 each week and not looking ahead to the future. Saturday was a huge win, but as Bowen said, “job ain’t finished.”

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