The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Saturday, October 9
Dallas, Texas
11 A.M. CT
University of Texas
vs
Oklahoma
No. 21/23 Football preview: vs. No. 6/5 Oklahoma
10.04.2021 | Football
The Longhorns and Sooners meet for the 117th time on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl.
No. 21/23 Texas (4-1, 2-0) vs. No. 6/5 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0)
October 9, 2021
Where: Dallas, Texas
Stadium: Cotton Bowl
Time: 11:00 a.m. CT
TV: ABC (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe)
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network (Craig Way, Roger Wallace, Will Matthews)
Spanish Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network (Dr. Rubén Pizarro-Silva, Jesus Mendoza)
National Radio: Westwood One (Mike Watts, Derek Rackley)
THE OPENING KICKOFF
- The University of Texas continues its 129th season of football on Saturday when the No. 21/23 Longhorns meet No. 6/5 Oklahoma for the 117th time on Saturday
- in a matchup of the Big 12's two most successful programs. The AT&T Red River Showdown, played in Dallas for the 93rd consecutive year, will kick off it the Cotton Bowl at 11 a.m. CT on ABC.
- Last week, Texas (4-1, 2-0) defeated TCU, 32-27, snapping a two-game losing streak to the Horned Frogs and winning in Fort Worth for the first time since 2013.
- Oklahoma improved to 5-0 on the year and 2-0 in conference with a 37-31 victory at Kansas State, the Sooners' first road contest of the year.
- Saturday's matchup in Dallas will be Texas' third consecutive 11 a.m. kickoff, with the Longhorns winning both of the previous games. In all, the Longhorns have played three day games this season with a 3-0 mark heading into Saturday's game.
- UT has scored 32 or more points in four of five games this season and in six of the last seven games overall.
- Texas currently boasts 927 all-time wins, the fourth-most in college football history. UT holds an all-time record of 927-379-33 (.705).
THE ALL-TIME SERIES
- There is no rivalry quite like the Texas-Oklahoma series, which is being played for the 117th time on Saturday. Texas is the only Big 12 program with a winning record against Oklahoma and leads the series, 62-49-5.
- The series, which began in 1900, has been played in Dallas since 1912 and at the State Fair since 1929. Saturday marks the 99th time the game will be played at a neutral site in Dallas.
- The first matchup between the two teams in 1900 ended with a 28-2 Longhorns' victory. Texas is the only Big 12 Conference team that holds an all-time series lead against the Sooners.
- Only Texas A&M (118 times) has played the Longhorns on more occasions. Since 1900, the only years Texas and Oklahoma have not played were 1918, '20, '21 and 1924-28.
A Texas Win Would ...
- Be Texas' 928th victory all-time, keeping UT as the fourth-winningest program in college football history.
- Improve the Longhorns to 63-49-5 all-time against Oklahoma.
- Give Steve Sarkisian his 51st victory as a head coach and fifth at The University of Texas.
- Give Texas a 5-1 mark under Steve Sarkisian, making Sarkisian the first Texas head coach to win five of his first six games since Fred Akers started 6-0 in 1977.
- Equal Sarkisian's best start to a season as a head coach at 5-1.
- Improve Sarkisian's record against programs representing the Big 12 to 4-2 and bring his record against teams currently in the Big 12 to 3-1.
The Captains
This season, Texas will be naming game captains on a weekly basis.
- LOUISIANA (Game 1): OL Derek Kerstetter, RB Roschon Johnson and LB DeMarvion Overshown.
- ARKANSAS (Game 2): TE Cade Brewer, K/P Cameron Dicker and DL Moro Ojomo.
- RICE (Game 3): OL Junior Angilau, DB B.J. Foster and WR Jordan Whittington
- TEXAS TECH (Game 4): DB Anthony Cook, RB Keilan Robinson and QB Casey Thompson
- TCU (Game 5): DL Keondre Coburn, OL Denzel Okafor and RB Bijan Robinson
Tracking the Red River Rivalry
- The higher-ranked team in the AP Top 25 has won 18 of the last 29 matchups (18-10-1) when at least one of the programs are ranked in the AP Top 25. Texas is responsible for eight of the 10 victories when the lower-ranked team pulls off the Red River upset.
