The 2021 Red River Showdown did not disappoint in terms of drama and excitement. The Texas Longhorns were in complete control of the football game through the first 30 minutes. Still, they didn’t do enough to ensure victory as the Oklahoma Sooners stormed back from 18 down at halftime to win a thrilling meeting between the two bitter rivals.
There was a lot to like from the Oklahoma Sooners performance on Saturday and a lot they need to improve upon.
The most important thing that will happen this week will be what happens at quarterback. And with that, let’s take a look at this week’s version of The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the Oklahoma Sooners 55-48 win over the Texas Longhorns.
The Good: Lincoln Riley’s Decision
It’s never an easy thing to replace your starting quarterback. Given that Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley was in the same situation with quarterback Spencer Rattler a year ago probably made the decision even more difficult.
In hindsight, it proved to be the right decision, and it remained the right decision as Riley stuck with true freshman quarterback Caleb Williams. Spencer Rattler didn’t have it on Saturday, and there have been few games in 2021 in which he has.
Two more turnovers bring Rattler’s total to seven in six games. And as much as it was about the turnovers, it was about the time of the game in which they took place.
The Sooners were down just 14-7 after the offense scored, and the defense forced a three and out. Oklahoma was driving, and a miscommunication between Rattler and tight end Austin Stogner led to the interception. Texas would go on to score on the ensuing drive.
A little bit later in the game, with the score 28-17, on the first play from scrimmage after the Sooners’ defense forced a punt, Rattler attempted to avoid pressure and after running into his offensive lineman had the ball ripped out by Ben Davis and recovered by Demarvion Overshown.
Again, Texas took the turnover and drove for a touchdown to make it 35-17.
Twice Oklahoma had a chance to either tie or take a big bite out of the Longhorns’ lead, and both times Spencer Rattler turned the ball over.
Caleb Williams helped spark the Oklahoma Sooners offense, who then outscored the Longhorns 38-13 the rest of the way.
While Lincoln Riley hasn’t indicated what he would do at quarterback, the Oklahoma offense just looked differently with Williams at the helm.
With the in-game move, Lincoln Riley showed that he’s not above removing his starting quarterback or any other player if they’re not performing well. He did it last year and proved it again this year. And it was the right move. Regardless of how the game turned out, it would have been the right call to sit him down for a bit. Unlike last year with Tanner Mordecai, however, Caleb Williams wasn’t giving the job back.