Tag: Texas vs Oklahoma preview

Texas offense: Discussing the use of bubble screens

How often will Steve Sarkisian use bubble screens against Oklahoma? We discuss.

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian likes bubble screens. After watching Longhorns receiver Xavier Worthy break this play as a freshman in burnt orange, it’s hard to fault Sarkisian for his fondness for the play. Even so, the play has more important value than getting a positive gain.

Bubble screens, like downfield shots, set up other plays in the playbook whether they are successful or not. You run those plays to open up other plays. In particular, bubble screens help prevent linebackers from sitting between the tackles, potentially manipulate safeties in future plays, make cornerbacks tackle and take on blocks, and force each position to defend the perimeter.

Though Sarkisian’s bubble screens did not net great results against Kansas, and perhaps were the reason the Longhorns did not score on a drive or two, they did set up a 218 yard rushing day for starting running back Jonathon Brooks. It’s what they set up that creates play calling value.

What about the use of receiver screens on Saturday?

The Oklahoma defense is bound to attack the Texas offense in this game. It likely wants to take away any easy throw from Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers. With that comes the likelihood that Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables will clamp down on the bubble screen like Baylor and Kansas have the last two weeks. It is still a set up play, and could open up more for the offense.

While Texas shouldn’t call the play in critical points of a drive, its value is still worthy being called. The danger comes in doubling down on the bubble screen as a solution like the previous coaching staff did in 2019 and 2020 losses to the aggressive Sooners. It’s not a solution. It’s an effective tool.

Oklahoma wants to take away easy completions. Texas probably knows that. Even so, success in this game is about setting a tone that the Sooners will have to defend every blade of grass on Saturday. The Longhorns need to do that in this game whether they use the screen or not.

Both teams will look to set their own tone and make a statement Saturday at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.

Predicting the best games of Week 6 including Texas and Oklahoma

We predict the best games and more from the Week 6 slate.

We near the midseason mark of the 2023 college football regular season. As it always should be, the Red River game is the focal point of the week in which it is played. It wasn’t last season.

The 2022 matchup is irrelevant to this game, but it was a snoozer nationally before it was played. Both teams has two losses heading into the game. This year is different. Squads on either side are aiming to make their playoff case in the rivalry game.

Another rivalry, though contrived, takes place in College Station. Alabama and Texas A&M face each other for what will undoubtedly be a hard-fought battle.

Let’s look at a few of our picks for the Week 6 slate.

Advanced stats have Texas over Oklahoma per Parker Fleming

Based on 2023 performance, advanced stats favor Texas over Oklahoma by a touchdown.

Texas is a touchdown favorite over Oklahoma this week. Advanced stats bear out that notion to be true according to metrics shared by advanced stats expert Parker Fleming.

In his advanced stats preview of the game, Fleming’s numbers point to Texas defeating Oklahoma by an average score of roughly 33-26. The score is within reason based on the tug of war many expect to see in the game.

Many of the stats in question feature strength-on-strength battles. In this game, both teams are excellent on offense and defense save for a handful of categories. It’s within reason that both teams could play to a virtual draw because of an even level of performance.

It’s uncertain what to make of both teams. Oklahoma has maximized opportunities against a bad schedule. Texas has failed to maximize opportunities against lesser opponents. Even so, what we don’t know will likely be unearthed in this game.

Texas takes on Oklahoma at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.

Free Catalon: Why the Texas safety could be full-go against Oklahoma

Texas might fully utilize former All-SEC safety Jalen Catalon on Saturday.

Texas safety Jalen Catalon is a heat-seeking missile. His target is opposing ball carriers at which he runs with intent to bring down with authority. It could be time for the Longhorns to fully utilize Catalon in what will be the biggest remaining game of the season.

The No. 3 Texas Longhorns (5-0) will take on the No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners (5-0) on Saturday. The Sooners have made this game significant with their dominant play through five games. The matchup demands that the Longhorns exhaust all effort to win. Catalon stands as one of the players Texas can ill afford to minimize.

The transfer and former All-SEC safety is necessary for several reasons, but one is the Longhorns’ struggling secondary play. Last week continued the trend of the team getting beat by the downfield throw and featured a backup safety or two getting burned in coverage. This isn’t the week to risk that happening again.

Texas faces an Oklahoma squad who can make teams pay for vulnerability at safety. The Sooners can attack with downfield shots, but can also attack weaknesses in the intermediate passing game. The Longhorns need range from their safeties. No safety on the roster has more range than Catalon.

Whatever reason Catalon has been limited to a select amount of plays this season might be thrown out the window on Saturday. The Oklahoma game isn’t the whole season, but it’s certainly the most important conference battle.

Texas can’t hold anything back against Oklahoma. It needs its best players for as many snaps as possible. The team will look to deploy Catalon against the Sooners in Saturday’s game.

Texas RB Jonathon Brooks an X-Factor against Oklahoma

Jonathon Brooks could break the game open with Oklahoma likely preoccupied with the Texas passing attack.

