3-2-1: No. 1 Texas dominates Oklahoma for a resounding 34-3 win
There’s always an inordinate yet justified focus for Texas on the Red River Shootout. After all, college football is all about competing for championships and beating rivals.
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The Longhorns’ path to championships had a crimson and cream obstacle in the way on Saturday, though that obstacle did little to stop Texas on the way to a 34-3 win over the rival Sooners.
Here are three plays, two players, and one moment to note from the game.
Three Plays
Silas Bolden recovers a fumble in the end zone for a score
A couple of plays before Quintrevion Wisner was able to make it most of the way to the end zone and have his effort salvaged by Bolden, the Longhorns made use of a quality pass play to Ryan Wingo to get into scoring position.
Then, Wisner busted through the line and started to outrun a lackadaisical Billy Bowman, but OU safety Robert Spears-Jennings‘ tried to make up for his teammate’s poor effort.
Spears-Jennings forced a fumble and it created a mad dash to the football, at least for one player.
Bolden outran a number of Sooners from well behind the line of scrimmage, including defensive standout Danny Stutsman. Bolden’s work to run down and jump on the football before falling out of play, which would have created a touchback, gave Texas a key seven points just before half and altered the game shape to where getting back into the contest was going to be a tall task for the Sooners.
Not long after, as this piece will soon discuss, the Longhorns regained possession and immediately scored on a 43-yard touchdown rush to make it 21-3 ahead of halftime. Texas didn’t need much more from their offense in order to take home the Golden Hat once again, but the points put on the board by Bolden were crucial for Texas.
Anthony Hill strips Michael Hawkins
Anthony Hill played like a man possessed in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. He totaled 11 tackles with 3.5 TFL, a quarterback hurry, and the above forced fumble.
His assignment was not a simple one even though the Sooner offense showed little interest in the forward pass. Oklahoma tried to make use of misdirection, motion, and the quarterback run game with Hawkins in order to gain yardage.
Thanks to Hill and the entire Texas defense, that was an impossible task for Oklahoma. OU gained just 237 total yards and never found the end zone.
This play from Hill was the finest example of his day. After Hawkins broke free from the pocket, Hill didn’t give up on the play and stripped the Sooner quarterback. Vernon Broughton recovered the loose ball, giving the Longhorn offense another opportunity.
One play later, Wisner rushed 43 yards to make it 21-3 Texas. That score just about sealed up the game. Thanks to Hill and the rest of the defense’s effort, points in the form of touchdowns were impossible to come by for the Sooners.
Quinn Ewers one-yard touchdown rush
Ewers’ line read 20-for-29 for 199 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also added a touchdown rush.
He showed signs of rust throughout the day, something to be expected after about a month off.
In addition, there were some unexpected difficulties from Ewers. He missed some open throws. He left a lot of points on the board.
And yet, his efforts didn’t do anything to jeopardize Texas’ chances at victory. The Longhorns didn’t win in spite of Ewers, nor did they win because of him. His touchdown pass to Gunnar Helm was not anything more than a simple screen play.
The Longhorns will need more from Ewers as he looks to lead Texas to greater heights when the Georgia Bulldogs head to town next week. But that all said, Ewers was able to find the end zone and have a moment in the Red River Shootout.
Credit to Helm for setting up Texas. Credit to Ewers for earning a 2-1 record in the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma, and a sterling 3-0 record in return-from-injury games.
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Two Players
Let’s revisit Bolden’s touchdown “run.” According to ESPN, Bolden ran 55.6 yards from behind the line of scrimmage past 21 other football players to dive on the line of scrimmage.
Fifty. Five. Point. Six.
Much was made last year about the hustle play from Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington against TCU. Steve Sarkisian explained how that play was an embodiment of his team’s culture, and it was a key one for Texas against the Horned Frogs.
Bolden’s play was of a similar vintage, and it was part of a strong performance by the Oregon State transfer.
The Longhorns had their best punt return performance of the season thanks to Bolden, who had 70 return yards on four opportunities. That includes a 55-yard return that set up Bert Auburn‘s last field goal which made it 27-3.
Bolden is part of a receiver room where a number of different players have been in the spotlight. It was his turn on Saturday and he took full advantage of his moment.
Let’s excuse Wisner’s fumble if only for a second.
Wisner tallied 13 carries for 118 yards and a score, one where he held onto the ball securely without issue. He split opportunities with Jaydon Blue, who himself had a decent game but was not as effective as No. 26.
Wisner has made a strong claim to being Texas’ lead running back in the wake of injuries to CJ Baxter and Christian Clark. He runs tough, overcoming what he may lack in physical gifts with sheer-want to. He has physical gifts, too, as his long 43-yard run for a score in the second quarter made clear.
For the DeSoto product, the opportunity presented to Wisner was a great one. He didn’t fumble the chance… despite the fumble.
One Moment
Sarkisian is 2-1 against Brent Venables and 2-2 overall against Oklahoma.
Returning to .500 and getting the best of Venables, as he did to the tune of 406 total yards with 177 on the ground, is a nice feather in the cap for the Longhorns’ head coach. And it’s better than the alternative, right?
Sarkisian now enters what might be the biggest home matchup for the Longhorn football program since No. 1 Alabama came to town in 2022. The Georgia Bulldogs won 34-24 over Mississippi State on Saturday to set up a meeting in primetime between two teams who bring just one loss into next week’s contest.
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This time, things are different. The No. 1 team resides in Austin, and it can proudly boast the Golden Hat.
