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Red River Rivalry: Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN rules analyst call out controversial missed call on punt return TD

ns_headshot_2024-clearby: Nick Schultz10/11/25NickSchultz_7
Red River Rivalry: Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN rules analyst call out controversial missed call on punt return TD
Screenshot courtesy @fsh733/X

As Texas looked to take full control of the Red River Rivalry with Oklahoma, the Longhorns did just that on a Ryan Niblett punt return TD. It wasn’t without some controversy, though.

ESPN rules analyst Bill LeMonnier said there should have been a block in the back penalty called on Texas. That would’ve wiped away the 75-yard return and kept it at a 13-6 Texas lead.

ABC’s Kirk Herbstreit agreed, pointing it out on the initial replay before LeMonnier chimed in on the conversation. He also pointed out the other key blocks that made the return happen.

“There was one play right here by [Colton] Vasek that made you go, ‘Hmm.’ … Right at that last cut, that’s a clear push into the back,” Herbstreit said. “That easily could’ve been called and brought back, but there were so many other blocks you saw that were good. But that’s clearly a block in the back that should’ve been called.”

The punt return touchdown put Texas squarely in control of Saturday’s Red River Rivalry game, and Arch Manning helped further put the game on ice with a 29-yard scramble later in the quarter. That set up a field goal to make it a 23-6 Longhorns lead, which held as the final.

Manning was impressive in the effort, completing 21 of 27 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown while adding 34 rushing yards. Tre Wisner had a monster day, as well, as he ran for 94 yards and totaled 34 receiving yards in the passing game.

It was quite the performance from Wisner, who had been dealing with an injury this year. But it turned into a team effort as the offense and defense shined, and that was his message after the game.

“It’s always hard,” Wisner told Holly Rowe. “Knowing what’s at stake, knowing that the defense knows you’re going to run the ball and to still come out and execute at a high level. I give our props to my teammates, man. My defense, the coaches, the o-line, the quarterback. Everybody’s just coming in and doing their job.”

The Texas defense also showed out in the second half, keying in on John Mateer – who was playing 17 days removed from hand surgery – and holding Oklahoma to just 88 yards after halftime. OU also mustered up 48 rushing yards on the day, including just five in the second half. Mateer threw three interceptions as he went 20 of 38 passes for 202 yards.