Texas showed why they are the top-ranked team in the nation. The Longhorns dominated the Oklahoma Sooners in Dallas as the two football teams met for the latest edition of the Red River Rivalry.
Quinn Ewers finished the day with 199 passing yards, threw a go-ahead touchdown, and ran for a score as he resumed his role as Texas’ starting quarterback. Ewers’ performance was just one of the many reasons Texas cruised to a 34-3 win over No. 18 Oklahoma on Saturday.
The 120th Red River Rivalry was also the first time the schools met in the annual clash as members of the Southeastern Conference.
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Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) celebrates with fans after beating Oklahoma Sooners 34-3 in the Red River Rivalry Football at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, TX on Saturday Oct. 12, 2024. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
After missing some time due to an abdominal strain, Ewers seemed to have a little rust to knock off in the early portion of the game. But, he was certainly happy to be back on the football field.
“Definitely good to be back,” Ewers said. “It was a rough start, but overall I think we did a good job of overcoming some adversity early.”
Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner ran for 118 yards and a touchdown for the Longhorns, and his fumble at the end of another long run was recovered in the end zone by teammate Silas Bolden for a touchdown.
Texas Longhorns running back Quintrevion Wisner (26) runs the ball during the Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
The annual game’s name is a nod to the Red River, which runs in between Texas and Oklahoma and efficiently accounts for a portion of the border between the neighboring states. The series dates back to 1900 and has been played annually during the State Fair of Texas since 1929.
Oklahoma won five of the last six times the two rival schools played, when both programs were in the Big 12, but the Longhorns hold a 64-51-5 series advantage.
Texas Longhorns wide receiver Ryan Wingo (5) runs for the first down against Oklahoma Sooners in the second quarter during the Red River Rivalry Football Game between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the University of Texas Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, TX on Saturday Oct. 12, 2024. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Oklahoma’s offensive issues continued on Saturday, with the Sooner only managing to produce three points and 89 rushing yards on the day. Michael Hawkins Jr., the Sooners true freshman quarterback, finished the game with 148 passing yards and no touchdowns.
Oklahoma put up just 237 total yards of offense.
Texas went ahead to stay when Ewers rolled to his right, then threw back left to Gunnar Helm for a 7-yard TD early in the second quarter for a 7-3 lead. That was after the Longhorns trailed in a game for the first time this season.
“We played well in all three phases. We don’t ever want to be one-dimensional,” fourth-year Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said. “When the offense was struggling early, we had the defense. … We felt like we built a team to do that.”
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Sarkisian, who previously served as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under the now retired coach Nick Saban, lauded the Red River Rivalry’s uniqueness.
“I’ve been part of some great games, some great rivalries,” Sarkisian said. “This one is just so unique.”
Texas will now turn its attention to the fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. The highly anticipated game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 19 in Austin, Texas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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