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The Red River Rivalry’s 120th meeting will kick off at a different time than fans are accustomed to.
The matchup will start at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, breaking away from its tradition of starting at noon ET since 2008. It will be the second time in 14 seasons that the game will not be played at its regularly scheduled slot.
The change is due to both teams joining the SEC. The conference typically schedules its biggest games in the afternoon, hence the shift.
The contest will still be televised on ABC and streamed on ESPN+.
Outside wanting bragging rights and respect that come with the Red River Rivalry, a win or loss can change the outlook of Texas and Oklahoma’s 2024 campaigns, especially in a conference with nine teams currently ranked in the AP top 25.
Here’s a breakdown of what each result could mean for the Longhorns and Sooners moving forward:
Win: Momentum heading into Georgia
The Longhorns are one of the last three teams still undefeated in the SEC, and that means a few things.
Vying for a return to the College Football Playoffs and a chance at an SEC Championship in its first year with the conference, Texas has a leg up against most of its foes. One loss lessens the chance for both opportunities to come true while two arguably ends the conversation.
Texas has lost eight of their last 10 meetings against Oklahoma, and with just two ranked opponents remaining after the Sooners in Georgia and Texas A&M, a win could put this program and fan base on top of the world.
Loss: A win against Georgia becomes required
However, a loss to the Sooners would bring forth an unwanted reality check: their route to the CFP and SEC Championship have become much more difficult.
Following the Red River Rivalry, the Longhorns play Georgia next week, a one-loss team hoping to reach the CFP, especially after their loss to Alabama. A win or loss to Oklahoma could put Texas in a better position for postseason play and prepare them for the Bulldogs, but a loss could put their postseason dreams on the line.
Win: Keeps College Football Playoff hopes alive
It’s clear that Oklahoma’s road to the playoffs is tougher than many — the only preseason AP top 25 team in the SEC to face six or more preseason-ranked opponents this season.
Yet, a win against the top team in the nation takes a load off OU’s back. It would strengthen the Sooners’ résumé, build confidence and put them one step closer to the CFP for the first time since 2019.
Loss: CFP aspirations become slim to none
The Sooners road to the CFP looks nothing like the Longhorns. Following this matchup, Oklahoma faces four more ranked opponents — three straight to end the regular season.
And with a chink to their armor already, losing to Tennessee 25-15 in Week 4, another loss arguably ends their hopes at sneaking into the CFP.
Saturday marks a new chapter for the Red River Rivalry.
A battle that began as a non-conference rendition and transitioned into a Big 12 matchup in the late 1990s, Texas and Oklahoma will meet for the first time as members of the SEC.
Two of the winningest programs in college football history, the Longhorns and Sooners’ historic rivalry on the gridiron has always been edge-of-the-seat-esque and popcorn-worthy. Nine of the last 10 meetings have been decided by less than eight points, including OU’s win in 2023, beating Texas 34-30 behind a game-winning touchdown with 15 seconds remaining.
The last time Texas ranked atop the AP Poll against Oklahoma was in 1984, which ended in a 15-15. And 40 years later, both programs look to seize bragging rights, make a statement in a juggernaut-like conference in the SEC and keep their CFP hopes alive.
Colin Simmons. Game Wrecker.@ColinSimmons__ pic.twitter.com/uizX7Htys9
Applying pressure 💪
1️⃣8️⃣ sacks » 1st in SEC, 2nd nationally #OUDNA pic.twitter.com/sbXgf80BZy
A preseason Heisman Trophy favorite, Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers lived up to the hype before suffering an abdominal injury against UTSA in Week 3. He had thrown for 691 yards and eight touchdowns in just two-and-a-half games.
Although listed as questionable prior to the next two contests, the junior quarterback didn’t play.
Fast forward to Monday, coach Steve Sarkisian expects the lead play-caller to be back under center on Saturday. Sarkisian stated on Monday that he ‘feels good’ about Ewers playing in the Red River Rivalry, but the team will continue to monitor him daily.
He added that Ewers practiced three times last week and again on Monday.
Without Ewers, Texas’ offense hasn’t skipped a beat with backup quarterback Arch Manning — coincidentally propelling him into the Heisman conversation. Even so, if Ewers is ready to go, Sarkisan’s emphasized that he will hand the keys back over to the junior quarterback.
Facing back-to-back unranked opponents followed by a bye week, the Longhorns and Ewers couldn’t have asked for a more friendly schedule for him to miss. Although Manning has proven to be capable of running the offense, it isn’t surprising that Sarkisian wants to start the quarterback, who helped blowout then-No.10 Michigan earlier in the season, in a historic rivalry contest.
Oklahoma-Texas historic meeting has been, and still is, the definition of what a rivalry has to offer — shoot, it’s already in the matchup’s name. Two of college football’s household names, the Longhorns and Sooners have met every year since 1929 and 23 times before that.
Saturday marks the 120th meeting between the two programs where Texas leads the series all-time 63-51-5.
Oklahoma has man-handled the last 10 matchups, though, winning eight of them. However, nine of these meetings have been decided by less than 10 points.
Here’s a look back at two of the most exciting games in the last 10 years:
Welcome to college football, Caleb Williams.
A contest filled with future first-round draft picks on both teams, Williams’ coming out party began after starter Spencer Rattler was benched in the second quarter.
Down by as much as 18 points in the third quarter, the future 2024 NFL Draft first overall pick and running back Kennedy Brooks willed the Sooners back, outscoring Texas 25-7 in the fourth quarter. With just 10 seconds left in regulation, the game was tied at 48 apiece.
That was just enough time for Brooks to call game.
The redshirt junior took the direct snap, faked the handoff to Williams and ran left. Finding a hole in the Longhorns defense, Brooks took off, leading to a 33-yard game-winning touchdown. Williams threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns while Brooks rushed for 217 yards and two touchdowns.
It still stands as the highest-scoring meeting between the two.
26 more days.🏈
Kennedy Brooks career numbers:
• 3,320 rushing yards
• 31 rushing touchdowns
• 7.0 YPC
• 1,000+ yards in all three seasons.
And of course that legendary moment against Texas. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/3mnCXwmHmz
Texas and Oklahoma’s seasons were at opposite ends of the spectrum before their meeting in Dallas.
The Longhorns were 1-4 while the Sooners were undefeated behind 2017 Heisman-winning quarterback Baker Mayfield. At the time, it was Texas’ worst start to a season in 59 years and were 16-point underdogs to the Sooners.
And that’s when the unthinkable happened.
Texas rushed for 313 yards behind 117 and 115 yards by running back D’ Onta Foreman and quarterback Jerrod Heard, respectively. The defense showed out, sacking Mayfield six times and holding OU’s electric offense to a season-low in points.
Although Oklahoma finished the regular season 11-1 and punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff, their one blemish comes from their rival across the border.
In the latest AP Top 25 Poll, Texas returns to the top of the food chain following Alabama’s loss to Vanderbilt, while Oklahoma moves up one spot into a three-way tie with Kansas State and Indiana. The Longhorns and Sooners are in bold.