- Texas has won the turnover battle in six of the last seven meetings with OU, with the two teams tying at one turnover apiece in the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game. The team that wins the turnover battle between Texas and OU is 13-6 since 2000.
- The last eight meetings between the Longhorns and Sooners have been decided by eight points or less after 15-straight years in which the annual matchup was decided by at least two scores (1999-2013). Texas leads the all-time series, 29-20-5, when the rivalry game is decided by one possession (eight points or less).
- The Longhorns have scored at least 20 points against Oklahoma 27 times since 1980, posting a 14-13-1 record in those instances. Texas is 8-2 during that stretch when scoring 30-plus points, and 3-2 when scoring at least 40 points against the Sooners. Conversely, UT is 16-9-2 when holding Oklahoma to under 30 points or less since 1980, and 12-3-1 when limiting the Sooners to no more than 20 points.
- The Longhorns are 5-3 since 2000 when averaging at least four yards per carry on offense vs. Oklahoma. UT is 3-0 when rushing for at least 200 yards and 0-7 when rushing for less than 100 yards against OU during that stretch.
- Since 1990, the team with a returning quarterback that has prior experience in the Red River Showdown is 14-4-1 against a team with a quarterback making his first start in the rivalry game.
Red River Rankings
- Saturday's matchup will pit the No. 21/23 Longhorns against the 6/5 Sooners. It marks the 23rd consecutive Red River Showdown in which at least one of the teams has been ranked and the 15th time in that span in which both teams will be ranked heading into the game.
- Before the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown, when Texas was ranked No. 19/20 and Oklahoma No. 7/5, the two teams had not met as ranked foes since 2012.
- Since 2000, the two teams have met as ranked foes 15 times. Oklahoma owns an advantage in such matchups, having won 11-of-15 contests against Texas.
- Before the 2018 Big 12 Championship Game, when No. 9/9 Texas met No. 5/5 Oklahoma, the last time the two teams were both ranked inside the Top 10 for a meeting was in 2008, when No. 5/5 Texas defeated No. 1/1 Oklahoma, 45-35.
"And we're coming to your city!"
- This year's AT&T Red River Showdown game will once again have the spotlight shining brightly on it by ESPN and the College GameDay crew. Details on the set location and other information will be available throughout the week on TexasSports.com and all of the Longhorn social media platforms, but it will mark the seventh time the GameDay set and its show have been a prominent fixture at the game. The last time was the 2018 thriller when Cameron Dicker's 40-yard field goal with 14 seconds remaining sealed a 48-45 Longhorn victory.
- Saturday's game will mark the 18th time that College GameDay will be on hand for a Longhorn Football game. The last time the hit ESPN show made an appearance in Austin was2019 when Texas hosted LSU.
- Texas is 10-7 all-time when the Horns are one of the teams in College GameDay's featured matchup, highlighted by a 5-2 mark when the show comes to the Forty Acres. The Horns and Sooners have split the previous six appearances at three apiece.
AT&T Red Ricer Showdown Traditions
- The Cotton Bowl: After the series ended following a game in Austin in 1923, the tradition of the two schools playing at the State Fair of Texas began in 1929 in an old wooden structure called Fair Park Stadium. The new structure, also called Fair Park Stadium, but renamed the Cotton Bowl in 1936, was built in time for the 1930 matchup. The first Texas-OU game played at "The Cotton Bowl" was in 1937. This year's Red River Showdown will be held in the Cotton Bowl for the 85th consecutive year.
- The Battle Line: One of the unique characteristics of the great rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma is the colors. Tickets are divided equally and the stadium is split in half (burnt orange and crimson) at the 50-yard line. As the home team in 2021, the Longhorns will wear their orange uniforms and occupy the west bench area (press box side).
- The Governor's Cup: The Governor's Cup is exchanged annually by the Governor of Texas (Greg Abbott) and the Governor of Oklahoma (Kevin Stitt) following the AT&T Red River Showdown. The tradition began when Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe donated the trophy, and each year it is transported from the office of the previous year's winning governor to Dallas. Following the game, the trophy will once again be engraved with the winner after the game and housed in the office of the winning governor for the year.
