DALLAS — In a thrilling Red River Rivalry game, Quinn Ewers made a strong return from injury, guiding the top-ranked Texas Longhorns to a decisive 34-3 victory against the 18th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday. Ewers showcased his skills by passing for 199 yards with a pivotal touchdown and added another score on the ground, marking a triumphant comeback as both teams competed as members of the Southeastern Conference for the first time.
Quintrevion Wisner contributed significantly, rushing for 118 yards and a touchdown. His moment of misfortune occurred when he fumbled at the end of a lengthy run, only for teammate Silas Bolden to recover the ball in the end zone for a touchdown, further adding to the Longhorns’ lead. Ewers initially struggled, experiencing a slow start before finishing the game with 20 completions on 29 attempts. He had not played for four weeks due to an abdominal strain, and his first appearance in this rivalry was marked by being sacked on the very first play and throwing an interception on the first pass attempt.
This encounter marked the 120th meeting in a historic rivalry that began in 1900 and has traditionally taken place during the State Fair of Texas since 1929. Texas now holds a favorable 64-51-5 advantage over Oklahoma despite the Sooners winning five of the last six contests while the two teams were part of the Big 12 Conference. Ewers turned the game in Texas’s favor early in the second quarter when he rolled out and connected with Gunnar Helm for a 7-yard touchdown pass, giving Texas a 7-3 lead for their first advantage in a game this season.
Making history, Oklahoma’s Michael Hawkins Jr. became the first true freshman quarterback to start against Texas. He completed 16 of his 24 passes for 120 yards, but struggled on the ground with 20 carries for just 27 yards, as he faced a tough Longhorns defense that sacked him five times. The Sooners managed only 225 total yards throughout the game. Bolden’s crucial recovery for a touchdown late in the first half followed Wisner’s impressive 36-yard run, where his fumble was scooped up in the end zone, stretching Texas’s lead. Minutes later, Hawkins experienced a fumble on his first play post the two-minute warning, falling victim to a strip by Anthony Hill Jr., leading to Wisner scoring another touchdown from 43 yards out, bringing the halftime gap to 21-3 in a sweltering 92-degree weather at the Cotton Bowl, just shy of the record.
Texas’s performance highlighted some key takeaways. Despite Arch Manning winning both games in Ewers’ absence, Coach Steve Sarkisian maintained there was no ongoing quarterback debate. Ewers claimed his second Red River victory after previously missing games, significantly contributing to the Longhorns’ prior win against Oklahoma, where he threw four touchdown passes after recovering from a collarbone injury. Meanwhile, Oklahoma faced challenges with injuries depleting their receiving corps, as five of their top receivers were sidelined. Alongside a feeble rushing game, a significant burden fell on the freshman quarterback’s shoulders against a fierce rivalry opponent, preventing a comeback similar to their recent win against Auburn. Their only points came from Tyler Keltner’s successful 42-yard field goal on the opening drive following an interception at the Texas 45-yard line.
As for the implications of the game on rankings, Texas appears poised to reclaim the top spot in the polls, aiming to secure the No. 1 position for the first time since the end of the 1977 regular season. The Longhorns had previously dropped from first place after this victory yet held strong ahead of competitors like Ohio State and Oregon. Oklahoma, conversely, risks falling out of the Top 25 for the first time this season.
Looking ahead, Texas has a busy schedule as they prepare to face No. 5 Georgia at home, following their earlier victory against defending national champion Michigan. Oklahoma, after a lengthy stretch on the road, will finally return home to host South Carolina next Saturday.
