The Texas Longhorns have lost three straight to the Oklahoma Sooners and fifteen of the last twenty-two games. To be blunt, the Sooners have owned the Longhorns for the last two decades.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said in his media availability on Thursday that his team had their best practice of the season on Tuesday, and the Longhorns will need to carry that momentum into Saturday’s performance at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
While these games, this game in particular, can be challenging for players because of the heated nature of the rivalry, Sarkisian says the team has done a good job in preparation on both the physical and mental side. Sarkisian wants his team to enjoy the rivalry and the breadth of what the game is, but doesn’t want them to get carried away with it.
“I think the key for us is to play with emotion but not emotional.”
Saturday’s game will be the 117th meeting between the Sooners and the Longhorns with the Longhorns holding an all-time advantage of 927-379-33.
GAME NOTES
- Saturday’s contest will be the 3rd straight 11:00 am kickoff for the Longhorns. Texas is undefeated in day games this season.
- The higher-ranked team in the AP Top 25 has won 18 of the last 29 matchups. Oklahoma is ranked 6th while the Longhorns are ranked at no. 21.
- ESPN’s College GameDay will set up shop at the Cotton Bowl, the first time they have been to the Texas-OU game since 2018
- Texas has won the turnover battle in six of the last seven meetings with OU. The team that wins the turnover battle between Texas and OU is 13-6 since the year 2000. The Longhorns must translate turnovers into points if they want to win in Dallas.
- The last eight games between these two teams have been decided by eight points or less.
- When asked which three things are keys to Texas winning on Saturday, Sarkisian said; winning at the line of scrimmage, limiting and creating explosive plays, and not turning the ball over/ creating turnovers.
- Texas is healthy. Sark reported no injuries sustained at TCU that will prohibit anyone from playing.
- The Longhorns have the 5th best rushing offense in the country, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Bijan Robinson. The Longhorns amass an average of 265.8 rushing yards per game.
- Oklahoma ranks 7th nationally in rushing defense giving up just 79.4 yards per game.
- The Sooners are favored in this game by 3.5 points.
STEVE SARKISIAN TALKS OKLAHOMA
