The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns delivered one other instantaneous basic within the Crimson River Rivalry on the Cotton Bowl on Saturday afternoon. Regardless of being unranked and heavy underdogs, OU received the day in Dallas, Texas, with a 27-24 walk-off victory over the favored and top-ranked ‘Horns.
Brent Venables’ Sooners are actually 3-2 general and 1-1 in SEC play, whereas Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns fall to 4-1 general and 1-1 within the SEC. Venables has improved to 2-3 towards Texas, whereas Sarkisian is now 3-3 towards Oklahoma.
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A wild sport in South Dallas ended up going OU’s means, with numerous large performs and star performances value writing residence about. Oklahoma’s protection picked off Arch Manning twice, whereas John Mateer performed a turnover-free sport on the State Truthful of Texas. This matchup has a means of seeing the wacky occur, and that was definitely the case for the 122nd version of the sport on Saturday.
Whereas this sport brings so many new and outdated storylines, let’s check out three issues that may be taken away after an unbelievable thriller in Dallas.
1. Stepped up towards Texas
Oct 10, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) celebrates after the Sooners defeat the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl. Obligatory Credit score: Jerome Miron-Imagn Photos
This Oklahoma workforce continues to be flawed. Even with the upset win, the Sooners nonetheless have lots to repair. The offense was largely ineffective for many of the sport. The working sport struggled within the first half. OU received the particular groups battle however made some errors there as properly. The protection gave up some issues, however largely performed a whale of a sport towards the No. 1 workforce within the nation.
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Regardless of these flaws, the Sooners have been adequate towards a loaded Longhorns squad this week. Oklahoma hung robust, and it made the performs it needed to have once they needed to have them. Whereas the offense wasn’t on the stage it must be, it moved the ball higher within the second quarter, and that carried over into the second half. The working sport at the very least had a pulse, and Mateer appeared a bit extra settled. Notably, he additionally made two good throws to get OU into area purpose vary for the game-winner. Particular groups was a significant component, and the Sooners made large performs to swing the tide in that division.
We do not know what the longer term holds for this workforce. Oklahoma will face a brutal schedule, and so they nonetheless have loads of warts. Nevertheless, this weekend was a step ahead; give Venables, his employees, and the workforce their flowers for that.
2. The OU protection set the desk for the whole lot else
Oct 10, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive again Peyton Bowen (22) runs to attain a landing towards the Texas Longhorns through the second half at Cotton Bowl. Obligatory Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photos
The Sooners gave some issues up on protection. Manning threw three landing passes, and all three have been broad open. The Longhorns developed a rhythm working the ball earlier than Oklahoma received again on high of it. If one or two issues do not go their means, the Sooners lose this sport.
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Nevertheless, the protection performed unbelievable soccer, contemplating the circumstances. An offense that did not give them a lot to work with meant the protection needed to win the day, and so they did. The 2 interceptions off of Manning have been gigantic, and the protection simply stored giving the Sooners possibilities, holding them within the sport all afternoon. Was it good? No. However with all of the expertise on the opposite sideline, and with the best way the protection has to hold this system more often than not proper now, I definitely will not be vital of them. They have been the catalyst, and so they earned this win.
3. Now what?
Oct 10, 2026; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables celebrates with Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman David Stone (0) whereas sporting the Golden Hat after the sport towards the Texas Longhorns at Cotton Bowl. Obligatory Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photos
This win in an enormous spot for Venables and the Sooners. It wasn’t fairly, however it was sufficient. That goes for him, Mateer, Ben Arbuckle, and nearly all the different main names at OU Soccer. They have been closely criticized for nearly a month now, and this was a powerful response.
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Now, OU has to make use of this victory to totally flip the season round by enhancing week by week and constructing on this basis. Twice within the final decade (2016 and 2020), the Sooners have had poor begins to the season that ended up with a really sturdy end. In that very same timeframe, OU has had two seasons (2022 and 2024) the place the adversity received to them, and so they wilted down the stretch. Venables and Oklahoma must show they’re the previous. The Sooners can not afford a hangover after an enormous win, because the one-loss Kentucky Wildcats are coming to city in per week.
A surprising win over Texas has introduced the Sooners’ season again to life. How they construct on this can decide the place this season in the end goes for Oklahoma.
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This text initially appeared on Sooners Wire: 3 takeaways from OU’s unbelievable Crimson River Rivalry win over the ‘Horns