The Daily Texan's Double Coverage Red River Rivalry Edition 2021-10-08 by The Daily Texan

T H E D A I LY TEXAN PRESENTS

Double Coverage VOL. 16 ISSUE 6 | Oct. 8, 2021

jack myer

/ the daily texan file

LR Y

T EX

AS FIG

RIV E RIVA R

TEXAN

STAFF Myah Taylor

Kaitlyn Harmon

Nathan Han

Matthew Boncosky

Payne Williams

PREDICTIONS

Vincente Christina Hannah Williford Montalvo Huang

Jenny DeVico

Blaine Young

Angelina Braese

WINNER

Texas

Oklahoma

Texas

SCORE

45-38

37-33

37-30

34-20

46-38

42-35

21-17

31-28

31-26

LEADING PASSER

Casey Thompson

Spencer Rattler

Casey Thompson

Spencer Rattler

Casey Thompson

MVP

Bijan Robinson

Xavier Worthy

Spencer Rattler

Casey Thompson

Xavier Worthy

Bijan Robinson

Casey Thompson

Bijan Robinson

OVER/UNDER–63.5

Over

Under

Over

Under

BIJAN ROBINSON TOTAL YARDS

100

150

180

290

150

137

130

150

198

PLAYER WITH LONGEST PLAY

Xavier Worthy

Marvin Mims

Xavier Worthy

Casey Thompson

Bijan Robinson

Casey Jordan Thompson Whittington

Bijan Robinson

DOUBLE COVERAGE

EDITOR’S NOTE If there’s one thing that can bring Sooners and Longhorns together for a whole 60 minutes, it’s the Red River Rivalry. The last time the two got together in front of a packed Cotton Bowl stadium feels like an eternity ago, but diehard fans return on Saturday to witness possibly one of the greatest rivalries in college football. Will Saturday prove the legitimacy of the Longhorns under Sark by beating a top-10 team, or will the Sooners continue their hopeful playoff run to the College Football Playoffs?

Kaitlyn Harmon

Double Coverage Editor Kaitlyn Harmon Design Editor

Jenny DeVico

Photo Editor

Blaine Young

Copy Editor

Angelina Braese

Writers Nathan Han

Matthew Boncosky

Vicente Montalvo

Christina Huang

Hannah Williford

Payne Williams

Issue Designers Isabella Waltz

Sally Parampottil Managing Editor Myah Taylor

Dear Oklahoma, By The Daily Texan senior sports staff

When we woke up Sunday and checked the latest AP Top 25 Poll, No. 6 Oklahoma stuck out like a crimson eyesore. Let’s be honest, the Sooners have no business being anywhere near the Top 10. We’ll take everyone through the Sooners’ schedule weekby-week to expose just how fraudulent y’all really are. Week 1: Oklahoma scrapes by Tulane 40-35. Really? How embarrassing it must have been to almost lose in your home stadium with the Green Wave logo painted on your field. While that was a nice gesture, unfortunately, “nice” is the last word to describe the Oklahoma football program. We’re genuinely sorry y’all have to root for a quarterback as stuck-up as Spencer Rattler. Week 2: Oklahoma shuts out *checks notes* Western Carolina? Congrats? No disrespect to the wonderful Catamount faithful, but come on. Beating up on an FCS program is so sad, though that will fit right in with the SEC’s scheduling habits. Be like Texas and refuse to schedule non-FBS

level teams, then come talk to us. Week 3: Oklahoma holds off Nebraska 23-16. Only the Sooners would find a way to struggle with this game. The Cornhuskers have been the laughing stock of this millennium, yet somehow they almost beat y’all. Oh, and it was in Norman too? Pathetic. Week 4: Oklahoma beats West Virginia by a field goal, 16-13. There are few things more debilitating to watch than the Sooners’ offense. If the phrase “ugly win” is used to describe every single one of your wins, get some help. Also, thanks for doing our recruiting work for us by loudly chanting against your own quarterback at home. Ungrateful fans booing an ungrateful quarterback equals wins for everyone else. No wonder Casey Thompson spurned his family legacy at Oklahoma to come play for y’all’s biggest rival. Week 5: Oklahoma finally beats Kansas State 37-31. Y’all were so close to dropping your third (third!) straight game to the Wildcats. There’s nothing sweeter than watching the Sooners’ annual struggle against Kansas State.

destiny alexander

/ the daily texan staff

Through five weeks, the Sooners have played four Power 5 teams — all of which have been unranked — and y’all haven’t managed to beat a single one by more than a touchdown. Texas will be the first ranked team that y’all will play this year, and the whole country will finally, if they haven’t been made aware already, realize just how overrated y’all are. While the Sooner faithful might put on a brave face for this season, everybody knows the Oklahoma football program is in a free fall. Between a star quarterback somehow regressing at “Quarterback U,” fans booing their own players and a supposed offensive-guru head coach deploying one of the ugliest offenses in the country, it’s a wonder y’all have managed to not drop a game yet. Everyone in Norman should thank their lucky stars that preseason polls are a thing. Y’all have the AP voters who ranked preseason Oklahoma No. 2 to thank because they’re too cowardly to admit they were totally wrong about the Sooners until you actually lose a game. It will come in time though. Just prepare for your eventual steep slide down the rankings, just like our good old friends in College Station. Would hate for that fall to bruise your egos. Also, don’t you dare cross that Red River into this great state claiming to enjoy good barbeque after the disaster your head coach served up for Easter dinner. That brisket, pardon my French, looked like shit and was drier than Oklahoma’s hopes of ever actually winning a College Football Playoff game. But don’t worry, y’all won’t have to worry about embarrassing yourselves on that national stage again this year. We’ll see y’all soon.

