Tag: red river showdown

What did Baker Mayfield say about Texas Longhorns post-game flag plant?

Baker Mayfield responds to Texas Football flag plant from Red River Showdown.

The Texas Longhorns earned all the bragging rights on Saturday in their 34-2 win over the Oklahoma Sooners. It was the second blowout win in three years for the Longhorns over the Sooners.

After the game, Texas players took a Longhorns flag and planted it at midfield of the Cotton Bowl. But it wasn’t any old flag plant, they planted the flag from through a Sooners jersey. That jersey just so happened to be former Heisman winner Baker Mayfield’s.

Anthony Hill posted a picture of the torn jersey with the caption, “Texas fears nobody.” That’s a call back to Danny Stutsman’s pregame speech and the t-shirts that followed, where he said, “Oklahoma only fears God, and Texas fears Oklahoma.”

https://twitter.com/thegoatanthony1/status/1845248960492970106

On Saturday, the Longhorns’ defense dominated the inexperienced Oklahoma offense, holding them to just 237 total yards. They were not afraid of the Sooners in the least.

After Tampa Bay’s win over New Orleans, ESPN’s Jenna Laine asked Mayfield about the incident.

Mayfield said, “Just a kid from Austin, Texas that went to Oklahoma and won his last two Red River games and being rent free in their heads for almost a decade.”

https://twitter.com/JennaLaineESPN/status/1845585169396510830

Any question about where the Red River Rivalry stands among the best in college football should be answered by everything that’s happened in the aftermath of the last two. This game generates so much heat and the players play right into it.

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Joel Klatt reveals prediction for Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns

Joel Klatt predicts Oklahoma vs. Texas Longhorns.

Oklahoma enters the 120th edition of the Red River Showdown as a big underdog. The first matchup as part of the SEC boasts the No. 1 Texas Longhorns vs. the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners.

Texas looks like the best team in the nation, coasting to a 5-0 record even without starting quarterback Quinn Ewers for the last two games. Oklahoma has had their difficulties getting to 4-1, which is why most aren’t giving the Sooners a chance in this game.

Joel Klatt of Fox Sports and the “Joel Klatt Show: A College Football Podcast” shared his thoughts on OU-Texas this week and has questions about the Sooners offense heading into the top 25 matchup.

“Here’s my question for this game,” Klatt said. “Is Oklahoma’s offense going to be able to keep pace at all? The answer to that is no. Texas’ defense is way too good. So, OU’s not going to be able to just roll out there and score a bunch of points.”

The offense for the Oklahoma Sooners has been inconsistent through five games. They’ve created big plays and are 4-1, but it hasn’t been able to sustain drives with much regularity. Klatt went on to talk about the Sooners defense, giving them praise for what they’re doing this year, but ultimately, it comes back to OU’s offense.

“I know the Sooners defense is fourth in the country,” Klatt said. “We’re talking about Steve Sarkisian and Texas. They’re going to come out there on fire. He always has a great gameplan for these big games and I believe Texas is going to be able to move the football and they will be able to go and score some points. I don’t trust Oklahoma to go and do the same. This is not an offense that I trust. Defense is very good, fourth in the country. Offense, nope, 121st in the country in total offense and they’re facing a defense in Texas that has allowed three touchdowns in five games.”

But it’s this final statement that has me curious.

Klatt said, “You’re not going to be able to go turn Texas over enough like you did against Auburn.”

Klatt already mentioned that the Sooners forced three turnovers in last year’s game. Quinn Ewers threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball, and they were big moments in the game. The Longhorns have had their turnover problems this season, averaging 1.4 giveaways a game. Oklahoma’s defense is averaging 2.6 takeaways this season.

The Sooners only forced one turnover against Auburn, but it was the biggest play of the game, a pick-six by Kip Lewis.

You can’t rely on turnovers to become a factor in a football game. There’s an ebb and flow of it. A defense also can’t go out there trying to force it. What’s made Oklahoma’s defense so good is their ability to play sound defensive football. If they can continue to do that, they could force Texas into some bad spots.

But Klatt’s not off. The offense needs to take a big step in this game for the Sooners to win the football game. But they won’t have to go score 40 points to win. The Sooners defense should be able to keep the Texas offense in the 20s, which will give OU a chance.

[autotag]Michael Hawkins Jr.[/autotag] has now had three full weeks with the first-team offense. The offensive line is the healthiest it has been all year. If there’s a concern beyond that, it’s another week without Deion Burks. If he can continue the way he’s played and improve the Sooners passing attack, OU should move the ball better moving forward.

So what was Klatt’s final prediction for OU-Texas? “I like Texas in this game. Texas 34-17,” Klatt said.

We’ll find out tomorrow afternoon in the greatest rivalry game in college football.

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Brent Venables says Michael Hawkins Jr. is ‘easy to bet on’

Brent Venables discussed the confidence he has in Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr.

