Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. (9) throws during the Auburn Tigers vs. Oklahoma Sooners game at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala., Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
The annual rivalry between Oklahoma and Texas doesn’t need any extra fuel.
I think it’s the dirt,” Oklahoma linebacker Kobe McKinzie said of why the point spread doesn’t matter in the Red River Rivalry. “Whatever’s been going on there for hundreds of years, it’s just there. Once you step on the field, it’s like you can’t breathe. There’s nowhere to go.” There’s a lot at stake Saturday when the No. 1-ranked Longhorns take on the No. 18 Sooners in Dallas in one of the most unique rivalries in sports.
The game is being played at the State Fairgrounds of Texas, with spectators split 50-50 at the 50-yard line.
The game hasn’t been played for hundreds of years, but it has been played at its current location for nearly a century, according to McKinzie.
The Longhorns (5-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) enter the game as favorites, but even the wide points spreads haven’t kept them from being rivals.
Over the last 10 regular-season meetings, only one — a 49-0 win for Texas in 2022 — has been decided by more than eight points.
It’s a rivalry game,” Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said. “Whether we’re the favorite or not doesn’t matter. Records and stuff don’t matter in these games.”
The Longhorns are expecting starting quarterback Quinn Evers to return for the first time since he suffered an abdominal injury against UTSA on Sept. 14.
Arch Manning has played the last two games for Texas.
“We’ll watch Evers every day to see how he continues to improve, but I feel good about the way he handled things (Monday),” Sarkisian said. “I’m confident he’ll be ready for Saturday, but we’ll have to see.”
Evers is 1-1 against the Sooners, having rushed for 289 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in 2022 and then rushing for 346 yards and one touchdown with two interceptions in a 34-30 win last season.
The Sooners (4-1, 1-1) are one of the best teams in the country in interceptions (13), with eight recoveries and five interceptions. Texas has seven interceptions (three turnovers, four interceptions).
While the Longhorns are looking to get their quarterback back against the Sooners, Oklahoma is hoping its rookie quarterback can settle in after being replaced by struggling Jackson Arnold in the SEC opener.
Michael Hawkins Jr. could be the first freshman quarterback to start against the Longhorns.
Hawkins completed 10 of 15 attempts for 161 yards and no interceptions, and ran for 69 yards and a score in his first career game in Oklahoma’s 27-21 win over Auburn on Sept. 28.
McKinzie was impressed with how Hawkins handled the task and added that the quarterback’s demeanor should serve him well against Team T.