DOUBLE COVERAGE

Dear Texas,

By The OU Daily staff

Let’s address the obvious. The Big 12’s two most successful, money-making schools are going to the Southeastern Conference. In this historic move, the SEC gains Oklahoma, the Big 12’s perennial conqueror, and Texas, the conference’s perennial doormat. They’ve each taken a crack at a future SEC opponent in the last year — though OU was, as always, first up. Both experiences were…different. In a Cotton Bowl cleanup, the Sooners hung halfa-hundred and harshly grounded the Gators. The Longhorns, well … at least you have one thing in common with Shakira — your trip to SEC country saw you mercilessly mugged by feral hogs. Now if only you’d take a cue from the Latin superstar’s hips and end all the lies about “BeInG BaCk.” Not the follow-up performance the Horns had in mind, we’d imagine. While it’s clearly in both programs’ best interest to bolt from a conference whose commissioner thinks 11 a.m. is primetime, it’s also obvious you’re only doing it because OU did it first. Hell, when’s the last time Texas did anything original? UT only renovated its south end zone in a stadium named for a Sooner after watching Oklahoma better its own. We only wish you completely copied OU and made your renovations look like actual improvements. You know what we mean. Even your last “great” quarterback and golden-child Sam Ehlinger is a poor man’s Tim Tebow. To replace him, you had to kidnap Oklahoma-native Casey Thompson, whose father and brother were Sooners,

anthony mireles

forcing him to throw Horns Up against his will. And didn’t you just hire Steve Sarkisian because he’s the bargain bin reproduction of Lincoln Riley? Or was he brought in just to uphold the 2.89 GPA standard set by your former savior Tom Herman? Speaking of whom, was it his genius idea for Chicago to not immediately play Justin Fields this season? That’s our guess. After all, it looks like it’s a Texas tradition to bench your better players. Let’s not forget Sark decided to roll out some dude named Hudson Card over a guy who tossed four touchdowns in UT’s annual Alamo Bowl appearance. Congrats on that victory, though. A win over former Big 12-opponent Colorado is something to be proud of — if it’s 2003. You also had to steal from little brother Texas Tech to find your next basketball coach, Chris Beard. Pretty soon, he’ll be bald just like Shaka Smart from the stress of keeping his

/ the daily texan staff

players academically eligible. If the football team has enough qualified bodies Saturday, maybe this can be a competitive match. It’s been 20 years since Roy Williams’ Superman hit on Chris Simms, but Nik Bonitto will still suplex Thompson back into his childhood bedroom, where his dad waits to scold him for crossing the Red River. Matthew McConaughey might even spare a few cents for a movie about it. He won’t be very invested in the rest of the game, as Spencer Rattler fuels a Sooners route that sees Caleb Williams — OU’s newest Superman — take over by the third quarter. Once that happens, you’ll begin wondering if it’s really a good idea to follow Oklahoma’s lead to the best conference in football. But don’t worry, it’s not too late to change your mind. We hear the AAC has some openings. See y’all in Dallas.

friday, October 8, 2021

NUMBERS

NFL DRAFT PICKS:

BY THE

352

RED RIVER RECORD:

UT WINS-62 TIES-5 OU WINS-49

402

LARGEST RED RIVER WIN-STREAK SINCE 2000:

Hey,

Austin!

HEISMAN WINNERS:

UT-2 OU-7

5 By Hannah Williford

POINTS IN RED RIVER GAME:

UT: 2121 ou: 2118

ALL TIME RECORD:

BOWL GAME APPEARANCES:

UT: 27 OU: 34

TURNOVERS THIS SEASON:

UT: 4 OU: 5

@howdy_itshannah

The Longhorns and the Sooners will hash it out for the 93rd time at the neutral location of the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. With immense history to the rivalry, here’s a look at the numbers:

UT: 57 OU: 54

PENALTIES THIS SEASON:

UT OU

LONGEST TOP-25 APPEARANCE STREAK:

UT: OU:

162 158

W: 927 L: 379 T: 33

W: 922 L: 329 T: 53

TOTAL NUMBER OF MEETINGS:

116

Join in the fight against cancer and other rare diseases by donating white blood cells with Beacon Biologics. You’ll be compensated for your time, and your white blood cells will be used to research new and better treatments for diseases like leukemia, multiple sclerosis and more. Be a beacon of hope to patients in your community and around the world!

Conveniently located near The Domain and Q2 Stadium!

2111 W. Braker Ln. #200 Austin, TX 78758

Scan to get started now!

