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OU captains named for Red River Rivalry: Downs, Bowman, Stutsman, Williams, Nwaiwu, Sharp

Bob Przybyloby:Bob Przybylo10/07/24

BPrzybylo

NCAA Football: Oklahoma at Texas
Oct 7, 2023; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners defensive lineman Ethan Downs (40) stands over Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) after Ewers is sacked for a loss during the second half at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

There are some weeks where OU fans might not care about the weekly captains. But when it comes to the Red River Rivalry and Texas? Everything matters.

That includes captains. And the team is going a pretty unique way about things. Three captains who have done it all, seen it all. And three newcomers who have never tasted the Cotton Bowl. Time for Brent Venables and Team 130 to head to Dallas.

OU captains for the first Red River Rivalry in the SEC? Defensive end Ethan Downs, tight end Bauer Sharp, defensive tackle Damonic Williams, linebacker Danny Stutsman, safety Billy Bowman and offensive guard Febechi Nwaiwu.

“Most definitely,” said Williams about playing in this game. “I mean, this is one of the biggest games in college football? I mean, who wouldn’t be excited for that? But this is actually probably one of the reasons why I came here, to be honest. To play on a huge stage like that and prove to everybody that I can do what I can do.”

Downs, Stutsman and Bowman were instrumental in OU pulling off the upset victory against Texas last season. The Sooners, of course, are trying to do that once again. Texas is the No. 1-ranked team in this matchup for the first time in 40 years.

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And OU is playing the No. 1-ranked team in the country during the regular season for the first time since 2000 Nebraska. All OU fans know how that went, the euphoria of the 31-14 victory.

The Sooners, after all, are hoping for a repeat of that 2:30 p.m. Saturday on ABC. It is the first afternoon kick for the Red River Rivalry since 2017, won by OU 29-24.

“You’ve got to approach every single game like it’s a playoff week so when that moment comes, when the biggest moments there, you’re going to fall to the level of your preparation,” Stutsman said.

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