Red River Rivalry, Red River Showdown, Red River Shootout, or the Red River Classic, call it what you want, but it is that time of the year in Dallas, Texas, this Saturday! Everything is bigger in Texas, and nothing is bigger in college football than the Red River Rivalry! Texas vs. Oklahoma!
It all takes place on the grounds of the Texas State Fair at the Cotton Bowl. So grab your cowboy boots and your best ten-gallon hat, double fist some corndogs, and prepare yourself for the knock-down, drag-out, ultimate football rivalry! The Red River Showdown is the best rivalry in college football!
The Cotton Bowl
The Red River Rivalry comes from the Red River, which serves as a border between the two states. This historic rivalry began in 1900, and the Longhorns hold all the cards with a series record of 62-50-5. Texas and Oklahoma played in Austin and Norman until 1912; then, the game was moved to Dallas.
The series ended between the Longhorns and Sooners in 1923. In 1929, the rivalry was renewed and scheduled to be played annually during the Texas State Fair at an old wooden structure called Fair Park Stadium. A new structure was built in time for the 1930 season, also called Fair Park Stadium, but would later be named “The Cotton Bowl” in 1936. The first Texas-Oklahoma game played at “The Cotton Bowl” was in 1937. The Cotton Bowl tradition continues this weekend when these teams go head-to-head in this showdown!
Oklahoma Struggles
Oklahoma Sooners lost 55-24 to Texas Christian University Horned Frogs last Saturday. The Sooners struggled in the worst conference loss for the program in eight years. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who completed 7 of 16 passes for 126 yards, left the game due to a head injury that he suffered on a scramble in the second quarter. Transfer backup quarterback Davis Beville entered the game in Gabriel’s place after the play. TCU out-gained Oklahoma in total yards (668 to 355), and Frogs quarterback Max Duggan threw for five total touchdowns.
TCU defender Jamoi Hodge was ejected for this hit on Dillon Gabriel
— PFF College (@PFF_College) October 1, 2022
Massive Fall in the Polls
After being destroyed by the Horned Frogs, the Sooners, who have been ranked for 31 consecutive polls, had back-to-back losses which dropped them from No. 6 to unranked this week. The Sooners are embarrassed and looking to gain back some respect this weekend against the Longhorns. Dillon Gabriel’s status is uncertain for this game, but it is the Red River Rivalry, so anything goes! Both teams are unranked at this time, but the rivalry runs deep, and both teams will come in with something to prove! Pride!
Card’s Career Game
Short of a last-second setback entering Saturday’s matchup with Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, Quinn Ewers will be back as the starting quarterback. Hudson Card will return to his backup role, and Texas might be headed toward being front-runners in the Big 12.
Card had the game of his career, and the Austin native played his heart out. He found Xavier Worthy for a 15-yard score in the first quarter. Then, he connected with Sanders for a 13-yard touchdown to make it 28-0 in the second quarter. Card completed passes, kept the chains moving, and didn’t record a turnover. He hit career-highs with a 77.8% completion percentage, 303 passing yards, and three touchdown passes in a game.
This is just tremendous work from Hudson Card.
One of the best plays we have seen from him for my money’s worth. pic.twitter.com/a6a9L8oilo
— CJ Vogel (@CJVogel_TFB) October 3, 2022
Longhorns Prevail
Bijan Robinson coming off of his redemption game, had a solid 101 yards rushing with one touchdown. No matter the starting quarterback, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian should take advantage and get Robinson 25-30 touches against Oklahoma’s scorched defense.
Vegas has Texas as 6.5-point favorites to win the Rivalry, but only time will tell this Saturday in Dallas. Last year Oklahoma erased a 21-point deficit and had the largest comeback victory in Red River Rivalry history, 55-48. Shootouts are always expected in games like this, so no one is counted out until the end!
I have had the pleasure of being in Dallas for this Rivalry game multiple years in a row, and the energy in Dallas is electric! The fans are everywhere, the bars are loud with cheers, and in the end, it is always one hell of a ride! My favorite weekend in Dallas and the best rivalry in college football! Hook’em Horns!
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