How OU football can do something against Texas it hasn’t since 1982 in Red River Rivalry

NORMAN — When OU and Texas square off Saturday in the Red River Rivalry, the Longhorns figure to be ranked in the top two while the Sooners, after the loss to Tennessee and a close call against Auburn, will be well behind.

But despite Texas being favored in the contest, there’s still plenty of hope for the Sooners.

The rivalry has featured plenty of upsets in its history, but this OU team has a chance to do something that only one other Sooners’ team has done.

In 1982, OU came into the showdown 2-2. The Sooners lost at home to West Virginia and USC.

But then Marcus Dupree’s talent flashed for the first time in college, breaking off a 63-yard touchdown on a fake reverse late in the first quarter.

Texas tied it a few minutes later, and Dupree was mostly held in check the rest of the way, but unranked OU dominated the game on the ground and pulled out a 28-22 upset over No. 13 Texas.

It is the only time in the storied history of the rivalry that the Sooners won when ranked at least 10 spots behind the Longhorns.

Texas has pulled off seven such upsets.

Here’s a look at the eight upsets in the rivalry’s history where the winning team was ranked 10 spots or more below the losing team heading into the contest:

More: Quinn Ewers injury update: Will QB play for Texas vs OU football in Red River Rivalry?

2019: No. 19 Texas 48, No. 7 OU 45

Records entering game: OU 5-0, Texas 4-1

Star of the game: Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 72 yards and three touchdowns.

How it happened: The Longhorns led from early in the second quarter, building a 21-point lead entering the fourth. But the Sooners weren’t going down without a fight. Kyler Murray hit Lee Morris for a touchdown, broke off a 67-yard run for a touchdown, then tied the game with 2:38 remaining on a quick three-play,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/ou-football-something-against-texas-104603154.html

Author : The Oklahoman

Publish date : 2024-10-06 10:46:03

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