Joel Klatt shares his forecast for the matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns.
Joel Klatt shares his insights on the upcoming matchup between the Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns. As they approach the 120th Red River Showdown, Oklahoma is a significant underdog in their first SEC clash, facing the No. 1 ranked Longhorns while they sit at No. 16.
Texas, currently 5-0 and performing well even without starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, appears to be one of the top teams in the country. In contrast, Oklahoma has struggled to reach a 4-1 record, leading many to doubt their chances in this game.
In his podcast, Klatt expressed concerns about Oklahoma’s offense. “Can Oklahoma’s offense keep pace? The answer is no. Texas’ defense is too strong. They won’t be able to score freely,” he stated.
While acknowledging Oklahoma’s strong defense, ranked fourth nationally, Klatt emphasized the need for their offense to improve. He pointed out that Texas, under Steve Sarkisian, consistently brings a solid game plan and will likely score effectively. He noted Oklahoma’s offense struggles, ranking 121st in total offense, while Texas has allowed only three touchdowns this season.
Klatt also cautioned that Oklahoma can’t rely on turnovers as they did in last year’s game, where they forced three against Ewers. This season, Texas has averaged 1.4 turnovers per game, while Oklahoma’s defense has seen 2.6 takeaways.
Despite the challenges, Klatt believes Oklahoma’s defense can keep Texas within the 20s, giving the Sooners a chance to compete. He mentioned the improvement of quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. and the offensive line’s health as positive signs, though they will miss Deion Burks.
Ultimately, Klatt predicted a Texas victory, forecasting a score of 34-17. The outcome will be revealed tomorrow in this storied college rivalry.
