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”

More people watched the Longhorns than any other team in Texas in 2023

Texas is still the flagship program of the state.

Texas Football Life recently released a graphic that highlights the 12 most viewed regular-season Texas college football games during 2023. Of the 12 games, the Texas Longhorns were the featured team in eight.

Texas’ games versus Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Kansas, Rice, Houston, Kansas State and TCU were in the top 12 of the most-watched games in Texas.

Texas A&M and TCU are the only other college football teams listed. Texas A&M featured three times among the most-watched games while TCU appeared once.

Despite what fans of other Texas teams may think, the Longhorns will continue to be the flagship program in Texas.

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”

Social media reacts to new Oklahoma t-shirts that shade Texas

Texas fans, players react to the Sooners new t-shirt that claim Texas fears Oklahoma.

Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables posed with linebacker Danny Stutsman to promote a new NIL t-shirt on Thursday. Continue reading “Social media reacts to new Oklahoma t-shirts that shade Texas”

By the numbers: Texas outgains Oklahoma in Red River Rivalry loss

Looking at the final numbers in Texas’ sour defeat.

The No. 3 Texas Longhorns dropped a stunner on Saturday to rival No. 12 Oklahoma, 34-30. Every year, the Red River Rivalry brings out the best of both teams and previous records and statistics must be thrown out.

Texas only had the lead twice in the game, and the first one was an 85-yard drive that ended with quarterback Quinn Ewers finding tight end Gunnar Helm in the end zone for a 22-yard pitch and catch on fourth down.

The second time Texas took the lead was in the fourth quarter when they capped off an 11-play, 55-yard drive with a 47-yard field goal by Bert Auburn.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian ultimately left too much time on the clock for Oklahoma, in which they scored in just under a minute to take the lead back and win the game.

Despite three crucial injuries to key players, including Jake Majors at center, Jalen Catalon at safety, and Ja’Tavion Sanders at tight end, and three turnovers, Texas only lost by four points on the biggest stage yet.

Although Texas outgained Oklahoma, the only thing that matters is the win. Here are the final numbers in Texas’ defeat versus Oklahoma.

Steve Sarkisian on missed red zone opportunities: “We’ve got to game plan better”

Steve Sarkisian commented on the missed red zone opportunities.

No. 3 Texas dropped a thriller to No. 12 Oklahoma, 34-30. Texas seemed to be gaining momentum in the fourth quarter, driving down the field to the one yard line.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian then called three straight runs up the middle and ended up losing a yard. On 4th & goal on the Oklahoma two-yard line, Quinn Ewers completed a one-yard pass to Xavier Worthy and was stopped.

Sarkisian commented on the failed red zone attempts and said this.

“We’ve got to game plan better. We’ve got to execute better. It’s pretty simple.”

That drive ended up being costly, as Texas needed points that drive to tie the game.

We will have to wait two weeks to see how Texas responds, as the Longhorns don’t play until Oct. 21 when they face the University of Houston.

Texas defense disappears in heartbreaking loss to Oklahoma

Texas’ defense struggled against Oklahoma.

The No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners defeated No. 3 Texas in the annual Red River Rivalry, 34-30.Texas’ defense seemed to disappear, allowing 201 rushing yards to the Sooners.

The Texas Longhorns gave up a touchdown with just 15 seconds left in the game with a pass by Dillon Gabriel to the corner of the endzone to put the Sooners up by four.

It seemed like the tide was shifting in favor of Texas after forcing Oklahoma to punt with 1:47 left in the game.

The Longhorns then drove down the field, and with the help of kicker Bert Auburn made the game 30-27.

The defense then allowed a five-play 75-yard drive, only taking one minute to put Oklahoma back on top.

Oklahoma dominated the trenches all game in which not a lot of people predicted. The Texas defensive line cause no pressure, which gave Gabriel time to throw and make plays on his legs when he needed to.

Texas now has to sit on this loss for two weeks before they take on Houston on October 21st.

Steve Sarkisian calls his best games during Red River Rivalry

Sark brings his A game when it comes to facing Oklahoma.

Texas head football coach Steve Sarkisian has his best games when Oklahoma is on the other side of the football field.

Since taking the head coaching position, Sark is averaging 48.5 points per game in the Red River Shootout, while averaging just over 40 points in every other game during his Texas tenure.

Sarkisian is one of the best offensive minds in college football and knows how to get a team going.

He seems to have less movement and more standard playcalling against nonconference teams and then dials it up with motion and ways to get the other team off balance when it comes to bigger opponents.

Sarkisian will need to be on top of his game when the clock strikes 11 a.m. CT, and the only way Texas could lose this game is if Sark gets out-coached.

Game Styles: Will Texas dictate to Oklahoma or let Sooners overplay?

Texas can win this game multiple ways, but Oklahoma has one path to victory: Dictate with scheme.

The Texas Longhorns (5-0) and Oklahoma Sooners (5-0) meet in a No. 3 vs No. 12 clash on Saturday. If Oklahoma has any say, the game will be as much about the two teams’ contrasting styles as it is about the players on the field. It has to be that for Oklahoma to win.

Early this season, national voices like Pete Thamel and Urban Meyer have noted the talent on the Texas roster. Meyer has repeatedly called Texas the most talented roster in the country, while Thamel mentioned this Longhorns squad had 16 players being given draft write-ups by one team’s NFL scouts ahead of the Alabama game.

The Texas talent is unavoidable. And while teams have held the Longhorns to slow starts, this Texas squad has consistently been good for 31 or more points every week.

Oklahoma’s best recourse against Texas talent is to do what the Longhorns’ other opponents tried early in games: Throw the kitchen sink at Quinn Ewers and this offense, and try to get ahead early. But make no mistake: Texas can dictate to Oklahoma, too.

The Texas defensive attack should start with defensive tackles T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy sending Oklahoma center Andrew Raym into quarterback Dillon Gabriel’s lap all game. That said, there are ways in which Texas can force Oklahoma to do what it does not want to do through coverages that take away what Gabriel does best.

Texas doesn’t have to dictate. It can let the Oklahoma defense overplay running lanes while blitzing and let Jonathon Brooks gash the Sooners. It can attack whatever the Oklahoma offense throws at it. But Texas can dictate if it wants and still win.

Saturday’s game will reveal what approach the Longhorns’ coaching staff is cooking up this week. Texas will take on Oklahoma at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.