Saturday will be a thunderous showdown between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners. Longtime fans will remember the infamous rivalry that preceded Texas’ invitation to the SEC. Nowadays, both the Sooners and the Longhorns call the SEC their home conference. The 2024 season has already caught fire and both teams are looking to come out victorious. Quinn Ewers is returning to the fold in time for the Red River Rivalry. The Longhorns are looking for some payback. The SEC may be new to Texas, but Oklahoma certainly isn’t.
History and Prior Performances
Back in their pre-SEC days, the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners were clear opponents. Even their last game in 2023 kicked up something fierce. With big feelings on both sides of the field, this Saturday is set to get wild.
Texas
Similar to last year, the Texas Longhorns are undefeated heading into the Red River Rivalry (also: Red River Shootout). They have also returned to the top of the AP Poll Rankings just in time for the historic clash. Overwhelming offense has been a winning strategy for Texas thus far. They’ll need to maintain their defense against an Oklahoma Sooners quarterback known for his speed.
Oklahoma
For their part, Oklahoma has lost only one game this season. Their defeat came at the hands of Tennessee back in September, losing 25-15. They more than made up for it the following week, crushing Auburn 27-21. The Oklahoma Sooners return to the Red River Rivalry with the Golden Hat. They are looking to keep the Texas Longhorns in their place, as it were.
Brief Analysis
Texas
Probably the biggest development is that Steve Sarkisian has announced Quinn Ewers’ return. The Texas Longhorns’ starting quarterback has missed the last two and three quarters with an abdominal injury. Ewers surely benefited from the off week and has now been designated “Probable.” There was talk in late September of the plan for his recovery; starting the Oklahoma game seems right on target.
Besides Quinn Ewers, the latest injury report mentions the following key Texas Longhorns players. Also listed “Probable” is Defensive Back Derek Williams, Jr. “Questionable” status players include Running Back Colin Page, Deep Snapper Tate Haver, and Punter Michael Kern. Texas will need to maintain its aggressive stance against opposing quarterbacks possibly without them.
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Sooners’ defense is a concern for Texas, as evidenced by their game against Houston. Coach Sarkisian has planned for the dynamo Sooners quarterback, a true freshman. Michael Hawkins Jr. has been making his mark so far. The Texas Longhorns will not take him lightly. Sarkisian has been clear:
“We want to try to get to the quarterback, but our rush lanes are really critical in this game. Because when he [Hawkins Jr.] pulls it, it’s not to get four or five or six yards. I mean, he went 50 for a touchdown against Auburn, so we got to be really mindful of his ability to extend plays and then create explosives with his legs.”
Final Thoughts
This colossal clash has been a long time coming for the Texas Longhorns. Their brutal 2023 loss still haunts the minds of Longhorns Nation. But the Red River Rivalry goes far deeper than just last year. The hype video that the Texas Longhorns released Friday is narrated by Texas legend Colt McCoy. It indicates just what this game means to the Texas Longhorns. It almost feels as though conference positioning is an afterthought to this long-held rivalry.
The Texas Longhorns are stampeding into Dallas with some business to settle. They’ve been raring to go since joining the SEC alongside their historical rivals the Oklahoma Sooners. Quinn Ewers faces off against Michael Hawkins Jr. in a game that will surely pop off. The game kicks off Saturday afternoon at the upgraded Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.
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