DALLAS — Before the Red River Rivalry game, Oklahoma coach Brent Venables told local reporters that he had never had a Fletcher’s Corny Dog in all of his years coaching at the State Fair of Texas. If the Sooners won, Venables promised he would try his first one after the game.
After No. 1 Texas decimated the No. 18 Sooners 34-3 on Saturday, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian came into the press box holding a Corny Dog triumphantly. Considering the destruction Texas left in its wake, it’s only fitting that Sark quite literally stole Venables’ lunch.
For the second time in three years, Sarkisian’s squad held Oklahoma without a touchdown. Prior to Venables’ arrival in 2022, the Sooners had not been held without an end zone trip since John Blake’s final season in 1998. Before that, it was 1977.
In many ways, that’s what made the Texas two-touchdown betting line against Oklahoma feel so scary. This is simply not that kind of game. From 2014-22, the Red River Rivalry was decided by an average of 5.8 points per game. Remember, this was Texas’ worst period in decades while Oklahoma competed for national titles. Even at their worst, Texas fought.
Through the first quarter, Oklahoma appeared up for the challenge, at least defensively. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw an interception on his first drive for the second straight year. The Longhorns failed to record a first down in the period. This time around, a team of veteran leaders rose to the moment.
“We understand that adversity is going to strike,” Ewers said. “It’s something that we’ve seen before and we understand how to get out of that funk.”
Texas finally got its first consistent drive of the game in the second quarter, stringing together a 10-play, 75-yard sequence to get into the end zone and take a lead. Behind two explosive runs from backup running back Tre Wisner, Texas scored 14 points in 41 seconds later on to take an 18-point lead into halftime.
Then, the defense really took over. The Longhorns sacked Oklahoma freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. five times and recorded 11 tackles for loss while keeping the Sooners out of the end zone. Hawkins was below 100 passing yards until well into garbage time. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. had 3.5 tackles for loss on his own.
By the end of the game, there wasn’t a slot on the box score where Texas failed to dominate. They outgained OU by nearly 200 yards. They won the turnover battle. They passed and ran for more yards, forced more negative plays and even returned punts better.
“I think we’re a mature team,” Sarkisian said. “I think our team exudes poise and composure. I didn’t ever feel like going into the game, we were jumping up and down because we were so excited to go into the game. It was more, do we have the right mental intensity, do we have the right focus to stay grounded and clear minded. When things were off, it was easier to move forward.”
That maturity is, dare I say, championship level. Through six games, the Longhorns have been arguably the most impressive team in the country with blowout wins on the road against Michigan and at the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma. It wasn’t always pretty, but finding ways to blow out lesser opponents is critical on a championship run.
Both Venables and Sarkisian know what championship mettle looks like. Venables was a key assistant for both 2000 Oklahoma and a pair of Clemson teams. Sarkisian coordinated the 2020 Alabama squad and also worked on Pete Carroll’s 2003 team.
“Through the first half of the season, I don’t see a lot of teams that have played as well in all three phases,” Venables said. “They’ve got a good team and they’re good in the right places.”
Texas entered the matchup against Oklahoma ranked No. 1 for the first time since 1984. With so much expectation and scrutiny, Texas didn’t let Oklahoma stick around. They made them submit. For the best teams in the history of this rivalry, the ones that went on to win it all, domination portends great success. For 2005 Texas, it was a 45-12 win over Oklahoma. Five years earlier, it was the Sooners obliterating the Longhorns 63-14. Both won titles.
Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron believes that Texas is starting to put together the pieces towards being a true championship-level team. For him, wins like this are only the beginning.
“To grow into a championship team, you have to grow culturally,” Barron said. “And we’re only continuing to grow and build a better bond with each other.”
Read the full article here