DOUBLE COVERAGE

KEYS

to tHE

GAME

By Vicente Montalvo | @VMont20

Big Tex and the Cotton Bowl will welcome back thousands of burnt orange and crimson red faithful to Dallas for one of the best events in all of college football — the Red River Rivalry game. With Big 12 title implications on the line, Texas and Oklahoma will bring only their very best for this epic gridiron battle. If the Longhorns want to prevent the Sooners from making it four straight rivalry wins in a row, sophomore running back Bijan Robinson will have to shoulder a significant share of the workload, and he definitely can. Last Saturday against TCU, Robinson had arguably one of the best games of his career, carrying the ball 35 times for a total of 216 yards. The only thing standing between Robinson and a Heisman-worthy breakout game is a ruthless Oklahoma run defense. Statistically, the Sooner defense keys in on the run with a high degree of success and is one of the nation’s best, allowing on average less than 80 yards per game. Third year Oklahoma defensive coordinator Alex Grinch will have his players swarming Robinson, making sure he doesn’t escape with any easy yards. Grinch must call one of the best defensive games of his career and needs his defense to attack Robinsons’ running game anytime the Texas running back gets the ball. Look to see if the Longhorns can establish the run game early and how well Oklahoma responds to a strong Texas running game. Junior quarterback Casey

Thompson has been patiently waiting for his big opportunity under center for three years and counting, and against Oklahoma in particular. With both his father and brother formerly playing at the quarterback position for the Sooners, Thompson will have to play at his peak in an atmosphere he has yet to experience as a starter. Thompson has thrown an interception in each of the past three games and struggled against the TCU defense, barely completing over 50% of his passes. Still, the quarterback dug in and fought hard, just like the leader he is and the leader he has proved himself to be on Texas’ offense. Redshirt sophomore Spencer Rattler is the heart of the Sooner offense and is the next star quarterback in the Lincoln Riley era. However, in what was supposed to be a Heisman contending year for Rattler, the sophomore has struggled against opponents where former Oklahoma quarterbacks have not. If the Sooners want a chance of keeping the Golden Hat and taking it back across the Red River, they’ll need Rattler to not force any throws against the Longhorns’ secondary. Rattler needs to stay in his game and remain focused because the pressure is coming. Through five games this season, Rattler has tallied four interceptions — already more than half the number he threw last season. Sooner faithful called for Rattler’s backup in Week 4 once the sophomore threw yet another interception.

blaine young

If Oklahoma fans begin to call out Rattler again, look to see how the quarterback responds and how he deals with added pressure among a swarming Longhorn defense. Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski isn’t doing anything out of the ordinary like previous defensive coordinators have done with unique blitz packages. Instead, Kwiatkowski teaches his players to keep everything in front of them, preventing big-time plays from developing. Head coach Steve Sarkisian is looking to beat the Sooners in his first year in Austin, which is something a Longhorn head coach has not done since Mack Brown in 1998. To get the job done and beat the odds, Sarkisian will have to trust his instincts and dial up the right plays at the right time.

/ the daily texan file

friday, october 8, 2021

from one SIDE to anotHER blaine young

From OU royalty, Casey Thompson is both the brother and son of Oklahoma Sooners. By Kaitlyn Harmon @kait_harmon

lmost 33 years to the day, a quarterback with the letters spelling out “Thompson” embroidered on the back of a jersey took the field at the Cotton Bowl. But he wore a crimson red

helmet, not a burnt orange and white one. Charles Thompson, the father of Texas starting quarterback Casey Thompson, played under center for the Oklahoma Sooners for two seasons in 1987 and 1988. A Lawton, Oklahoma product, Thompson packed his bags and headed to Norman to sport the crimson red as a Sooner. Thirty years later, his youngest son would too pack up his bags and ship off for the world of college football. But instead of heading 30 minutes down the road from Oklahoma City to Norman, Casey would cross the Red River into enemy territory and become a Texas Longhorn. The older Thompson son, Kendal, followed in his father’s footsteps to Norman to also become an Oklahoma quarterback from 2011 to 2013. When Casey committed to the

/ the daily texan file

Longhorns in December 2017, his father was nothing but supportive of his son’s decision. “My heart will always bleed crimson,” Charles said. “I’m very proud of that … but I’m going to support my son. I’m excited for him. We think it’s a great fit.” As a new recruit in the fall of 2017, Casey attended the Longhorns’ 24-29 loss to the Sooners at Red River. Casey remembers that game as the first matchup he attended where his loyalty felt foreign, different. The then-high school senior attended as a visitor for a recruiting trip and remembers sitting on the Texas side, seeing now-NFL quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Sam Ehlinger duel it out. Casey has been burnt orange ever since. “I never really grew up hating Texas,” Casey said. “The horns down symbol was something that

courtesy of tulsa world and reproduced with permission

just was a hand symbol. Even now that I’m at Texas, I wouldn’t say that I hate OU. At the end of the day, I’m a competitor and I want to win, and I also want to start.” After joining the Longhorns in 2018, Casey finally got the nod for the starting quarterback position in Week 3 against Rice. Since then, the Oklahoma City product has accumulated an impressive record in just three games, all of which were Big 12 conference matchups. The junior is 54-of-76 for 707 yards and nine touchdowns, 303 yards of which were recorded against Texas Tech in the Longhorns’ 70-35 blowout win over the Red Raiders. Casey, while somewhat similar to his father and brother, is a different quarterback than they were. The Longhorn quarterback is a 6-foot-1-inch, 200-pound dual-threat. Charles stood at 5-foot10-inches and 175 pounds, and took on the personality of a modern day running back. In his first season with the Sooners, Charles rushed for 731 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. In his second season at the helm, he recorded 824 rushing yards and nine touchdowns. “Growing up, I watched I think pretty much all of my dad’s games that he started in,” Casey said.

