The Oklahoma Sooners aren’t expected to perform well in the upcoming Red River Showdown, and it’s easy to see why. Their offense has significant areas for improvement as they prepare for the Cotton Bowl, especially following a quarterback change and a narrow fourth-quarter win against Auburn.
After a week off, true freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. has had more practice with the first-team offense, and the Sooners have had time to recover from injuries. As they face the top-ranked Texas Longhorns, can the Sooners maintain the unpredictability we saw in Week 6?
OU and Texas are rivals in one of college football’s biggest matchups. While the Longhorns lead the all-time series, Oklahoma has had the upper hand for much of the past 25 years.
While the Longhorns appear stronger on paper and hold the No. 1 ranking for good reason, the events of Week 6 suggest that the Sooners could pull off an upset, similar to last year’s victory over Texas when they were ranked in the top five.
Vanderbilt achieved its first-ever win against the No. 1 team in the AP Poll, while Arkansas, coming off a loss to Texas A&M, defeated what seemed like a national title contender in Tennessee. Missouri, also viewed as a contender, was outplayed by Texas A&M. Additionally, an unranked Kentucky team managed to upset the No. 6 Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford.
As we reach the six-week mark of the 2024 college football season, uncertainty reigns supreme, and the SEC feels more open than ever.
Many are touting Texas as an elite team, and they might be right. Yet just before the Alabama-Vanderbilt game, those same voices were calling Alabama elite as well. It shows how quickly perspectives can shift.
Texas is a strong football team, having dominated Michigan in Ann Arbor earlier this season. While the Wolverines struggled in their passing game, the Longhorns effectively neutralized their formidable rushing attack. However, that same Michigan team recently lost by 10 points to an unranked Washington team.
Despite being ranked No. 1, we still don’t have a clear picture of how good the Longhorns truly are. They are undoubtedly talented, but the extent of their strength remains uncertain.
The same holds true for the Oklahoma Sooners, who have yet to play their best football in 2024.
Oklahoma’s defense is primed for the Cotton Bowl, boasting one of the top front sevens in the nation and a secondary that has performed well, despite allowing some big plays against Auburn and Tennessee.
Offensively, the Sooners showed promise in the fourth quarter against Tennessee and during their win over Auburn. Freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins is taking care of the ball and demonstrating his ability to make big plays both through the air and on the ground. With the offensive line at its healthiest this season, there’s potential for improved running and better protection for Hawkins.
This week, it will be difficult to find anyone predicting a victory for the Oklahoma Sooners in this major rivalry matchup. However, as this season in the SEC has shown, few things are certain. In a rivalry game as significant as OU-Texas, it’s impossible to predict how next Saturday will unfold.
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