IT Roundtable: Oklahoma

It’s Hate Week, y’all. The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners meet in Dallas for the 118th edition of the Red River Shootout. The Inside Texas staff delivers memories, predictions, and outcomes in the roundtable.

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1. First time since 1998 that Texas or Oklahoma is ranked in the RRS. What do you expect to see on Saturday from the Cotton Bowl?

Eric Nahlin – I expect Texas to play a mostly complete game and to press its clear advantages at QB, on the perimeter, and down the field.

Justin Wells – The beer will be flowing, corny dogs will be eaten, and a hungry Horns squad still pissed after blowing last year’s big lead. If UT is clicking on all cylinders, I expect some happy Longhorns around 3:30pm (CT) on Saturday from the state fair.

Joe Cook – I feel like I have a good sense for how this Texas team is going to react to the environment. They are motivated to show they have improved, and motivated to defeat the program’s chief rival for the first time since 2018. What about Oklahoma? Brent Venables said publicly he doesn’t want his team to prepare for this game any different than any of the other games. I get the coach speak, but does that mean he won’t so much as acknowledge it? I have a sense the first quarter will give us that answer. Seeing each team’s intensity is what I will be on the lookout for. 

Ian Boyd – The time is ripe for Texas to reverse the trend on this series and inaugurate a shift in the power dynamics between these two programs with a statement win.

Paul Wadlington – A great environment, a lot of butterflies, and a Longhorn win. 

Bobby Burton – Just about like always, I expect two teams to give it everything they’ve got regardless of their rankings. Bloodsport; that’s what this rivalry is all about.

Gerry Hamilton – An energized Texas team that still has Big 12 Championship game goals in front of them. And an Oklahoma team that shows aggression early in the game with backs against the wall.

2. OU has multiple injuries, including quarterback. How does the Texas defense take advantage?

Eric Nahlin – Preparing for Dillon Gabriel is like having the donut on the bat in the batters box. If he can’t play or is replaced it will be like removing the donut and having the green light to swing on 3-0 all day. Latest I’ve heard is he’s unlikely to play but you never know.

Justin Wells – Texas just has to keep the Sooners in front of them, put the best players in the right position, and let them play and not think. This PK defense matches up well vs OU, similar to the WVU win.

Joe Cook – That West Virginia gameplan seems like it would apply. With this offense, not getting beat over the top is key, and Texas has done well there. The whole defensive system, from Pete Kwiatkowski to Jeff Choate and Terry Joseph to the players on the field need to make sure they are prepared for Oklahoma to turn up the tempo. 

Ian Boyd – The Longhorns should aim to play their cleanest, hardest game yet on defense. They’re playing a unit which relies on big plays and not every down execution. Eliminate their big plays with clean execution of the game plan and they might panic and crater.

Paul Wadlington – It would be very interesting for Texas to come out in a big front, irrespective of the starting QB, to help shut down the Sooner running game and make them one dimensional in the passing game. Offensively, just keep some composure for the wild things the Sooners will bring. The freshmen can’t get rattled. I have little doubt they’re going to target Cole Hutson and Kelvin Banks in a number of ways and they’ll throw some wild coverages at Ewers. 

Bobby Burton – You can’t overthink this. Really, Texas needs to go out with the same game plan no matter who it is. They need to be physical, tackle hard, limit the run game and big plays in the passing game, and try to get off the field on third downs. I think it’s imperative to start fast on D.

Gerry Hamilton – This game is all about the Texas defensive line. An improved unit in year two under the new staff needs fans to walk away from The Cotton Bowl Saturday saying the Longhorns won the game on the defensive front. I expect multiple players with TFL’s Saturday. 

3. Your absolute favorite Texas-OU moment, in-person or in general?

Eric Nahlin – Shipley being shot out of a cannon.

Justin Wells – I’d start with Stonie Clark‘s goal line stop. Then Ryan Nunez shredding the Sooners secondary in 1999. Absolutely loved the Vince Young-to-Billy Pittman touchdown right before the half in 2005. But my favorite is Chris Ogbonnaya’s near TD run to cement UT’s 45-35 win over No. 1 Oklahoma in 2008.

Joe Cook – The 2005 game was fun because that was the first time I saw the Oklahoma side empty out early. 2009, also fun because of the defense. It’ll be hard to top 2013 for me since that was when I was in school. 

Ian Boyd – Texas sack-stripping Rhett Bomar in 2005 was nice, Jordan Shipley returning a kick in 2008 was good too. More recently though I’m partial to Lil’Jordan Humphrey dragging the Sooners for 19 yards on 3rd-and-21 to set up Sam Ehlinger bulldozing them for a 4th down conversion.

Paul Wadlington – Too many to list. I’m ready to make some new memories. 

Bobby Burton – 1989. 4th down, less than a minute remaining in the game Johnny Walker on a post route from Peter Gardere. Touchdown Texas. Pandemonium in the student section.

Gerry Hamilton – I was sitting in the end one when Jordan Shipley fielded the kick off, and returned it for a touchdown. Oklahoma had the momentum at the time, and Shipley’s return seemingly flipped momentum for a while, and began for Texas what was a great college game.

4. Texas-OU predictions/outcome?

Eric Nahlin – Texas has mismatches all over, including the headsets and training table. 38-13, Texas.

Justin Wells – You can throw out the records here, but this Texas team is due for an OU beatdown in Dallas. Texas 44, OU 24.

Joe Cook – Texas 38, OU 28

Ian Boyd – Texas didn’t plan all offseason for this game to take it easy just because the Sooners are down. Sark’s foot finds the gas pedal in a 52-21 win in the Red River Shootup.

Paul Wadlington – Texas 38, OU 27.

Bobby Burton – I’m not superstitious. But I am a little stitious. Why risk it? OU 24-Texas 20. 

Gerry Hamilton – Texas big. 44-20. Ewers big day, Worthy big day, Ja’Tavion Sanders big day. Sarkisian first big win at Texas. The Longhorns leave The Cotton Bowl with all the goals in conference attainable with Iowa State coming to Austin October 15.