“And then sometimes, when I get bored in the offseason, I’ll just turn on a full game and watch him from start to finish.” On Oct. 8, 1988, Charles Thompson took the field of the Cotton Bowl as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback. Charles led the Sooners to a team total of 401 offensive yards, and the quarterback found his way into the endzone on an 8-yard run to solidify Oklahoma’s 28-13 win over Texas. The Red River Showdown is a tale as old as time. Charles knew what was at stake to the 75,587 fans in attendance for one of the country’s biggest college football rivalries. In front of approximately 92,100 fans come Saturday, Casey, too, knows what this rivalry means. “My dad was able to start in (the) Red River Rivalry whenever he was playing quarterback,” Casey said. “He got to play in multiple (games) and he obviously enjoyed it. And it was a dream come true for him … it’ll be a dream come true for me.” The Red River Rivalry is a rivalry for a season, and that is especially true for Kendal and Casey, but more so their father. “I’ll be Oklahoma until the day I die.”

LONGHORN LOOKBACK

friday, October 8, 2021

By Payne Williams

@paynewilliams5

The Longhorns head to Dallas this weekend to face No. 6 Oklahoma in one of the most beloved rivalries in college football. The Cotton Bowl’s annual Red River Showdown this Saturday marks a full circle career for some Texas seniors who can reminisce on the Longhorns’ 2018 game-winning field goal by none other than senior kicker Cameron Dicker. Fourth year players Casey Thompson, B.J. Foster, Josh Thompson and DeMarvion Overshown, who were all freshmen on Texas’ 2018 roster, enter Saturday as marquee players. And perhaps one of the most infamous Longhorns in the eyes of Sooner fans, Dicker will make his final start against Sooner foes on this side of the Red River. The 2018 matchup featured future Heisman Trophy winner and now-esteemed NFL quarterback Kyler Murray, along with over a dozen current NFL players. The first half showcased relatively even performances from both sides with Texas leading 24-17 at the end of the half. The Longhorns, led by former head coach Tom Herman, jumped out of the gates in the second half, putting up 21 points to Oklahoma’s seven. Texas had a commanding 45-24 lead heading into the fourth quarter until, as Heisman winners do, Murray flipped the script and led the Sooners to 21-straight points in the fourth quarter. Forty-five all, and Longhorns and Sooners were shaking in their boots. With a tied game and two and a half minutes on the clock, Texas needed a drive to simultaneously put points on the board and run down the clock. Sam Ehlinger did just that. The then-sophomore quar-

terback led the Longhorns down the field, putting the team in a comfortable field goal range. Herman called a timeout with 14 seconds remaining to give Texas a shot at a 40-yard field goal — not entirely ambitious, but not entirely doable. To secure its first win against the Sooners since 2015, the Longhorns relied on the foot of Dicker the Kicker. Earlier in the game, Dicker nailed a 44-yarder in the closing minutes of the first quarter and was 6-for-6 on extra points. Players locked arms on the sidelines, the Sooners praying for a missed kick and the Longhorns praying for a kick between the uprights. Fans fell silent on the Cotton Bowl’s Texas end. With a clean snap and a clean hold, Dicker split the uprights, giving the Longhorns a 48-45 lead. Oklahoma got the ball back with just eight seconds to drive down the field. As history has it, eight seconds was too little, too late for the Sooners. Texas walked off with the Golden Hat and a victory. The parallels between this Saturday’s matchup and 2018’s cannot be ignored. In 2018, the Longhorns and Sooners entered the game as the No. 19 and No. 7 teams in the country, respectively. The Big 12 rivals enter this weekend ranked similarly with No. 21 Texas and No. 6 Oklahoma, looking to continue the trend of great rivalry matchups between the two. Texas will see many faces both new and old with larger roles in this year’s rivalry game, some of which are Casey Thompson, Bijan Robinson and Spencer Rattler. Seniors like Dicker will have a chance to write their final chapter and close the book on the Red River Rivalry the same way they opened it: with a win.

katie bauer / the daily texan file

OPPONENTS TO WATCH

DOUBLE COVERAGE

By Matthew Boncosky | @mboncosky

Thomas, along with fellow defensive lineman Perrion Winfrey, provides the Sooners with a stout defensive front. Both Thomas and Winfrey lead the Oklahoma defense with 3.5 sacks each and form the foundation for the Sooners’ early lead in rush defense among Big 12 teams. Pro Football Focus graded the redshirt senior as the No. 74 overall player in the country last season. Oklahoma defensive coordinator Alex Grinch uses Thomas and his fellow linemans’ athleticism to create movement along the line that penetrates unsuspecting opponents. Texas

Gabe Brkic

Marvin Mims

Isaiah Thomas

has struggled against similar schemes so far this season, so the battle up front will be a key storyline come Saturday.

