Red River more normal for No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 21 Texas
DALLAS (AP) – That’s supposed to be the second Saturday in October for No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 21 Texas, even if their Red River rivalry won’t be a Big 12 game for long.
The Sooners (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) and Longhorns (4-1, 2-0) are both nationally with first place in the Big 12 on the line. The stands should be full again, with crimson and burnt orange fans split at the 50-yard line. The smell of food from the busy State Fair halfway right outside the 92,100-seat Cotton Bowl Stadium will waft inside.
“I’m delighted that we can return to the Cotton Bowl with a more normal atmosphere. I missed that in the epic duel last year, “said Sooners coach Lincoln Riley. “We say it every year, but I think it shouldn’t be underestimated. The best thing about this job is being able to train, play and compete in this game. “
When the unrated Oklahoma won in four overtimes last October, the crowd was limited to about 24,000 fans, and the State Fair of Texas closed for the first time since World War II because of the pandemic. A full house is expected on Saturday and the unique atmosphere where the cheers never stop can overwhelm some young players.
“I’m from Arp, Texas, a 900 resident, and you will see a lot of people just take the bus in,” said Texas linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who had a career high of 11 tackles with an interception against Oklahoma last year. “I tell (first-time visitors) to enjoy it. It’s a feeling not many people can experience, so enjoy the experience, but when we touch the field it’s time to step in because we have a job to do. “
Spencer Rattler and the Sooners have a 13-game winning streak that began with this 53-45 win over the Longhorns. Rattler threw two touchdowns in OT after sitting on the bench for a bad start in the first half.
Texas and Big 12 Rushing Leader Bijan Robinson have a much shorter but still impressive streak. The Longhorns have scored 160 points and won three in a row since losing to Arkansas the Southeastern Conference, the league the Sooners and Longhorns will join by 2025 at the latest.
“To be honest, I don’t really think the SEC has much influence on this game. That’s going to happen when it happens, ”said Riley. “I don’t know if this game could be given any more intensity or meaning.”
THOMPSON AND HIS OU FAMILY
Casey Thompson is a rarity as a kid from Oklahoma playing quarterback in Texas. His father Charles Thompson played quarterback for the Sooners from 1988-89. But Casey went his own way, waiting three seasons behind Sam Ehlinger before being named a starter in the third game of the season.
“It speaks volumes for its own personality. He’s chosen to go where he thought best, ”said Texas coach Steve Sarkisian. “He wanted to be a longhorn despite the adversity by being a backup and not being called the starter. With this persistence he could get through it, because that was his decision. “
BIJAN IN NUMBERS
Robinson gets some Heisman Trophy attention as the nation’s second leading rusher (130.4 yards per game) and with a Big 12-high nine TDs (seven rushings, two received). The Sooners have the best rushing defense in the league, allowing 79.4 yards per game.
“He’s jumping off the line,” said Alex Grinch, Oklahoma defensive coordinator. “You can see halfway from a distance when you prepare for your opponents and watch the games. They hope when you turn on the video it becomes hype and not real. But in this special case it fits. “
INCREDIBLY QUIET
Most players look forward to getting the full Red River rivalry experience again, even fans slapping the side of the bus in the slow procession through the fairground crowd to the stadium.
“Last year it was just a ghost town. You just jumped up, got off the bus, ”said Sooners receiver Drake Stoops, who got a 2-point conversion in the fourth OT.
50-50 TRAINERS
Riley and Sarkisian both clinched their 50th career wins last Saturday. Riley is 50-8, with Barry Switzer being the only Oklahoma coach to get 50 wins faster in 56 games. Sarkisian is 4-1 in Texas after playing 34-29 in Washington and 12-6 at USC in five seasons.
THICKER THE KICKER
Texas kicker Cameron Dicker scored the game-winning field goal in the final seconds to beat the Sooners in 2018, a moment preceded by a wink and a grin captured by television cameras that quickly went viral on social media. He missed two of his first three field goal attempts this season, then failed to attempt two one-sided wins before scoring four high-career field goals at the TCU last week.
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AP Sports Writers Jim Vertuno and Cliff Brunt contributed to this report.
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