Texas enters the Red River Rivalry with the kind of profile that usually makes this week feel like a showcase, not a grind. The Longhorns are No. 1 in the country, 4-0, and headed into the 122th meeting with Oklahoma as the clear favorite.
But this game has a way of stripping away the labels once both teams get to Dallas.
Steve Sarkisian has already acknowledged that rankings don’t carry much weight when the Longhorns and Sooners meet at the Cotton Bowl, and that matters here because Oklahoma’s path to an upset is pretty clear: make this ugly, slow the game down, and force Texas to play on the Sooners’ terms.
That won’t be easy, even for a Texas team that hasn’t been perfect through four games. Oklahoma brings one of the better defenses in the SEC, which should give the Longhorns problems if the offense gets sloppy or starts chasing big plays.
The bigger issue for the Sooners is on the other side of the ball. Their offense has been stuck in neutral, sitting dead last in the SEC in total offense and second to last in scoring offense and rushing offense, while ranking No. 13 in passing offense.
That plays directly into Texas’ hands. The Longhorns’ defense has been one of the best units in the SEC and one of the best in the country, which gives Oklahoma very little margin for error if it wants to keep this game within reach.
For the Sooners, the formula is obvious: lean on defense, keep the score down, and let the game become a battle of possession and patience. They know they’re not built to win a track meet against this Texas defense.
Texas, meanwhile, has to avoid letting Oklahoma dictate the tempo or the line of scrimmage. That starts with cleaner first downs and drives that don’t immediately go sideways. Getting behind the sticks is exactly what Oklahoma wants, especially with a pass rush that’s tied for ninth in the SEC in sacks.
That’s where Sarkisian’s offense comes in. Texas needs easy completions for Arch Manning early in drives so the Longhorns can stay on schedule and set up manageable second and third downs. Third-and-long is the danger zone, because that’s when the Oklahoma rush can really tee off on Manning.
The other part of the equation is simple enough: Texas can’t let this turn into a possession game that comes down to who has the ball at the end. Oklahoma wants to shrink the field, shorten the game and drag the Longhorns into a rock fight.
If Texas gives the Sooners that kind of opening, the upset becomes a lot more realistic.
In Other News...
Oklahoma Faces A Red River Concern Fans Already Feared
Oklahoma heads into the Red River matchup with a defense that could get a boost from a couple of returning pieces, but the more immediate concern is on the other side of the ball. The Sooners are working through injury issues along the offensive line and at running back, and that combination can shape everything from protection to play-calling in a game where margin for error is already slim.
Michael Fasusi is doubtful, Eddy Pierre-Louis is questionable and Xavier Robinson is out, leaving Oklahoma to sort through a patchwork situation at key spots before facing Texas. There are several other availability questions on the report as well, while Texas enters with fewer players listed as unavailable, which only sharpens the concern for a Sooners offense that would prefer far cleaner health heading into one of the season's biggest tests. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahomas Receiver Frustration Just Took Another Hit Before Texas
A week before the Red River showdown, Oklahoma added another wrinkle to a wide receiver room that has already been under scrutiny. Freshman Jahsiear Rogers has been dismissed from the football program, according to an OU spokesperson, and he has already been removed from the teams online roster. Rogers had not carved out a major role this season, but he arrived with the kind of recruiting profile that made him an intriguing long-term piece for the Sooners.
For a passing attack trying to find more consistency, losing a young receiver who once looked like a possible building block is another reminder of how much turnover can shape a season. The Sooners are now moving toward Texas with less depth and one fewer developmental option at a position that has been watched closely all fall. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma's 2028 Running Back Problem Just Got Worse Before Texas Week
The recruiting battle around the Red River Rivalry picked up another jolt when Micah Rhodes, a four-star running back in the 2028 class, backed off his Oklahoma pledge and announced for Texas just ahead of the matchup. Rhodes had originally committed to the Sooners, so the flip adds a fresh layer of sting to a weekend that already carries plenty of recruiting and regional weight for both programs.
Rhodes change of heart came after the departure of Oklahoma running backs coach DeMarco Murray, a reminder of how quickly the staff turnover can reshape a class. The Sooners still do not have a replacement lined up for Rhodes in the 2028 group, though they remain involved with other targets such as Jayshawn Mitchell as they try to steady that part of the board. [Read more 🡒]