Red River Roundtable: Texas vs. Oklahoma predictions, keys to the game, players to watch, and more

It’s almost here. Undefeated No . 3 Texas. Undefeated No. 12 Oklahoma. The Cotton Bowl. The Red River Shootout.

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The Inside Texas staff offers memories, keys to the game, players to watch, predictions, and more in the Red River Roundtable.

Games are memorable, but so too are individual plays. What’s THE moment that sticks out in your memory when you think about this game?

Eric Nahlin – I’m sure the Jordan Shipley return will garner some mentions. That’s my No. 1 but No. is probably Stonie Clark’s tackle in 1994. I was just falling in love with the Longhorns and they would go on to be must-see TV from that time forward.

Justin Wells – The exchange between Sam Ehlinger and Kyler Murray after UT’s win in 2018. Priceless.

Ian Boyd – Jordan Shipley’s kickoff return is way up there. Other standouts include the Roy Williams Superman play and the play where Texas crushed Rhett Bomar and returned the fumble for a long score.

Joe Cook – It’s either the Shipley kick return or the Daje Johnson punt return. Two plays that changed the momentum of the game in different ways and brought the Texas side of the stadium to life.

Gerry Hamilton – Jordan Shipley’s kick return in the 2008, easily. Oklahoma had Texas on their heels out of the gate, and that was a massive momentum swing play for the Longhorns when they had to have it.

Bobby Burton – 1989. Johnny Walker on a post route from Peter Gardere. Touchdown Texas. Game winner with less than a minute left.

Paul Wadlington – The Jordan Shipley touchdown return in 2008 is always something I remember clearly. Texas was down 14-3 early and it was the perfect spark at the exact right moment.

This year’s Oklahoma defense is not the 2022 Oklahoma defense. That said, what ways do you anticipate the Longhorns attacking Brent Venables’ side of the ball?

Eric Nahlin – I’m conflicted on this because I think a couple of ways could work. I think if they truly wanted to, they could establish the run early on. But in big games Sark usually comes out guns blazing by deploying the mid-range passing game. So I’ll go with that to start before Texas circles back with the run game.

Justin Wells – Outside the hashes. Texas has the WR talent to go vertical on the OU secondary, and with the youth permeating the Sooners backend, Ewers could exploit it.

Ian Boyd – I think they’ll spread them out early, force the Sooners to give away coverage leverage, and chuck it around on the perimeter. They’ll also likely get into some power run packages and take shots outside as I don’t think the Sooners can avoid conceding 1-on-1s to the receivers.

Joe Cook – I think this is a great game for some run game misdirection. Find ways to put a governor on the athleticism of OU’s quality linebackers and make an okay-for-Oklahoma’s-standards D-Line have to think while players like Kelvin Banks and DJ Campbell head their direction.

Gerry Hamilton – Perimeter short passes early, then transition to testing the OU front against the run with hopes of forcing Venables to stack the box to stop the run.

Bobby Burton – Find a way to truly establish the run by the middle of the second quarter. Go from there.

Paul Wadlington – Block them up and attack their creative blitzes.

Dillon Gabriel is making his debut in the Red River Shootout. What’s the key for the Longhorns to make sure he goes 0-1? 

Eric Nahlin – Get pressure with four and drop guys into coverage. Move him from his spots to disrupt his timing. If Texas does that it will be a long day because Gabriel will look to run and will probably absorb some punishment in the process.

Justin Wells – Hit him, hit him, and hit him again. He’ll get the ball out quickly in Jeff Lebby’s offense, but the Horns have the secondary to pressure the Sooners receivers. Force Gabriel into mistakes.

Ian Boyd – Get pressure and bodies in his face without losing contain and you can cut the head off the snake for the entire offense.

Joe Cook – Pressure in his face but not falling for pass-play misdirection. Oklahoma has him pump-fake and utilize a unique RPO game. Stay true, keep everything in front, tackle when it’s time to tackle.

Gerry Hamilton – Defensive line dominates against the run. That’s No. 1. That will add pressure to Gabriel. Then Texas has to make him complete passes against attached coverage. That amps up the pressure on him to max capacity.

Bobby Burton – Pressure up the middle. Get him to the ground.

Paul Wadlington – Collapse the interior pocket, limit his throwing windows and deny him passes in the middle of the field between the hashes, where he is 24 of 36 for 652 yards on any pass that travels over 10 yards from scrimmage. Gabriel’s arm is revealed when he has to throw outside of the hashes on any pass other than a lofted deep ball. Take away his preferences and make OU run the ball and rely on their short passing game.

You have to eat/drink something from the State Fair’s new food and list. What is it?

Eric Nahlin – Those cornbread sausage bombs look like a functional meal on the go. I might experiment a little to see if they pair with wax beer.

Justin Wells – BUTCHER’S BLOCK

Ian Boyd – There’s a ton of intriguing options on there but I think I’d have to try and tackle the Butcher’s block.

Joe Cook – Fried Monte Cristo with a Cotton Candy-rita to wash it down.

Gerry Hamilton – Churreos … hold the mayo

Bobby Burton – Deep fried candy pecan bacon bread pudding. Love pecans!

Paul Wadlington – First, I would throw Gerry Hamilton’s mayo corn dog on the ground to defend Western Civilization. Then I’d buy us each a Butcher’s Block, which is an assortment of delicious meats on mac and cheese.

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If this is a close one, as many games in the Cotton Bowl are, what do you see as the deciding factor down the stretch?

Eric Nahlin – Texas’ depth. The weather won’t be nearly as hot as Texas has been accustomed to this year but there could be a lot of total plays in this game given the tempo.

Justin Wells – Turnovers and big plays. They define this rivalry.

Ian Boyd – Texas has a lot of high IQ, veteran players who have been through a few big games in the last few years and tend to show up in big moments. Guys like Jahdae Barron, T’Vondre Sweat, Jaylan Ford, and Xavier Worthy. Gotta give the edge to them to find the winning plays vs the less experienced and proven Sooner stars.

Joe Cook – How does the Texas defense, if taxed to the point of 65+ plays, react when the margins are tight? That’s been seen once versus Alabama and it was against a different style of offense. When the Sooners are going light speed, can they stay on their assignments. That will determine the game.

Gerry Hamilton – Running the ball when you want to and need to. And snaps in the field goal and punt game.

Bobby Burton – Turnover or skill. Pick one.

Paul Wadlington – Not Bert Auburn from 45 yards?

Score prediction

Eric Nahlin – 41-20, Texas

Justin Wells – 38-28, Texas

Ian Boyd – 38-13, Texas

Joe Cook – 45-27, Texas

Gerry Hamilton – 33-24, Texas

Bobby Burton – 30-24, Texas

Paul Wadlington – 33-17, Texas