When the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners take the trip to Dallas, Texas, to take on the No. 1 Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown, they’ll be making history.

Michael Hawkins Jr. will become the first true freshman to start for the Sooners in the Red River Showdown. This comes two weeks after he was the first true freshman to start on the road for Oklahoma in their win over Auburn.

In a season of firsts, Hawkins hasn’t been shaken by the moment.

He entered the Tennessee game just before halftime with the Sooners down 16. He didn’t try to force things, instead playing within himself and playing under control. In the fourth quarter, he orchestrated a pair of touchdown drives that helped put the Sooners in striking distance. Ultimately the rally fell short, but it set the stage for Hawkins to take over as the starter that week.

His performance against Auburn supported what we saw against Tennessee, a player unfazed by the hostile Jordan-Hare environment. While the offensive output might not have been what we expect out of an Oklahoma offense, Hawkins came through with a big 48-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Then when the game was teetering in Auburn’s direction and OU was down 11, Hawkins came up with the offensive play of the game, a 60-yard completion to J.J. Hester to put the Sooners inside the five-yard line.

He’s shown a resilient personality during his time as Oklahoma’s quarterback and looks like a player that will be locked in when OU meets Texas this Saturday afternoon.

During his weekly press conference, Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables discussed his true freshman quarterback.

“Mike’s a very process-driven guy. He’s always been mature beyond his years. He’ll do a good job,” Venables said. “Don’t overcomplicate things and again, don’t try to win the game in the first quarter. … Don’t let the emotions highjack what it takes to execute.”

Hawkins hasn’t allowed the flow of the game or the difficult environments to impact his decision-making. Whether the game is tied or Oklahoma’s been behind, he’s been the same player throughout his six quarters of SEC play.

Against the No. 1 team in the nation, the Sooners will need that steady hand to continue to lead the offense. And Venables believes Hawkins has what it takes to lead the Sooners into the Red River Showdown.

“I’ve got faith,” Venables said. “He’s a guy that (is) easy guy to bet on.”

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Longhorns defender believes Texas will ‘dominate’ Oklahoma Sooners

Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons believes the Longhorns will dominate the Oklahoma Sooners

Though there are two weeks until the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns meet in the Cotton Bowl for the Red River Showdown, one Longhorn defender chose to throw a little gas on the fire to kick things off.

Five-star freshman edge rusher Colin Simmons was asked about OU-Texas after the Longhorns’ win over Mississippi State since it’s his first Red River Rivalry game. Simmons said via C.J. Vogel on X, “Ooo wee. OU, OU, OU, OU. I mean, they’ve got a good squad this year. Lot of people on that team that I know. I feel like we’re going to dominate them.”

Simmons went on to say that he and his teammates have to “trust in our coaching and just get better each and every day.”

In four games for the Longhorns, Simmons has recorded 11 total tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. With what Oklahoma’s been dealing with along the offensive line,

The Texas Longhorns are 5-0 after beating the Mississippi State Bulldogs 35-7 on Saturday. They were No. 2 in the US LBM Coaches Poll last week and No. 1 in the AP Top 25. Oklahoma is 4-1 after its comeback win over Auburn.

But the beauty of a rivalry game is that no matter what the records are, what the rankings are, or what the perceptions are, anyone can win. With two weeks until the Red River Rivals meet in Dallas, Texas, the Sooners will have a chance to stew on Simmons’ words.

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The Oklahoman says this is the Sooners’ most important game in 2024

What is the Sooners most important game of the 2024 season?

On a schedule full of marquee games, none is bigger than the Oklahoma Sooners vs. the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Showdown.

Sure, Tennessee and Alabama are coming to town. Oklahoma goes on the road for potential top-15 matchups with Ole Miss and LSU. Despite the intriguing contests on the docket, it all comes back to the Cotton Bowl.

And isn’t that how it should be?

The most important game of any season is going to be your rivalry game. With Oklahoma handing Texas its lone regular-season loss, the Longhorns will be eager to settle the score. With all of the big games on OU’s schedule, it would be easy to go another direction, but The Oklahoman’s Ryan Aber pointed to OU-Texas as the Sooners most important game.

The take: Could it be anything different? OU-Texas is at the top of the importance list every season but this season it takes on an even greater importance. The Longhorns have the makings of a playoff contender and a top-flight quarterback in Quinn Ewers. The Sooners’ win over Texas last season was the highlight of their season. Best case for OU, it comes into this game undefeated and looking for a win to strengthen its bid for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Worst case, the Sooners might need a win here to stay afloat after a tough start to SEC play. Either way or anything in the middle, the Red River Rivalry is at the top of the list of important matchups for OU this season. – Aber,  The Oklahoman

Aber ranked the games against the Vols and then at LSU to close the season just behind the Red River Showdown.

Oklahoma will play Texas after hosting Tennessee, going to Auburn and experiencing its first bye week of the season. The Sooners’ matchup with Texas could be a top 10 game by the time the two meet in the Cotton Bowl.