The sophomore wideout from Frisco, Texas, represents Oklahoma’s biggest threat in the receiving core. Coming off a freshman campaign that saw him earn Big 12 second-team honors, Mims again leads the Sooners in receiving yards through Week 5. While Rattler’s struggles have contributed to less gaudy numbers for Mims so far this season, the 5-foot11-inches receiver represents a speedy threat to a Longhorns defense that

Spencer Rattler The Sooners’ star quarterback has been somewhat of an enigma this season. The highly touted recruit possesses all the skills of an elite quarterback but has struggled with turning the ball over. Against FBS-level competition this year, Rattler sports a 5-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. However, he enters the Cotton Bowl off a solid showing against Kansas State, so banking on his struggles to continue will not be a viable option. “When he gets hot like he did Saturday, it feels like 7-on-7,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “We have to do a good job containing him.”

has been prone to getting beat over the top. Four of his nine touchdowns last year were for at least 45 yards.

While kickers don’t often make these lists, Texas fans should know that if the Red River Showdown comes down to an Oklahoma field goal, the Sooners have one of the best kickers in the country with Gabe Brkic. The junior has made 48 of 56 attempted kicks in his college career and is perfect from inside 30 yards. Brkic’s career-long is a 56-yarder he put between the uprights against Western Carolina and he sports the clutch gene as

well, nailing a 30-yard field goal as time expired to lift Oklahoma to a 16-13 victory over West Virginia in Week 4.

Nik Bonitto As the leader of the Sooner defense, the redshirt junior outside linebacker has epitomized the turnaround of the Oklahoma defense since Grinch’s hiring in 2019. The 6-foot-3-inch force on the outside has already recorded 2.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries on the year. Last season, Bonitto was credited by PFF with the highest pressure rate in the country at 25.7% and was placed on the Bednarik Award watch list for 2021 – an award that goes to the most outstanding defensive player in the country at the conclusion of the season. The Sooners’ front seven on defense make their living by finding a way into the backfield and creating tackles for loss, forcing the offense to work from behind the sticks on second and third downs. Bonitto is perhaps the biggest engine behind the Sooners’ disruptive force on defense and will be a key player to watch out for come Saturday. copyright trey young/ou daily, and reproduced with permission

friday, october 8, 2021

KAITLYN’S

KNOCKOUT

By Kaitlyn Harmon | @kait_harmon

Perhaps the most exciting 60 minutes of both the Longhorns’ and Sooners’ seasons come from a place where a Golden Hat is up for grabs. Sixty minutes of pure adrenaline, grit and old-fashioned competition followed by six weeks of mediocre football until a hopeful bowl game. Texas and Oklahoma are bored. But the good news for both programs is that in four years, Longhorns and Sooners – fans, alumni and students – will not have to be bored for much longer. With an invitation to join the SEC in hand, both teams will get the chance to battle against powerhouse SEC teams week after week in the trenches. An Arkansas-Texas rivalry that spans over 79 matchups, a beloved LSU-Texas duel and an eternally charged rivalry between the Aggies and the Longhorns will all return. Texas fans will get to relive each rivalry every year, for all the years to come. And the Red River Showdown isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. When the Longhorns face the Sooners on Saturday, it will have been 728 days since the programs last met within the walls of the Cotton Bowl in front of a 100% capacity crowd. In 2019, Texas drove down the field

with less than two minutes left, putting up a score of 27-34 to lose by a touchdown. That 2019 duel brought in one of the biggest television audiences in the rivalry since 2009. The matchup raked in 7.2 million viewers, making it the fifth-most watched regular season game in FOX Sports history at the time, according to Nielsen ratings and a USA Today report In the last five matchups between the two programs, OU has won four competitions, and all five games have finished with the victor having an 8-point win over their opponent. Close, nail-biting games and cutthroat, merciless rivalries bring in TV ratings. For both programs, a shared character trait seems to be tight games that consistently come down to the wire. Both Texas and Oklahoma are home to some of the most watched college football programs in the country, according to a Medium report. Medium ranked Oklahoma as the No. 8 ranked most watched college football program between 2015 and 2019 with 2.9 million viewers

each week, while Texas was ranked at No. 13 with approximately 2.2 million viewers each week. And with consistently high-ranking fan bases come forth lucrative broadcast deals and media rights. By analyzing 25 college football programs, a 2019 Forbes study found that 29% of the income of NCAA D1 football programs relied on television revenue. Behind TV deals and broadcast rights, ticket revenue raked in 27% and contributions (or donors) 26%. In that same study, Forbes found that both Texas and Oklahoma rank in the top10 for the most valuable college football teams in 2019. The Longhorns topped the

DNP

EdD MPA

MLA

MSNHL MSMan

Sooners at No. 2 with a three-year average revenue of $147 million. Oklahoma ranked sixth with $129 million in three-year average revenue. Since 2010, Oklahoma has finished within the top two in Big 12 rankings eight times. For Texas, the Longhorns have finished within the top four in Big 12 rankings six times, with their highest Big 12 finish being ranked No. 2 in 2018, right behind the Sooners. Texas and Oklahoma carry the Big 12 in ratings, revenue and standings, and when the two ship off to the Southeastern Conference, the Big 12 will be left with a gaping hole, struggling to survive.

