The Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma doesn't need any more fuel to the century-old fire. But that's exactly what they're getting when they meet for the Big 12 Championship on Saturday.
For only the third time in history, the schools will meet for a second time in one season. They met twice in 1901, and then again in 1903 when they each played a home game. Now the Red River Rematch will take place at Jerry World in Arlington, about a half an hour from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, where Texas won, 48-45, earlier this season.
It would be easy to say more than bragging rights are on the line for this game, but the outcome will be pivotal in the college landscape. If the Sooners win, and either Georgia or Clemson lose Saturday, then the Sooners will most likely claim one of the final four playoff spots. If Texas wins, then it would help the case for Ohio State leap frogging into the playoffs.
Either way, here are some other things to consider when No. 14 Texas plays the No. 5 Sooners:
Oklahoma could win its fourth-consecutive conference title game
Texas could win its first conference championship game since the 2009 season
The first meeting in October was a typical Red River slugfest. Texas led, 24-17, at the half and rolled to a 45-24 lead by the fourth quarter. Oklahoma scored 21-consecutive points in the final frame before Texas engineered a drive to set up a game-winning field goal by freshman kicker Cameron Dicker.
Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray looks to bolster his Heisman status with another big game. The Sooners have only one loss this season — to the hated Texas Longhorns. They would love revenge.
Texas, after losing the season opener at Maryland, has reeled off some impressive wins this season. Their only losses were last-minute, high-scoring clashes against Oklahoma State and West Virginia.
If the rematch is as good on the field as it looks on paper — or computer screen — then it should be another dandy.
2018 Big 12 Championship
Texas vs. Oklahoma
AT&T Stadium • Arlington, Texas
Time: Noon ET/9 a.m. PT
TV Channel: ABC
Satellite Radio: Sirius Stations
(Texas Announcers - 199), (OU Announcers - 84), (National - 80)
Live Streaming: Watch Live with fuboTV – Try Free Trial; or ESPN3
Odds: Oklahoma -8; over/under 78 (Vegas Insider)
KEY MATCHUP:
Texas offense vs. Oklahoma defense
Just to get it out there, the Oklahoma offense will score gobs of points. The Sooners also give up tons of points, but manage to usually outscore their opponent with Heisman-hopeful Kyler Murray at quarterback. The Sooners defense has allowed 40 or more points in each of their last four games, and gave up the 48 to Texas at the Cotton Bowl in October.
The Texas offense has looked very good this season, at times. They've also looked rather bland and predictable, at times. The Oklahoma defense, on the other hand, has pretty much looked absent from games lately.
The Texas offensive line will need its best game of the season to give sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger time to operate. Ehlinger has completed 233-of-362 passes for 2,774 yards with 23 touchdowns this season, and he has rushed for 376 yards and 11 touchdowns. His 314 passing yards in October were the fourth-most ever by a Longhorn against Oklahoma.
The Longhorns have three sure-handed receivers with Lil' Jordan Humphrey, Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay, and they have a two-pronged rushing attack with Tre Watson and Keontay Ingram.
On the other side, Oklahoma has its own 1-2 punch at linebacker with sophomore Kenneth Murray and senior Curtis Bolton, who each have more than 100 tackles — only the second time this has happened in the last 16 years. Murray has 133 tackles this season, and recorded an FBS record 28 against Army.
Game Notes:
- This is the third time in history OU and Texas have played twice in the same season. The last time was 1903, when the teams traded home games that season.
- OU is going for an unprecedented four-straight Big 12 championship game titles while Texas hopes to win its first conference title since 2009.
- Texas is the only Big 12 program with an all-time winning record against Oklahoma. The Longhorns lead the series 62-46-5.
Prediction:
Oklahoma beat writer Berry Tramel (The Oklahoman): Oklahoma 38, Texas 35
"I always pick the OU-Texas winner based on whoever won the previous meeting. But that never counted on a championship rematch. So I'm not going to hold myself to that mandate. My Big 12 efficiency projections say 38-35; I never use them for my predictions, and the score seems awfully low, but hey, live a little."
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Scott McDonald is a Newsweek deputy night editor based in Cape Coral, Florida. His focus is assigning and writing stories ... Read more
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