DALLAS - Texas struck first in the Red River Rivalry, and the opening quarter already looked like another tight, physical battle between the Longhorns and Oklahoma.
The No. 1 Longhorns entered Saturday trying to win the matchup for a third straight year in the Cotton Bowl, while also aiming to keep the Sooners out of the end zone in Dallas for the fourth time in the last five meetings. Texas has already delivered shutout-style control in this series during that run, with wins of 49-0, 34-3 and 23-6, broken up only by Oklahoma’s 34-30 victory in 2023 - the lone win Brent Venables has managed against Texas in his fifth season.
Texas had a few personnel questions before kickoff. Sophomore defensive lineman Justus Terry, listed as a game-time decision after sustaining a toe injury in Week 2 pregame warmups, was dressed and warming up.
Oklahoma cornerback Eli Bowen was initially dressed but not taking part in warmups, with Trystan Haynes set to start and Jacobe Johnson also out. Tight end Jack Van Dorselaer walked out without a helmet and never joined warmups, and Bowen later returned to the field without pads and wearing a walking boot on his left foot.
The game itself started five minutes late because the end zones were missing some pylons. Texas won the toss, deferred, and kicked off - but senior Gianni Spetic misfired badly enough that the kick went out of bounds short of the end zone, handing Oklahoma the ball at its 35.
Oklahoma’s first drive never really settled in. The Sooners tried to test the perimeter early with a swing pass for six yards, but quarterback John Mateer was then pushed back for a two-yard loss and sacked on third down by Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons.
Simmons came flying off the edge, forced a fumble, and the ball was recovered by left tackle Ryan Fodje. Oklahoma punted.
Texas got a decent start on the return game when Ryan Niblett brought the punt back 10 yards to the Texas 43, but the Longhorns couldn’t cash in. Senior running back Hollywood Smothers, back after missing the Tennessee game with an injury, picked up four yards on first down. Arch Manning then missed junior receiver Ryan Wingo, and after another Smothers run, Texas came up short and punted away.
That was the pattern for much of the quarter: field position, short gains, and punts. Oklahoma’s next series produced a screen that fell incomplete, a one-yard loss on the ground, and a short throw to tight end Rocky Beers. Texas’ return game was limited by a quick tackle after a 47-yard punt.
Manning later picked up a rare two-yard keeper, Raleek Brown added six on the ground, and Texas was forced to burn a timeout after the play clock got away from them. A swing pass to Brown lost two more yards, and the Longhorns punted again, even after the kick was pushed back five yards by delay of game. Mac Chiumento’s punt still ended with another fair catch at the 11.
Oklahoma couldn’t move the ball either. Mateer rolled right on consecutive snaps, threw one away, missed on another, and after a short third-down completion the Sooners were again punting. Texas was ready to return, and the shanked punt went only 29 yards, giving the Longhorns the ball at the Oklahoma 41.
Texas needed only one snap from there. In the red zone, Manning escaped pressure to his left and fired a touchdown to junior wide receiver Cam Coleman, who made a strong catch at the back of the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
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