Med MSE

MSSD MSMkt

MID MSN

MSKin MSSW

What will your next degree be? Learn more about graduate degree programs and connect with recruiters at schools around the country at GraduatesofTexas.com – the site built for UT students to explore post-grad opportunities in Texas and beyond.

Join us at the Graduate School Fair!

October 12, 2021 | 10 AM-2 PM In front of Gregory Gym on Speedway

www.GraduatesofTexas.com copyright anthony mireles, and reproduced with permission

Fall

AUSTIN.

GET AN CAP MET RO

capmetro.org/ut

Whether you wanna hitch a hayride or sip some cider, let CapMetro guide you to all the things that make autumn in Austin so great (for free with your valid UT ID).

EDUC ATION

friday, october 8, 2021

BIG 12

POWER RANKINGS By Christina Huang

@stina_huang

1. OKLAHOMA SOONERS

Although the Sooners barely scraped by Kansas State with a 37-31 win last weekend, they still sit atop the Big 12 throne. Oklahoma has struggled against unranked Kansas State squads in the past, losing to two unranked Wildcats teams in the last two years. Last week’s win proved that the reigning Big 12 champions can still overpower teams who have caused them trouble in the past.

2. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS Both of the Big 12’s Oklahoma-based teams are representing the state well, as they are the conference’s remaining unbeaten teams. The Cowboys delivered Baylor its first loss of the season in a 24-14 win last Saturday. Oklahoma State’s defense has managed to keep opponents under 30 points, which can only get more important as conference play picks up.

6. BAYLOR BEARS Even though the Bears are currently 3–1, they were not able to pull off an upset against Oklahoma State in Week 5. Baylor quarterback Gerry Bohanon had a rougher game, with his lowest completion percentage of the season at 48.1%. Although the Bears are the three-point favorite against West Virginia on Saturday, Bohanon will have to work on his performance when the Mountaineers arrive in Waco.

7. WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS The Mountaineers have shown glimmers of hope this season, but their loss to Texas Tech on Saturday was a duller moment. West Virginia was the seven-point favorite against the Red Raiders, but the Mountaineers took a 20-23 loss. The West Virginia defense must step up as the Mountaineers look for their first conference win of the season in Waco.

8. TCU HORNED FROGS 3. TEXAS LONGHORNS Coming off an exciting win over TCU, the Longhorns had not won a game against the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth since 2013. Last weekend’s win should give Texas the confidence it needs to beat old rival Oklahoma this Saturday.

4. IOWA STATE CYCLONES Despite sitting at 3–2 right now, the Cyclones showed their strength on Saturday in a 59-7 blowout win over Kansas. The season has not exactly been kind to the Cyclones, with a close two-point loss against Baylor and a dismantling by now-No. 3 Iowa back in Week 2. However, Iowa State demonstrated the best of its abilities in the Kansas game and is on track to return to the Big 12 Championship Game if the Cyclones can continue their streak.

5. TEXAS TECH RAIDERS The Red Raiders pulled off a 23-20 win against West Virginia last Saturday. A win over the Mountaineers was just what Texas Tech needed after its 35-point loss to Texas two weeks ago. Even though the Red Raiders are 1–1 in conference play, quarterback Henry Colombi had completion rates of 73.9% against Texas and 67.6% against West Virginia, respectively. Texas Tech will need another high completion rate from Colombi if the Red Raiders plan on beating TCU Saturday.

The past few weeks have not been kind to the Frogs after a loss to Texas last Saturday. In Week 4, TCU lost to crosstown rival SMU in a wide 34-42 victory for the Mustangs. In Week 2, the Horned Frogs clawed their way to a close 34-32 win over the California Golden Bears, one of the Pac-12’s historically weak teams. Despite its losing streak, TCU opens as 1.5-point favorites when it matches up against the Red Raiders this Saturday.

9. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS Like WVU, the Kansas State Wildcats are still in the search of their first conference win. However, the next matchup might not be it for the Cats. The Wildcats will be facing Iowa State on home turf next week, where the Cyclones are favored to win by 34 points. Even though the Wildcats are once again sitting at the bottom of the Big 12, there may be some hope. Last week, Kansas State was only one touchdown away from tying the Sooners. Even if this season ends up with another losing record, there are signs of an upward trajectory for the struggling Wildcats.

10. KANSAS JAYHAWKS The Jayhawks have not had a winning record in over a decade, and that does not look like it will be changing this year. Kansas has not won a game since its close Week 1 win over the South Dakota Coyotes. The Jayhawks have scored a lackluster 14 points combined against Big 12 opponents this season, and as the Kansas offense continues to trip over itself week after week, it looks like the Jayhawks’ home will be at the bottom of conference standings once more.

DOUBLE COVERAGE

jack myer

Center Jake Majors is the key to the Texas offense.