- The Golden Hat: To the victor goes the Golden Hat, a rotating trophy given annually to the winner of the Texas-Oklahoma game. A gold cowboy hat that is mounted on a large block of wood, it has been part of the rivalry since the State Fair of Texas donated it in 1941. When the hat first arrived, it was known as the "Bronze Hat" and was actually made out of bronze. The hat was reworked in the 1970s and came out gold, hence the name change to the "Golden Hat."
Texas Fight Rally & Parade
- A tradition since 1916, the Texas Fight Rally & Parade is a popular student event held every year before the Texas vs. OU game and is run by the Texas Exes.
- Each year, Longhorn students gather at the Main Mall in front of the Tower where the crowd of students, faculty, alumni and fans hear from the Longhorn football coaches and players.
- The event features performances by UT Cheer & Pom and the Longhorn Band, as well as photo opportunities with Smokey the Cannon and Hook 'Em.
- This year's parade begins at 7:30 p.m. on Guadalupe between 25th and 21st Streets with the rally taking place at the Tower at 8 p.m.
Full Steam Ahead
- The running backs ran wild in Texas' 58-0 win over Rice with three Longhorns breaking runs for over 60 yards, the first time in program history that three different players have registered rushes of over 60 yards in the same game.
- Junior Roschon Johnson started things off with a 72-yard jaunt for a score in the first quarter and sophomore Bijan Robinson followed with a 62-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Not to be out done, sophomore Keilan Robinson added a 65-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.
- Texas finished the game with a program-single-game record 10.4 yards per carry (41 carries for 427 yards).
- The last time Texas had three different players with a run of 60 yards or more in a season was 2004. Romance Taylor had a 74-yard touchdown run in the season opener against North Texas and Cedric Benson busted a 60-yard run at Arkansas the following week. Vince Young added one of his own with a 60-yard run in the Rose Bowl against Michigan.
- Texas' previous season with at least three runs of 60 yards took place in 2015, when D'Onta Foreman had three (Kansas – 93 yards, Oklahoma – 81 yards, West Virginia – 65 yards) and Chris Warren III had one (Texas Tech – 91 yards).
- The last time there were three plays of 60 or more yards in a single game occurred against Oklahoma in 2005 when Jamaal Charles ran 80 yards for a touchdown, Rodrique Wright scored on a 67-yard fumble return and Vince Young connected with Billy Pittman for a 64-yard touchdown pass.
- In addition to three players busting 60-plus yard runs, four different players rushed for touchdowns against Rice, with freshman Jonathon Brooks joining the trio with a 17-yard score in the fourth quarter.
Breaking Big Plays
- Texas has registered 600 yards of offense in each of their two games (620 vs. Rice/639 vs. Tech). That's just the second time in school history that the Longhorns have had back-to-back 600-yard games. UT had 3-straight 600-yard games in 2005 (606 vs. Oklahoma State/645 vs. Baylor/617 vs. Kansas). The 1,259 yards over two games are the second-most yards in a two-game stretch in UT history.
- Texas rushed for 427 yards against Rice and 346 against Texas Tech, the first time rushing for more than 300 yards in back-to-back games since 2016 against Cal (307) and Oklahoma State (329).
- The Longhorns surpassed 300 yards passing and 300 yards rushing on the day, which was last accomplished against Colorado in the 2020 Alamo Bowl.
Passing on Punts
- Against Rice and Texas Tech, the Longhorns did not attempt a single punt, the first time in program history that UT had not punted in consecutive games.
- Between a punt following their first drive of the second half against Arkansas and an early second quarter punt at TCU, the Longhorns went 29 consecutive drives without attempting a punt, the third longest streak since 2005.
- The Longhorns streak included 10 full quarters without attempting a punt.
- The only other season in which Texas had two games with zero punt attempts was in 2011 (vs. Texas Tech, at Baylor).
Bijan Breaking Through
- Sophomore RB Bijan Robinson has been on a roll this season, racking up yards at an astonishing rate. In five games this season, he has 663 yards on 105 carries (6.2 ypc) and seven touchdowns to go along with 10 receptions for 167 yards and two more scores. In 115 plays this season he has 830 yards for 7.2 yards per play and nine touchdowns.
