Here are five thoughts on Texas’ 23-6 win over No. 6 Oklahoma in Saturday’s Red River Rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl.
The issues
Texas remains in the game.
The Longhorns are no slouch, at least, now with a 4-2 record two games into the Southeastern Conference opener. Their loss to a disheveled Florida program last week put their College Football Playoff hopes in crisis mode. Their win Saturday against the nation’s sixth-ranked team certainly leaves their window open to the conference title game and could potentially move them back into the AP Top 25 poll.
Texas has now won three of the last four games against Oklahoma. Saturday’s victory marked its first consecutive victory in the series since 2008-09. Since then, the Sooners have had winning streaks of two, three and four games.
The turning point
The Longhorns held a one-score lead entering the fourth quarter. Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer, a Little Elm alum, tried to change that with his legs.
Mateer sprinted down the sideline for a 33-yard run on the third play of the fourth quarter to pull Oklahoma into the red zone. The play was called back due to a catch by Kent Carson, and on the next snap, Mateer threw his third interception of the day on a lazy pass that Texas cornerback Graceson Littleton recovered.
The Longhorns went three-and-out on the ensuing drive and Mason Shipley missed a 56-yard field goal attempt to end it. On Oklahoma’s next drive, however, Mateer threw a backwards pass that was fumbled out of bounds for a 13-yard loss to condemn the possession.
The Sooners were forced to punt two plays later; Receiver Ryan Niblett returned it 75 yards for a touchdown that gave the Longhorns a 20-6 lead with 9:59 to play. Oklahoma then turned the ball over on downs on its next possession to clinch the victory for Texas.
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Manning vs. Mateer
Texas quarterback Arch Manning outperformed his peers on the sideline after a week of scrutiny. He completed 21 of 27 pass attempts for just 166 yards and a touchdown, didn’t turn the ball over and still had to operate with an offensive line and running game that weren’t quite up to par.
Mateer – out since September 20 due to a thumb injury – returned for the rivalry game but hardly looked comfortable or in control. He threw three interceptions and gave the Longhorns opportunities for at least two more in the second half. The Washington State transfer completed 17 of 31 pass attempts for 167 yards.
Offensive line play
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledged during his pregame press conference that his team’s offensive line needs to “play better.”
The Longhorns might have an offense to work with if they can consistently. There were moments of that reality during Saturday’s game. Like, for example, when the offensive line came up high in the third quarter and gave Manning a clean pocket in the red zone.
Manning, with few seconds to breathe, was able to find DeAndre Moore Jr. open in the end zone for a 10-6 lead and the first touchdown of the game with 7:49 left in the quarter. The Longhorns also had four runs of over five yards on this drive to help set it up.
It only took half a football to do it. Oklahoma’s defensive line intimidated the Longhorns in the first half and totaled six tackles for loss before halftime. That doesn’t include the two penalties — a false starting flag and a hold — that stranded them on their first drive of the game.
Manning was often under pressure and the Longhorns were largely limited to quick passes at the line of scrimmage and on screens. Only a third of the throws he completed in the first half went for 10 yards or more and only one — a 24-yarder to Moore on a first-quarter drive that ended in a punt — could have been classified as a big play.
Hometown Heroes
Texas cornerback Malik Muhammad played high school football in South Oak Cliff, about 20 minutes from the Cotton Bowl, and won two historic 5A divisions. II state championships before college.
No wonder he looked so comfortable Saturday afternoon.
Muhammad intercepted Mateer twice in the first half to help hold the Sooners to just two field goals. He cut a route to intercept Mateer near midfield with 3:39 left in the first quarter. In the second, less than a minute before halftime, the Sooners were within field goal range, but Mateer attempted a questionable throw into the end zone from 30 yards out. Muhammad followed it and grabbed it as a good catch to send the Longhorns into the locker room up three.
The junior defensive back missed last Saturday’s loss to Florida due to injury.
Photos: Arch Manning dons Golden Hat, bids farewell to OU fans after Cotton Bowl win
More from Texas-OU
– 5 thoughts on Texas-Oklahoma: Arch Manning outplays John Mateer in Red River upset
— Arch Manning wasn’t flashy, but Texas’ streamlined offensive approach was effective against OU
– Turns out reports of the Texas Longhorns’ demise were premature after Oklahoma’s loss
– Oklahoma’s offense struggled against Texas, but Brent Venables’ defense didn’t do them any favors
– How Texas QB Arch Manning performed in Red River Rivalry’s first start against Oklahoma
– Texas defense continues dominant streak against Oklahoma offenses in Red River Rivalry win
– Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer says there’s ‘no excuse’ for returning struggles against Texas
— Texas-OU National Reaction: Arch Manning bids farewell to Oklahoma in Red River Rivalry
— Glen Powell Q&A: Longhorn fandom, advice from Matthew McConaughey and his next film
– Watch: Texas’ Ryan Niblett returns punt 75 yards for TD vs. Oklahoma
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