If Oklahoma struggles in its first two SEC games, it’ll make the performance against its most-hated rival all the more important.

It’s important every year, but in Year 1 of the SEC, it just means more.

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Texas AD tells Paul Finebaum ‘There’s nothing like’ the Red River Rivalry game

Oklahoma’s rivalry matchup with Texas every October won’t take a backseat to any other game in the SEC.

[autotag]SEC[/autotag] spring meetings took place this week in Destin, Florida, with the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns taking their place at the table.

Oklahoma enters its first year in the SEC after leaving the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag]. Along with Texas, they will be the newcomers to a conference that’s been very successful, especially in football.

But the [autotag]Red River Shootout[/autotag], the annual rivalry matchup between the Sooners and the Longhorns, won’t be taking a backseat to any other game the SEC has to offer.

Oklahoma athletic director [autotag]Joe Castiglione[/autotag] and Texas athletic director [autotag]Chris Del Conte[/autotag] joined “The Paul Finebaum Show” this week to discuss joining the SEC and the topic turned to Red River.

Del Conte spoke up with high praise of the game, saying, “It’s ridiculous, it’s the greatest thing ever.” He went on to say, “There’s nothing like this game.”

Del Conte added, “…you may talk about the Cocktail Party, the Iron Bowl, there’s nothing like this game at the State Fair.”

The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party is the rivalry between Georgia and Florida, played at a neutral site in Jacksonville. [autotag]The Iron Bowl[/autotag] is the matchup between Alabama and Auburn played at campus sites each year. Both are two of the most storied rivalries in the SEC and in all of college football, but the Red River Shootout is on a different level, at least according to the man running the athletic program south of the Red River.

Del Conte’s words are the latest example of the idea of many in the states of Oklahoma and Texas that think the Sooners and the Longhorns won’t be tiptoeing around in the SEC in year one. Both teams plan to make a statement with their play and with their programs. And in this instance, Del Conte is right on the money.

One of the truly special things about college football is the rivalries that are baked into the game. Hundreds of years of animosity between players, coaches and fanbases stir the pot in a sport that is all about passion and pageantry. OU-Texas is not only one of college football’s best rivalries, it’s one of the best in all of sports.

Sure, both teams have other rivals. The Sooners have intense matchups with Oklahoma State and Nebraska that have carried over from the Big Eight days. The Longhorns have plenty of foes from the old Southwest Conference, like Texas A&M and Arkansas. But these two blue bloods and their fans consider each other their undisputed rival.

Then, there’s the setting. The Cotton Bowl in Dallas is probably the most unique in sports. Located right in the middle of the State Fair of Texas, it has a built in atmosphere that’s unique.

Neutral-site games aren’t usually what we think of when we think college football, but Red River is a wonderful exception. The history of the two programs and the 50/50 split of the fans in the stadium creates an environment unlike any other. Anytime someone brings up home-home matchups in the Red River Rivalry, both fan bases shut that talk down really quickly.

There are great rivalry matchups in the SEC and in college football, but Red River has its own sacred place in the lore of the sport. Del Conte certainly isn’t alone is his thinking, at least not according to Josh Pate of 247Sports. Pate said, “Seeing folks who’ve never been to the Red River Shootout commenting on it. I’ve been sideline for all the big ones multiple times… it takes a backseat to NO rivalry game in CFB.”

The Red River Shootout is sixty minutes of pure, unadulterated hate between two of the ten best programs in the history of college football. It takes place in a venue unlike anything else sports has to offer, and both athletic directors are committed to keeping it that way.

It’s the essence of college football.

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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.

‘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

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Texas, Oklahoma agree on extension with Cotton Bowl through 2036

College football’s greatest rivalry will continue to be played in the Cotton Bowl for the foreseeable future.

On Wednesday, the Texas Longhorns made an official announcement that the annual football rivalry game against the Oklahoma Sooners will be extended through 2036. Continue reading “Texas, Oklahoma agree on extension with Cotton Bowl through 2036”

Texas QB Quinn Ewers corrects himself, finishes strong despite loss

After a sluggish start, Quinn Ewers corrected himself and finished strong

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers finished the Red River Rivalry game with 346 passing yards, completing 31/37 of his passes (83.8%), one passing touchdown, and three turnovers.

The sophomore started the game slow after throwing an interception to Oklahoma’s Gentry Williams on the second play of the game. The Sooners then scored a touchdown in just over a minute.

On Texas’ next possession, the Longhorn offense made their way downfield, but a pass thrown by Ewers bounced off Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders and was intercepted by Oklahoma defender Kendel Colby.

Despite starting the game slowly, Ewers solidified himself by completing 27 of his next 29 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown. Ewers proved to everyone that he could step up when he needed to and that he was not the reason the game was lost.

The Texas quarterback had his second-best game of the year and is becoming the player that Texas needs him to be. Texas is scheduled to face the Houston Cougars on Oct. 21 after the bye week.