By Nathan Han @NathanHan13

/ the daily texan file

friday, october 8, 2021

ake Majors channeled his inner Michael Jordan after a humiliating blowout loss to Arkansas in Week 2 following a poor grade from offensive line coach

Kyle Flood. “Those grades, I took personally,” Majors said in his weekly appearance with Orangebloods.com on Sept. 28. “I never want to see those grades again, and I think the four guys around me would say the same.” After Majors “took it personal” à la Jordan, the center turned his season around almost as quickly as it cratered against Arkansas.

“

Jack Majors (is) just the guy that always keeps me locked in on the field.” BIJAN ROBINSON running back

blaine young

/ the daily texan file

And while Flood’s grades may never be seen outside of O-line team meetings, Pro Football Focus’ grades certainly back up both the poor play and the rapid turnaround. Majors received a 43.9 grade from PFF after the loss –– second worst on the team –– and an 11.9 pass blocking grade on the 100-point scale. Majors finished with a 76.1 grade against Rice and a 74.8 grade for his performance against TCU, the highest grade on the offense. After the Texas offensive line did not allow a single quarterback pressure in its best performance this season against Texas Tech, Sarkisian singled out Majors as the player who’s improved the most on the line. The center, who calls himself “undersized,” is listed at

6-foot-3-inches and 310 pounds. “People are coming out after the Arkansas game (saying), ‘Alright, let’s put a big nose (tackle) over Jake Majors and see if he can handle them,’” Sarkisian said after the Texas Tech win. “I think he’s responded the last two weeks to that.” The redshirt freshman kicked off the season as the only player on the offensive line without any significant college experience. As the least experienced player on the line, Majors is tasked with a lion’s share of communicating protections and blocking assignments as the center. His work on that end improved. Sarkisian said a point of emphasis after the Arkansas loss was identifying defensive fronts and communicating and playing well in unison. But getting the assignments right is just the first step of many for Majors. “It’s one thing to get your assignment right,” Sarkisian said. “It’s another to block your man and defeat your man and to strain to finish so that the runner can get to the second level.” It’s the “nasty demeanor” Sarkisan and Flood preach to their offensive line. The Texas offense relies heavily on the run to get the bulk of plays on sophomore running back Bijan Robinson’s highlight reel. Majors and company need to get their work done to get to the second level and open those holes to run through first. Robinson mentioned Majors after being asked if there were any unsung heroes on this year’s Texas squad. “Jake Majors (is) just the guy that always keeps me locked in on the field,” Robinson said. “He’s always just … looking at my demeanor, my intentions. I usually just smile and stay quiet on the field or even off the field, but he just looks at me and he’s like, ‘Are you alright? Are you good? Do you need anything? Do you need to talk?’ (He) just always makes sure that I’m in the moment and always wrapped around (a) positive mentality.” After left guard and sixth-year senior Denzel Okafor suffered a season-ending leg injury last Saturday, Majors is no longer the least experienced man on the Longhorn offensive line. Instead, with fifth-year senior Derek Kerstetter moving to fill Okafor’s spot and redshirt freshman Andrej Karic stepping in at right tackle, the center will need to get the communication crisp again with a reshuffled line. “Throughout the season, he’s really grown up,” Kerstetter said. “It’s been good to see.” Majors will just need to grow up even more for Texas to thrive.

rally around

madison morris

peyton sims

/ the daily texan file

shan yam

/ the daily texan file

the rivarly

HOOK ‘EM Sooner

M HORNS Boome

DOUBLE COVERAGE

Sooners reflect on OU-Texas m 2020 game ahead of Red River

friday, October 8, 2021

memories, COVID-19-affected Showdown’s return to normalcy By Mason Young | @Mason_Young_0

Drake Stoops still remembers the eerie journey to the Cotton Bowl gate. Few if any fans waited to greet the Sooners on Oct. 10 as their buses pulled up for the 2020 Red River Showdown in Dallas. The Texas State Fairgrounds lay dormant after the fair was cancelled due to COVID-19, detracting from the contest’s surroundings. The Cotton Bowl was also held to 25 percent capacity because of the virus, cutting seating to 23,025, opposed to a full 92,100. The atmosphere was drastically different from what Stoops, the son of former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, had become accustomed to, growing up immersed in the culture of OU-Texas. He played high school ball at nearby Norman North and used to drive to Dallas after his Friday night games, sleep in the team hotel, then attend the Red River Showdown and celebrate on the field afterward. The former walk-on had also seen the lead up to the rivalry bout at its finest in his first two seasons as an OU player. “Everyone’s banging on the side of the bus, the police gotta move everybody out of the way so we can get through and you slowly make your way up to the gate to the stadium — that’s usually how it is,” said Stoops, a redshirt junior receiver. “Last year was just a ghost town, just rolled right up, got off the bus, it’s time to go to work.” Despite the effects of COVID-19, the 2020 rendition of OU-Texas became yet another classic in the rivalry’s lore. OU coach Lincoln Riley said that while the hours preceding the game were different, the intensity once it began felt the same as always. Ultimately, the Sooners’ mission prevailed even amid strange circumstances, as Oklahoma outlasted the Longhorns 53-45 in quadruple overtime thanks to Stoops’ decisive touchdown reception.

