Oct 6, 20232 min read

Dawg Preview Red River Rivalry - #2 Texas Longhorns vs #11 Oklahoma Sooners

View from the largest ferris wheel in North America of the Red River Shhhotout (UT vs. OU) taking place in The Cotton Bowl. By the way, UT won the game... — 'UT vs. OU' Photo Credit- Elaine via Flickr

When and Where to Watch:

Time - 12 PM EST

Location - Cotton Bowl Dallas Texas

Channe l- ABC

Broadcasters - Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit

What is at stake?

Bragging rights between these two rivals are always the main thing at stake. Oklahoma is attempting to take revenge on the 49-0 beatdown at the hands of Texas last year. Texas on the other hand is working on cementing their name in the college football playoff conversation. This is also the final hurrah for this game being the staple rivalry for the Big 12 and it is setting up to be an instant classic.

Key Players - Texas Longhorns

Quarterback Quinn Ewers - Texas' offense is full of playmakers across the board but it all will start with the star quarterback. Quinn Ewers has thrown for 1,358 yards with 10 touchdowns and 1 interception on this season. Last year he had 298 yards with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception in this game. If Quinn Ewers can put up those kinds of numbers again this season Texas will be sitting pretty in this one.

Linebacker Jaylan Ford - is coming into this game with a team-leading 32 tackles and 2 interceptions. He is the leader of this defense that has been playing pretty well this season. This Texas defense is looking to keep up the momentum they have built this season and it starts with Jaylan Ford.

Key Players - Oklahoma Sooners

Quarterback Dillon Gabrie l- Last year Oklahoma had 39 total yards passing against the Texas defense. The thing that is different is that Dillon Gabriel is healthy and available for this game. He came into this game with 1,593 yards passing with 15 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. The Oklahoma offense is looking to be more explosive this year and they will need Dillon to step up to achieve that.

Linebacker Danny Stutsman - Texas had 296 rushing yards last year in this game granted they do not have Bijan Robinson anymore. Texas still has a very good rushing attack led by Jonathan Brooks and Oklahoma will have to find an answer to stop the run game. That answer is Danny Stutsman with 49 tackles on the season with 2 sacks and 1 interception that was returned for a touchdown. He should expect to build on this great beginning of the season and will have plenty of chances to in this one.

Predictions on this matchup:

The Texas Longhorns have had a special start to the season which included going to Tuscaloosa Alabama and beating the Crimson Tide. Texas has struggled some in the first half putting points up on the board against the teams they have played but have been able to pull away in the second half of these games to win. The offense will have to finish drives for the whole game in this one with Oklahoma having a very good offense this year.

The Oklahoma Sooners have played less than stellar competition and have, other than a road game in Cincinnati, won convincingly in every game so far. Texas is going to be the toughest test for the Sooners to this point in the season.

This game will be shaping up to be an old-fashioned shootout. In a shootout between these two teams, I will take the team with more playmakers and a slightly better defense.