- Robinson has rushed for at least 100 yards in three-straight games and four games this season. He has surpassed the century mark in seven of his last nine games, with the Longhorns sporting a 7-0 record when he eclipses 100 yards.
- He has scored a touchdown in seven straight games, totaling 15 in all during the stretch (11 rushing and four receiving) with multiple touchdowns in five of those games.
- Over his last nine games, Robinson has totaled 1,174 yards on 152 carries (7.72 ypc) with 11 touchdowns, while hauling in 18 receptions for 296 yards (16.44 ypc) and scoring four touchdowns. All told, he has 1,470 yards on 170 plays for 8.64 yards per play and 15 touchdowns.
- Against TCU, Robinson established career highs with 35 carries and 216 yards (6.2 ypc), scoring two touchdowns and catching two passes for 22 yards. He also set a personal-best with 238 all-purpose yards.
- Robinson's 216 yards on the ground are the 21st-most in UT history and was the 37th time a Longhorn had surpassed the 200-yard mark. He was the 13th individual to accomplish the feat and first since D'Onta Foreman against Texas Tech in 2016.
Thompson at the Helm
- Junior QB Casey Thompson is making the most of his opportunity since being named the starter in week three against Rice.
- Thompson has guided Texas to victories in each of his first three career starts, the first Longhorn to begin his career 3-0 since Garrett Gilbert in 2010.
- Completed 12-of-22 passes for 142 yards and one touchdown in leading the Longhorns past TCU, UT's first win in Fort Worth since 2013, surpassing 1,000 career passing yards in his 12th career game.
- Garnered Maxwell Award Player of the Week and Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week honors, was named a Manning Award Star of the Week and earned a spot on the Davey O'Brien Award's Great 8 list following his second-ever start against Texas Tech.
- The junior took it to another level against Texas Tech, completing 18-of-23 passes and establishing career highs with 303 passing yards and five touchdowns, while also carrying the ball seven times for 29 yards and a touchdown.
- In all, Thompson accounted for six touchdowns against Texas Tech, tied for second-most in a single game in UT history. His five touchdown passes also tied for second in program history.
- In his first career start against Rice, Thompson completed 15-of-18 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns.
- He threw for 467 yards in his first two career starts, the fifth-most by a Longhorn quarterback.
- In 2021, Thompson has connected on 54-of-76 passes (71.1 percent) for 707 yards and nine touchdowns and carried the ball 24 times for 115 yards (4.8 ypc) and three scores.
Casey Creating Points
- Thompson is leading Texas to the end zone at an exceptional rate. In the 34 drives he has led this season, the Longhorns have scored 26 times with 21 touchdowns, including a streak of 11 consecutive touchdown drives the ended against Texas Tech.
- Since entering at the beginning of the second half in last season's Valero Alamo Bowl for then-senior QB Sam Ehlinger, Thompson has guided 39 Texas drives with the Longhorns scoring on 31 of them including 25 touchdowns (13 passing and 12 rushing) and six field goals.
Dicker the Kicker
- Senior K Cameron Dicker has made 53 of his 71 career field goal attempts. He was 15-for-21 on field goals in 2020, and made 50-of-51 PATs.
- Against TCU, Dicker connected on a career-best four field goals, finishing 4-for-4 on the day while also making good on both of his PAT attempts to extend his streak of successful tries to 46 straight.
- In Texas' victory over Rice, Dicker was successful on all 10 of his extra point attempts, equaling the UT single-game records for both attempts and successful tries.
- Dicker went 3-for-3 on extra point attempts against Arkansas, bringing his career scoring total to 309 points.
- Dicker currently stands fifth on the Longhorns' all-time scoring list and third in scoring among kickers with 338 career points, one point behind Phil Dawson on both lists.
Dynamic DeMarvion
- Senior LB DeMarvion Overshown has played in 32 games and made 17 starts during his collegiate career.
- He has recorded 123 tackles (71 solo), 17 tackles for loss, three sacks, 10 pass breakups, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and two recovered in that span.
- In Texas' victory over TCU, Overshown registered 10 tackles, including a career-best eight solo tackles, for his second game of 10 or more tackles on the season.
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