Longhorns Ready for Red River Rivalry

This season, the historic rivalry will feature two teams in the AP Top 25 in the two schools last year in the Big 12 Conference. The Sooners look to bounce back from an abysmal showing in last year’s matchup against the Longhorns. In 2022, Texas trounced Oklahoma 49-0 in one of the most lopsided matchups between the two teams in series history. Oklahoma lost its previous head coach, Lincoln Riley, to USC a season ago, and the Sooners had one of its worst seasons this century. 

Texas heads into this matchup sporting a Top 5 AP poll position and a marquee win over Nick Saban and the now-ranked No. 12 Alabama Crimson Tide. Texas has had its fair share of struggles since the departure of long-time head coach Mack Brown and quarterback Colt McCoy, but this just might be the year that the ‘Horns can claim that they are actually back. Quarterback Quinn Ewers is in his second season at the helm for the Texas Longhorns and is performing above head coach Steve Sarkisian’s expectations. The young quarterback is on pace to beat every stat line he posted a year ago and currently sports a 64.3 completion percentage. He’s gone 72/113 for 1,033 yards and nine touchdowns so far this year, and most importantly, he has zero interceptions.

With the hype surrounding the Longhorns, Oklahoma has quietly compiled four wins so far in dominating fashion. The Sooners haven’t exactly beaten a powerhouse yet, but with dominant wins over a talented SMU roster and a good Cincinnati team, Oklahoma continues its redemption tour. 

Both teams have one more game to play before they finally clash. Oklahoma hosts the Iowa State Cyclones on Saturday in Norman, and Texas hosts the No. 24 Kansas Jayhawks in Austin. Last season, Texas defeated the Jayhawks 55-14 in Lawrence.