In the annual Red River Rivalry showdown, the Texas Longhorns reclaimed the Golden Hat with a 34-3 beatdown win in Oklahoma. The Longhorns earned their first 6-0 start since 2009, avenging last season’s 34-30 defeat to the Sooners.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian celebrated the victory by wearing the Golden Hat then giving it to his quarterback Quinn Ewers. He later entered his postgame presser with a corn dog in hand, taking a playful jab at Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables’ comments from earlier in the week.
Sarkisian addressed the incredible play of his team’s defense this season. Texas has allowed 6.3 points per game and has not given up more than 13 points in a contest.
“They’re playing really good football collectively,” Sarkisian said, per Texas insider CJ Vogel. “The communication on the defensive side of the ball right now is better than we’ve ever had it in four years … Playing really well together. We’re tackling really well, we’re not missing tackles and giving up explosive plays. And we’re staying on top in the back end…”
Oklahoma needs to figure it out on offense
The mood was understandably different for Venables, who coached his team to a measly three points against their longtime rivals.
“Disappointed, obviously, in the outcome,” Venables said (h/t Colton Sulley of The Oklahoman). “We couldn't sustain some of the momentum we had from the first quarter … You get your opportunities against a great team, you have a very small margin for error."
The Sooners have had well-documented struggles on the offensive end during Venables’ third season as head coach. In three SEC matchups, Oklahoma has averaged an abysmal 13.0 points per contest.
Oklahoma will enter Week 8 in dire need of offensive solutions against a tricky South Carolina squad. Meanwhile, Texas will take on its toughest challenge of the season so far when the Longhorns host the Georgia Bulldogs.
