While the Red River Rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas has never lost any significance to the Longhorn fanatics, only recently has No. 3 Texas entered Dallas with any real expectations.
Favored for the first time in a decade, Texas battered their northern neighbors 49-0 in 2022 and announced themselves as well and truly back with an upset victory in Tuscaloosa earlier this season. A victory against No. 12 Oklahoma, which has quietly yet resoundingly taken care of lesser opposition through five weeks, Saturday would solidify its charge toward the college football playoff with a manageable latter half of the season.
One source of concern has been the Longhorns rushing attack. Jonathan Brooks has stepped up marvelously to replace Bijan Robinson as the Longhorn lead back, currently ranked third in all of FBS with 597 rushing yards, but Texas as a whole averages fewer than five yards per carry — UT also ranks 46th in expected points added (EPA) per rush and 86th in rushing success rate.
The vaunted Oklahoma front offers no respite either, currently ranked second in EPA per rush, likely demanding another excellent performance from Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. The sophomore gunslinger has been excellent with nearly 1,400 passing yards and just one interception, shining brightest at Bryant-Denny Stadium with 350 passing yards and three touchdown passes. Particularly against the Sooners’ stingy rushing defense, Ewers will have to assume responsibility for finishing opportunities in the red zone, as the Longhorns currently average just 3.4 points per quality possession, good for 89th in FBS.
Texas defense faces a similar dynamic against the Oklahoma offense, looking to turn OU’s transcendent attack one dimensional by stomping out its relatively mediocre run game. However, even a unified focus on Oklahoma QB Dillon Gabriel may do little to contain the early Heisman candidate. Currently ranked eighth nationally in passer rating, it’s hard to find a sore spot in Gabriel’s game as he’s thrown 15 touchdowns to just two interceptions while maintaining a 75 percent completion percentage.
All signs point toward an evenly-matched, high-level affair Saturday set to define the remainder of the Big 12 campaign.