The Oklahoma Sooners will likely be aggressive on Saturday. Chaos is the team’s best mode of defensive attack. They will have to bring pressure to stop the Longhorns in the passing game. Texas can counter with the run.

We are familiar with Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables’ defenses from his days as defensive coordinator for the Sooners. The lasting impression he left on the rivalry involved holding 2009 starting quarterback Colt McCoy and company to 16 points. He did so with aggressive and attacking defense.

Aggression can come with downside. If you do blitz and miss, the offense can attack an off-balanced defense and hit pay dirt.

Former Texas running back Roschon Johnson did that in an otherwise forgettable performance for the Longhorns in the rivalry in 2019. Johnson attacked an overeager Oklahoma defense for a 57-yard run to set up a touchdown. It’s that type of counterattack Texas needs to combat what Venables is about to throw the Longhorns’ way.

Enter Jonathon Brooks who ranks No. 3 in the nation in rushing yards through five games. Brooks has emerged as a dominant force for the team in its last three games, rushing for an average of 162.6 yards in the last three contests. Four of his five touchdown runs came against Kansas and Baylor the last two weeks.

Brooks is emerging as a legitimate problem against which defenses will have to contend. And if he can make the Sooners pay for their aggression, it could give the Longhorns an edge in the game.

First down defense among Texas’ biggest keys to slowing Oklahoma

If Texas prevents Oklahoma from running tempo, it can win the game. It all starts with winning first down.

The Oklahoma Sooners have perhaps the most explosive offense in college football. Certainly, the team possesses the most explosive offense in the Big 12 as long as the UCF Golden Knights are without John Rhys Plumlee at quarterback.

The Sooners’ high scoring offense is cause for concern, but not without its flaws. While the Texas Longhorns have scored more than 30 points in every contest, Oklahoma has fallen below 30 point scoring outputs against SMU and Cincinnati. It’s not feast or famine in Norman, but it is feast or tighten-up-your-belt and conserve.

Oklahoma’s last performance that yielded offensive struggles came against Cincinnati. The Sooners won the game 20-6. The Bearcats did several things well defensively, but what they did best involved preventing the Oklahoma offense from going up-tempo. And when the Sooners could not speed up the pace offensively, they looked pedestrian.

The 2023 Oklahoma up-tempo style is not far off from the 2008 Sooners’ offensive pace. That Oklahoma team had five straight games in which they scored 60 points or more. The next game they faced a Florida team that held them to 14 points. When you can stop a tempo-dependent team from speeding up the game, it becomes a shell of itself.

It is unclear if Oklahoma can execute 12-play drives without fast tempo against the Texas defense. What is clear is the Longhorns’ best chance of stopping the Sooners is winning in the first three plays of the drive and on first downs.

If defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski can slow the Sooners early in drives with negative and neutral plays, the Longhorns should have success on defense.

Texas expects injured tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders to play next week

Sarkisian shared he expects Ja’Tavion Sanders to suit up for the Oklahoma game after an ankle injury.

Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders left Saturday’s game early against the Kansas Jayhawks. He reportedly suffered an ankle injury in the game.

The news was significant given what Sanders brings the Texas offense and how well he has performed in big games away from Austin. Heading into the contest Sanders was the FBS leader among tight ends in receiving yards. Two games of 110 yards or more put him over the top.

The Longhorns might be able to function without Sanders, but probably wouldn’t like to risk it next week. The team’s toughest remaining test takes place in Dallas where Texas is set to face the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry.

Texas might not have to worry about life without Sanders. Head coach Steve Sarkisian shared that he is “optimistic” the tight end could play against the Sooners. According to Sarkisian, there was no structural damage to the big time tight end’s ankle.

Texas will hope to have the first-round talent ready to play against Oklahoma in next week’s 11 a.m. CT kickoff on ABC.

Texas vs Oklahoma Prediction, Game Preview

Texas vs Oklahoma game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 6 game on Saturday, October 8

Texas vs Oklahoma prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 6, Saturday, October 8

Texas vs Oklahoma How To Watch

Date: Saturday, October 8
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TX
How To Watch: ABC
Record: Texas (3-2), Oklahoma (3-2)
– Sign up and live stream college football on ESPN+

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

College Football Week 5 Roundup
CFN 1-131 Rankings | Rankings by Conference
Bowl Projections | Week 5 Scoreboard
Week 6 Early Lines | Hot Seat Coach Rankings
What 12-Team Playoff Would Look Like
Cavalcade of Whimsy: The Silly Coaching World
– Contact/Follow @ColFootballNews & @PeteFiutak

Texas vs Oklahoma Game Preview

Why Oklahoma Will Win

What’s going right after two straight ugly performances?

QB Dillon Gabriel is questionable at very, very best after suffering a concussion in the 55-24 loss to TCU, the defense couldn’t do anything right in the 41-34 loss to Kansas State, and …

The running game still works. It struggled against TCU – especially when Gabriel got knocked out – but overall the rotation of backs is working, the offensive line is doing a solid job, and it all has to click against a Texas defense that struggled against Alabama’s ground game but has been solid against everyone else.

