Entering this year’s Red River Rivalry, headlines were swirling in opposite directions for Oklahoma and Texas. For Oklahoma, the buzz surrounded quarterback John Mateer’s return – icing on the cake for an undefeated team ready to take on its rival. For Texas, the focus was less flattering: a disappointing loss to Florida marked a rough start to their SEC schedule. But the beauty of the Red River Rivalry is that you never quite know what’s going to happen. That held true on Saturday, as the Longhorns upset the sixth-ranked Sooners 23-6, thanks to a dominant second-half performance on all sides of the ball.
The momentum shifted with just two seconds left in the first half. Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer threw his second interception of the day – this time in the end zone – to Texas defensive back Malik Muhammad. With the Sooners in field goal range, the turnover allowed Texas to enter the locker room trailing just 6-3 at the half.
After a strong third quarter, the Longhorns took a 13-6 lead and needed one more play to seal the deal. They got it when punt returner Ryan Niblett took an Oklahoma punt 75 yards to the end zone, extending the lead to two possessions.
Saturday’s game wasn’t always pretty, but it got the job done.
If you had been told before kickoff that Texas would win this year’s rivalry game with just one touchdown, you probably wouldn’t have believed it. But Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns chose the perfect time to play complementary football.
Defensively, Texas allowed only 258 total yards – including just 48 on the ground. Additionally, the team ultimately forced Mateer to throw three interceptions on the day, also limiting the big plays that haunted them the week before. Pair that with a strong performance on special teams and a turnover-free offense, and you’ve got a winning formula.
On offense, Texas struggled to find explosive plays. Quarterback Arch Manning was efficient but limited, throwing for 166 yards and one touchdown while completing 78% of his passes. Meanwhile, running back Quintrevion Wisner added 94 rushing yards but didn’t find the end zone.
Still, the Longhorns avoided the kind of costly mistakes that often decide this rivalry. That gave kicker Mason Shipley the chance to contribute three field goals, helping keep the Sooners out of reach.
What’s on the horizon for Texas
With the win, Texas clears a major hurdle in its schedule. Already saddled with two losses, the Longhorns couldn’t afford another setback – especially not against a top-10 rival. Now 1-1 in conference play, Texas faces a tough road ahead. But if they continue playing well-rounded football, they just might claw their way back into the national conversation.
Next weekend, the Longhorns travel to Lexington to face the Kentucky Wildcats. The afternoon game will air on either ESPN or the SEC Network, with final broadcast details to be announced.
