From 1984 to 2024, the Oklahoma Sooners Face the #1 Texas Longhorns Once Again

By Jay Berry

For the first time since 1984 , the Texas Longhorns (5-0) are entering the Red River Rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl as the top-ranked team in the country.

The name "Red River" comes from the reddish water of the river, which forms a natural border between the two states.

The 1984 Game

No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Oklahoma played in the rain and featured a fiery Barry Switzer , Oklahoma's head coach. Texas led 10-0 at halftime, but Oklahoma rallied to lead 15-12 with 10 seconds remaining. Texas quarterback Todd Dodge appeared to throw an interception in the end zone, but the officials ruled it incomplete. Texas kicker Jeff Ward then kicked a 32-yard field goal to tie the game.

The aftermath

Switzer was furious after the game, saying, "They took the game from us." Dodge later said, "It was pass interference anyway".

Other notable facts

Mack Brown, who would later become the head coach at the University of Texas and win a national championship, participated in the game as Oklahoma's offensive coordinator.

The 2024 Game

As mentioned, the Longhorns are ranked #1, while the Sooners enter the game at 4-1 and are ranked 18th. Texas is a two-touchdown favorite. Oklahoma's lack of offense is a significant reason for the large-point spread.

The Sooners' defense has come up big time and again early in the season, including Sooner magic in the fourth quarter against Auburn.

However, as the Sooners enter the difficult portion of the schedule, it's only realistic to think that the defense will wear out unless the offense can provide some support.

I'm looking forward to watching multiple matchups, one of which is Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks versus the Sooners defensive line.

Oklahoma's defensive line has been possibly the most dominant part of their team so far this season. They're solid on early downs and consistently create havoc. They spend as much time with the opponents' backfield as the quarterback and running backs of other teams. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but you get the point.

Meanwhile, Kelvin Banks is considered the best offensive tackle in college football this season. He is projected to be a first-round draft pick, and as a fan of the New England Patriots, who need a talented tackle for next year, I'm excited to see him match up against a top-quality defense.

The most crucial matchup of the game will be the Sooners' offensive line against the Longhorns' defensive line and linebackers. Oklahoma's offensive line has been its most significant weakness this season, along with numerous injuries at wide receiver.

Kickoff is at 3:30 PM Eastern , but the fun starts long before that at the Texas State Fair just outside the stadium. If the stakes weren't already high, this one has extra bragging rights as the first rivalry game between two teams as members of the SEC.