The Longhorns aren’t taking the ball away – none in the last two games and just two on the year – the offense isn’t controlling the clock, and …

– NFL Expert Picks, Week 5

Why Texas Will Win

Is Quinn Ewers ready to go?

While Oklahoma is prepping backup quarterback Davis Beville and giving JUCO transfer General Booty practice time, Texas is hoping to get its No. 1 QB back after getting knocked out in the Alabama loss.

No matter who’s under center, the Longhorn offense will be about three things: Bijan, Bijan, and Bijan.

The Oklahoma defensive front can get behind the line, but it has been miserable against the run with Kansas State and TCU ripping off yards in huge chunks.

The quarterbacks did the most damage – Kansas State’s Adrian Martinez and TCU’s Max Duggan each ran at will – but the backs got involved, too, and now it’s Bijan Robinson time. He hit the 100-yard mark over each of the last three games, he’s averaging six yards per carry, and he’ll keep getting fed until OU proves it can stop him.

– Game Previews College | NFL

What’s Going To Happen

This is one of those games that never, ever disappoints.

Texas looked like it was going to make a massive national statement as it ripped through Oklahoma in the first half of last year’s game, and then Caleb Williams stepped in and had other ideas in the 55-48 Sooner win.

OU survived the crazy 53-45 shootout in 2020, it pulled off a close win in 2019, Texas won in 2018 thanks to Cameron Dicker the freshman kicker, and on and on and on.

And sometimes weird things happen.

A mediocre 2015 Texas team handed a College Football Playoff-bound Oklahoma its only loss of the regular season.

The Sooners have owned the Red River Showdown lately, but these games are almost always close, there are always wild momentum swings, and they always play a huge role in the Big 12 title chase.

In this insane year in the conference with all ten teams good enough beat any of the other teams on the right day, this is even more of a must win than normal for two coaches who can’t lose this.

An Oklahoma win might show that the Brent Venables era really might be okay with a little bit of time, and a Texas win would settle that part of the base that’s not quite sold yet on Steve Sarkisian.

Oklahoma will make this close throughout with its best performance in a few weeks, but the problems at quarterback and leaky run defense will be too much to overcome.

– CFN Expert Picks, Week 6

Texas vs Oklahoma Prediction, Line

Texas 38, Oklahoma 34
Line: Texas -7, o/u: 65
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2
Texas vs Oklahoma Must See Rating (out of 5): 4.5
– Predictions of Every Game

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

– Bowl Projections | Rankings
– Schedules, Scores For All 131 Teams

Texas vs Oklahoma Prediction, College Basketball Game Preview

Texas vs Oklahoma prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch, lines, and why each team might – or might not – win on Tuesday.

Texas vs Oklahoma prediction, college basketball game preview, how to watch: Tuesday, February 15

Texas vs Oklahoma How To Watch

Date: Tuesday, February 15
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Lloyd Noble Center, Norman, OK
How To Watch: ESPN2
Record: Texas (18-7), Oklahoma (14-11)
– Sign up and live stream college basketball on ESPN+
– Today’s Best Bet to Lock in Now

[mm-video type=playlist id=01f1343a1wt7q817p7 player_id=none image=https://collegefootballnews.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]

– All of the CFN Fearless Predictions

Texas vs Oklahoma Game Preview

Why Texas Will Win

We did this a few weeks ago and it didn’t go well.

Oklahoma couldn’t hit a thing from three, Texas lived on the free throw line, and it was a 66-52 Longhorn win that was never all that close.

Texas might be coming off a rim-rocking from Baylor, but overall it’s still playing defense as well as any in America – even with Kansas and Baylor combining for 156 points over the last two games – and with a whole lot of good things happening against teams that need to hit from the outside.

Oklahoma needs to be on from three to win. it’s 12-0 when making 35% or more of its threes, and 2-11 when it doesn’t.

Texas allows teams to hit 31% from three. However …

– Latest Polls AP | Coaches

Why Oklahoma Will Win

Texas isn’t close to being the same team away from Austin.

Dominant at home, the Longhorns are 15-1 including that blowout win over Oklahoma. On the road they’re 3-6 and have a hard time from three.

Oklahoma is hardly a rock at home, but it plays defense from three, moves the ball around just fine, and it hits 48% from the field.

As long as the defense can clamp down on the Longhorns from the outside, and if the O can keep the turnovers and mistakes down a bit from its normal problems, it should be right in this for a full 40 minutes.

– Top 25 Game Previews, Predictions

What’s Going To Happen

Texas is playing well, Oklahoma isn’t.

Yeah, the Sooners aren’t that bad from the field, but they have to be great from three and they have to prove they can get the offense going against a defense that clamps down hard.

The problem will be shows peek turnovers. They’ve slowed a tad lately on the mistakes, but Texas will force at least 15 turnovers for just enough transition and easy points to get out alive.

Texas vs Oklahoma Prediction, Lines

Texas 62, Oklahoma 58
Line: Texas -1.5, o/u: 124
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3

5: Aaron Donald
1: Those who pretend to be offended by the Super Bowl halftime show

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

2022 College Football Schedules: All 131 Teams