The 2024 Red River Rivalry was all about Texas football.
The No. 1 Longhorns (6-0, 2-0 SEC) dominated No. 16 Oklahoma (4-2, 1-2) at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on Saturday, winning 34-3 to improve to 6-0 for the first time since 2009.
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The Sooners’ offensive woes continued, as they finished with 236 yards on 69 plays. They failed to score the remainder of the game after converting a field goal on their second possession. Texas’ offense was the exact opposite, gaining 406 total yards against Oklahoma’s stout defense.
Quarterback Quinn Ewers was efficient in his return from injury after missing parts of the past three games, completing 20 of 29 passes for 199 yards with a touchdown to an interception, also rushing for a 1-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Longhorns’ rushing attack was a nice surprise, as the group ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries as a team on Saturday.
Texas certainly looked like the No. 1-ranked team in the country on Saturday, with Oklahoma hoping to desperately find some offense the rest of the season.
Here’s the updates and highlights from Texas’ big 34-3 win over Oklahoma on Saturday:
This section will be updated.
Oklahoma had a goal-line chance late in the fourth quarter to try for its first touchdown of the game but couldn’t convert as the clock ran out. Texas wins the 2024 Red River Rivalry 34-3 in dominant fashion.
Longhorns pull off a trick play double pass the play after forcing a turnover, which sets up a 1-yard touchdown run by Ewers. Texas leads 34-3 late in the fourth quarter.
Receiver Matthew Golden caught a pass behind the line of scrimmage and fired a pass downfield for tight end Gunnar Helm, who climbed the ladder over Oklahoma safety Robert Spears-Jennings.
Sooners don’t have much choice but to go for it on fourth down with a 27-3 deficit, but Hawkins Jr. throws it away on fourth-and-3 and turns it over on downs.
Longhorns extend lead to 27-3 on the 27-yard field goal by Bert Auburn. Oklahoma regains possession with over 7:30 left in the fourth quarter.
Texas’ Silas Bolden with a big play, returning Oklahoma’s punt 61 yards to the Sooners’ 18-yard line. Texas is in full control.
Longhorns aren’t able to get back in the end zone but have burned a lot of clock offensively in the third quarter. Texas caps off its 11-play, 45-yard drive with a field goal by Bert Auburn to take a 24-3 lead. Texas held the ball for 5:35 of game clock there.
Texas turns it over on downs after attempting a fourth-and-2 try from Oklahoma’s 10-yard line. Sooners with a nice goal-line stand, but will need to make some plays offensively here backed up in their own territory.
Sooners just can’t get anything going offensively. Their 18-point deficit feels like much more given their inability to move the ball so far.
Texas attempted a 44-yard field goal with seven seconds before halftime, and Bert Auburn missed it.
Auburn got two chances, as he missed the first attempt, but Oklahoma coach Brent Venables called a timeout just before the kick. Auburn then missed it again.
Two plays, two fumbles for the Sooners. Oklahoma’s first play after allowing the touchdown is another fumble, as freshman Taylor Tatum has the ball punched out after gaining a first down.
Longhorns regain possession and things are turning disastrous for Oklahoma.
Longhorns take 21-3 lead on a 35-yard touchdown run by Tre Wisner. Texas needed just one play after forcing a turnover to go up 18 points with 1:40 until halftime.
Hawkins Jr. takes a designed run, but is tackled from behind by Anthony Hill and fumbles.
Longhorns get the ball back on Oklahoma’s 35-yard line.
Longhorns with a pair of long plays, as Ewers hits Ryan Wingo for a 44-yard gain before Wisner runs 20 yards for a touchdown. Wisner fumbled just before reaching paydirt, but the ball was recovered by Silas Bolden for a touchdown.
Texas takes a 14-3 lead with 2:21 remaining before halftime.
Sooners offense can’t get anything going, as Hawkins Jr. and the unit continue to struggle to put together solid drives.
Sooners get bailed out on third-and-8 after Texas was called for holding, but it doesn’t matter as Oklahoma is forced to punt right after moving the chains.
Oklahoma needs a stop here to keep this game in check.
Longhorns put together a good drive, sparked by a few plays. Ewers hit Gunnar Helm on a tight end screen for a 7-yard touchdown to take a 7-3 lead.
Helm also made a 21-yard catch on the drive after evading an Oklahoma tackler and breaking free for a solid gain. Ewers was 6 of 7 for 65 yards and a touchdown that series after going three-and-out on Texas’ first three possessions.
Sooners take a 3-0 lead on a 42-yard field goal by Tyler Keltner. Oklahoma had a decent drive there, going 38 yards in 11 plays in 4:42 of game time.
Texas goes three-and-out again, as Danny Stutsman had a big tackle for loss on first down. Ewers looks out of sync early.
Ewers misses another open receiver on third-and-3, and the Longhorns go three-and-out for the second consecutive series. Oklahoma defense has been strong so far.
Sooners can’t capitalize on the turnover, as they get one first down before attempting a 44-yard field goal, which Tyler Keltner missed.
Ewers had an open receiver on third-and-14, but he overthrows the receiver, and the pass is intercepted by Billy Bowman. Great start for the Sooners defense.
Texas wants to set the tone early, electing to receive after winning the coin toss. Here we go.
SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has made it to Dallas for the Red River Rivalry. The 2024 edition marks the first between both opponents as SEC foes.
Hawkins Jr., who’s set to be the first true freshman quarterback in Oklahoma history to start in the Red River Rivalry, is getting ready for the biggest game of his life:
Important development: Bevo has made it inside the Cotton Bowl.
Here’s a look at Oklahoma’s scene setter, narrated by Caleb Followill, the lead singer of Kings of Leon:
Texas-Oklahoma will air live on ABC, with streaming options available on the ESPN app or ESPN+.
The 2024 Red River Rivalry will kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 12, from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Here’s the series record for the Red River Rivalry, which has been played since 1900:
Here are score predictions for the game, courtesy of the Austin American-Statesman and The Oklahoman:
Cedric Golden: Texas 35, Oklahoma 17. The Sooners have a terrific defense but won’t be able to keep up with the Longhorns. Quinn Ewers comes back and shakes off some early rust to keep the SEC title train on the tracks.
Thomas Jones: Texas 38, Oklahoma 13. Barring a flurry of turnovers, the Longhorns should cruise against a Sooner squad struggling to find its offensive identity.
David Eckert: Texas 28, Oklahoma 14. Texas will win this game comfortably if it wins the turnover battle. With Quinn Ewers likely back under center and a freshman in Michael Hawkins Jr. quarterbacking the Sooners, that feels likely.
Ryan Aber: Texas 24, Oklahoma 20. OU’s defense stands strong, but Arch Manning comes off the bench to throw for a touchdown late to lift the top-ranked Longhorns to victory. The Sooners’ offense shows some life under Michael Hawkins Jr., but it isn’t quite enough as the Longhorns hold on.
Jenni Carlson: Texas 27, Oklahoma 10. Texas’ size and strength on the lines of scrimmage is too much for OU. Michael Hawkins settles in, plays fairly clean, gives Sooners offensive hope moving forward.
Joe Mussatto: Texas 38, OU 13. OU’s offense sputters again, this time with no one to turn to. Quinn Ewers and the ‘Horns reveal cracks in Sooner defense.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Saturday, Oct. 12
Injuries courtesy of Friday night’s SEC availability report update:
Here’s a look at the Sooners’ full 2024 football schedule, including dates, times and television designations:
All times Eastern.
*Denotes SEC game
Here’s a look at the Longhorns’ full 2024 football schedule, including dates, times and television designations:
All times Eastern.
*Denotes SEC game
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