Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns Red River Showdown

It is the 2023 Red River Showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns. The 12th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners travel to Austin, Texas. They take on the 3rd-ranked Longhorns. Both teams entered undefeated for the first time since 2011 with championship expectations. The Longhorns lead the all-time series 63-50. Oklahoma has won four of the last five matchups, but change could be on the horizon.

 

Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns – From the Big 12 to the SEC

Changes in the Big 12 are causing ripple effects throughout college football. This is the last year the Red River Showdown gets played in the Big 12. Next year, both teams play for the SEC. This change is more significant than realignment. It changes how they build their respective teams.

 

Building Oklahoma’s Defense

For Oklahoma, it starts with their defense. On December 5, 2021, Oklahoma hired Clemson’s defensive coordinator, Brent Venables. They did this to stabilize a program that lost Lincoln Riley to USC. Venables came as a former Oklahoma DC. Because of this, he brought familiarity, experience, and recruiting to the program. This is important as Venables was an inverse of Riley. He consistently led some of the top defensive units at Clemson. Before Venables, the defense was one of Oklahoma’s shortcomings.

 

Oklahoma Defense Back on Track

Last year, Oklahoma struggled to adjust with a first-time head. Now, Oklahoma has its defense back on track. They are in the top four in points allowed, only giving up 10.8 points per game. While some are skeptical due to their lack of competition, Oklahoma gave up 29.6 points per game last year. Including losing to Texas on a 49-0 shutout in 2022, which they hope started a shift in momentum.

 

Texas Longhorns Strong

For Texas, competition has not been a question. The Longhorns have the best resume in College Football. The Longhorns had a win over Alabama and another top-25 win over Kansas last week. The newfound dominance starts with their physicality on both sides of the ball. They sacked Alabama five times and have nine tackles for a loss. While they only gave up two tackles for a loss on the offensive side of the ball. They were more physical than an Alabama program. Alabama continues to dominate the sport on both lines. 

 

A Texas Turning Point

The game against Alabama was the only game that the opposing team was able to score over two touchdowns. While on offense each game, they have scored over 30 points. The win over Alabama symbolized a turning point for the program after coming up short last year. The expectation is no longer to win the Big 12 but a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Texas begins its transition to moving to the SEC. It has embraced philosophies from the top teams in the conference. With Texas only having two offensive linemen drafted in the last 15 years, it was time for a change. 

 

Steve Sarkisian

On January 2, 2021, Texas hired Steve Sarkisian, the former Alabama offensive coordinator. He was fresh off a national championship. Sarkisian is best known for creative playcalling and drawing up plays for skill players. Balanced against that, he emphasized something different with the Longhorns. After being under Nick Saban’s tutelage for a second time, the realization hit him. He saw the difference that having size on the offensive and defensive lines could make. One of his top priorities was to add Alabama’s offensive line coach, Kyle Flood, to his staff.

 

Texas Building Defense Line

Along with Flood, he was able to add Bo Davis as his defensive line coach. Davis has experience coaching with Alabama and in the NFL. This was not a recruiting tactic. This was to help build both sides of the line.

 

Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns – What to Watch

There are plenty of key players in this game. 

• The Longhorns’ offense features quarterback Quinn Ewers. He is in his second year in the offense. As a top recruit, there are high expectations for him. 
• Texas also slid in, adding Adonai Mitchell from the Georgia Bulldogs. He is now part of one of the best-receiving cores along with Xavier Worthy and Ja’tavion Sanders. 
• Oklahoma’s offense features quarterback Dillon Gabriel. He is in the top 5 in almost every category, with Oklahoma having three 50-point games.

 

The Playmakers

There are many playmakers on both sides. But there is more. Oklahoma’s defense vs. Texas’ running back, Jonathon Brooks, is worth watching. It is easy to overlook Brooks as a feature part of this offense because he had to wait his turn as running back. Brooks waited before beginning this year. He was behind top recruit Cedric Baxter Jr. After Baxter got injured in Week 1 against Rice, Brooks emerged as the lead back. Brooks is third in the FBS with 596 yards. In the last three games, Brooks has rushed for 164, 106, and 218 yards. He has had runs of 67, 54, 61, and 40 yards. Since 2009, Sarkasian’s offense has featured a 1,000-yard rusher. Brooks looks to continue that trend. While Baxter has a bright future ahead of him, Texas has found its next star running back.

 

Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns – Shifting Sands

Change continues shifting the college football landscape. These two programs prove that reinventing is not always a bad thing.

Join us at University Foot-ball to see how this year’s Red River Showdown will play out.

Author: Tarohn Finley