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DALLAS â Sooners fans, I feel you. Itâs Red River time. And Texas is struggling. Blood in the water!
This is the kind of moment a special season is built on.
Oklahoma comes in ranked No. 6, and even with the Longhorns stumbling right out of the Top 25, adding another win to this 5-0 record (1-0 SEC) could validate everything.
Undefeated into October is something, no matter what âtheyâ have to say about it.
These 2025 Sooners have won with two QBs who, on a good day, both look they could be capable of beating Texas in its current condition.
Saturday will be a pivotal moment for both programs.
For the Sooners, this is a chance to hit 6-0 and start looking at some of the bigger prizes in the stretch run, maybe a path to the SEC title game and the playoff conversation beyond that.
For unranked Texas, this could be a get-right game: Regain momentum for a win here, and maybe claw back into the Top 25.
Hype vs. reality
The rivalry element is always a factor, and beyond that, complications abound.
QB1 John Mateer had thumb surgery, and his return timetable is still unclear. Heâs pushing to be back for Red River, but letâs not take that as a certainty.
Michael Hawkins Jr. is expected to start again if Mateer canât go. Thatâs a big ask against Texas. Or are the Longhorns truly in shambles?
On one hand, Texas dropped out of the AP Top 25 after losing to Florida last week. On the other hand, with a $40-million roster, can they really be this bad?
Keys vs. Texas
Regardless of who the Sooners have at QB on Saturday, the raw talent of the Texas roster demands Oklahoma dominate these keys to the game:
Control the line on both sides. If Texas dominates the trenches, theyâll dictate tempo, time-of-possession, and force Hawkins (or Mateer) to make plays under pressure. Oklahoma must win or, at the very minimum, compete at the point of attack. The battle up front will decide whether the Soonersâ offense stays on schedule. Deep water tends to favor an underdog playing with nothing to lose.
Win the turnover ratio. If Texas fields a remotely cohesive game plan, the talent is there for this one to hinge on mistakes. If the Sooners start Hawkins, playing it too safe or missing some opportunities could have the same effect. What seems like the best opening for Oklahoma is the Soonersâ defense against struggling Texas QB Arch Manning. Baiting, disguising, and creating Longhorns turnovers would put Oklahoma in a great position on Saturday.
High-percentage offense. Texas may have to lean on defense, given its inconsistent QB play. Oklahoma will have to pick its spots. Tempo could be a great tactical tool to wear out the Texas defense and prevent Manning from tilting possession time in the Longhornsâ favor.
If Oklahoma nails those three, they give themselves a real path to Red River victory.
The early SEC race
Regardless of whatever impact the Longhornsâ freefall may have on Oklahomaâs strength of schedule, a win here would give the Sooners the massive boost of a 6-0 start and their second SEC win. That would put OU not just in the conference race, but right in the pack of early leaders.
This midseason stretch is a crucial time for teams to maintain momentum. The teams that keep rolling through October have a seat at the table at least. And teams that continue to flounder the way Texas has, well, their postseason ceiling is pretty low before the November playoff conversations even start.
If OU can win in Dallas under rivalry pressure and with QB questions, thereâll be reason to start feeling strong about the stretch run. And a 6-0 record to back it up.
The bottom line
Sooners fans, there are questions coming into this one, I get it. But by kickoff, ban the doubts. Trust the plan. Believe in the line, believe in the defense, believe in Brent Venables to game-manage this showdown.
Undefeated coming into October leaves a lot of doors open for this 2025 Oklahoma squad.
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