“That was pretty different, but at the same time, we’re there to win a ballgame,” Stoops said. “It’s not really about the fans or anything like that. It’s just about what goes on between those lines, but I’m definitely excited to see it back rockin’ again this year. It’ll be very cool.” One year later, No. 6 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) faces the No. 21 Longhorns (4-1, 2-0) at 11 a.m. Saturday with full stadium capacity restored and a resurgent Texas State Fair, while ESPN’s College GameDay and an ABC broadcast add to the ambiance. Both teams are undefeated in conference play and are finding their stride, making the stakes high as always. Seven years ago, the opportunity to coach in the Red River Showdown was one of the first things Riley thought about when Bob Stoops offered him the Sooners’ offensive coordinator position. Riley is now 4-1 against Texas as OU’s head coach and looking for another victory this weekend. “I don’t take it for granted ever,” Riley said. “We’ve had a lot of fun, a lot of great games over the years, but it’s certainly one I don’t ever take for granted because you realize how special it is each and every year, and I’m sure this will be no different.” OU-Texas has produced a number of memorable moments over its history. Stoops mentioned enjoying Trey Millard’s 73-yard run in 2012, where the Oklahoma fullback hurdled one defender and stiff-armed another. He also appreciated quarterback Baker Mayfield’s game-winning 59-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mark Andrews in 2017. This year’s skirmish marks the 20th anniversary of former OU safety Roy Williams’ memorable “Superman” hit on Texas quarterback Chris Simms. Senior safety Pat Fields, a Tulsa native

and team captain, said he talked to Williams, one of his mentors, on Sunday about the looming matchup with Texas. Fields and Stoops both mentioned one play in particular though. Their eyes were once widened by running back DeMarco Murray, now Oklahoma’s running backs coach, tiptoeing down the sideline and flipping into the end zone for a touchdown in the Sooners’ 2010 victory over the Longhorns. “I was just a little kid setting up the little pillows in my living room trying to reenact that,” Fields said of the play. “The game is big and the rivalry is big and it’s just something that you’re driven by.” Now playing in the games he used to watch, Fields is preparing his defense for Texas quarterback Casey Thompson, who he and Stoops used to train with and play against in high school. Thompson played at nearby Southmoore High and Newcastle High before heading to Texas, and is the son of former OU quarterback Charles Thompson. His brother Kendal Thompson also played quarterback for the Sooners before transferring to Utah and briefly becoming an NFL wide receiver. Under the leadership of new coach Steve Sarkisian, Texas also boasts running back Bijan Robinson, who is second nationally and first in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game. As OU-Texas returns to a sense of normalcy, the Sooners again have a battle on their hands. “This year’s group is doing a really nice job,” Riley said. “I think they’ve improved as you’ve watched them throughout the year. They’ve obviously got some really good talent. which they typically do, and some guys that really show up on tape that we’re gonna have to do a great job against, so I think I’ll leave it at that.”

DOUBLE COVERAGE

After tackling struggles ag looking to co

friday, October 8, 2021

gainst Kansas State, Sooners ontain Texas’ Bijan Robinson By Austin Curtright | @ AustinCurtright Oklahoma’s defense has perhaps its toughest test on Saturday. The Sooners’ rush defense, ranked No. 7 nationally and allowing just 79.4 yards per game, faces off with Texas running back Bijan Robinson, who’s No. 2 nationally with 652 rushing yards. The No. 21 Longhorns (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), OU’s first ranked opponent this season, also rank No. 22 nationally in total offense under first-year head coach and play caller Steve Sarkisian. On Tuesday, Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0) defensive coordinator Alex Grinch didn’t shy away from the task at hand. “It’s kind of a different headache,” Grinch said of Robinson. “You’re gonna have to use that hat to try and get as many bodies around the ball carrier as you possibly can. I think when you look at him, the film speaks for himself. He jumps off the tape. … If he’s not the best one out there, he certainly is one of the best.” The OU defense and Robinson are coming off glaringly different performances. According to Pro Football Focus, the Sooners missed 15 tackles against Kansas State, their highest amount this season. Oklahoma also allowed 100 total rushing yards, tied for most this year with their Tulane season-opener. But Robinson is fresh off his best performance to date, with 37 total touches and 35 carries for 238 yards and two touchdowns. Paired with quarterback Casey Thompson, who ranks No. 5 nationally in quarterback rating, Texas accumulated over 400 yards against TCU in its 32-27 win. OU’s defense, which allowed 12 thirdand fourth-down conversions on 20 attempts against the Wildcats, will need to improve to keep the Longhorns’ Heisman candidate off the field.

“We did not tackle as well as we needed to, especially in the open field,” Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said Tuesday. “I think at times we didn’t leverage the ball correctly, at times were too hesitant in the open field (and) gave up a little too much space in coverage. … We know we have to tackle better.” Grinch’s emphasis on takeaways for Speed D still hasn’t changed this season. Senior safety Pat Fields, who leads the team in tackles with 31, said the defense studies weekly videos of NFL

we do (with) swinging the ball, punching the ball.” Oklahoma can’t afford to miss tackles in an effort to cause turnovers against Texas and Robinson, which speaks to the importance of causing takeaways without giving up extra yardage. Grinch voiced his frustrations after the Kansas State game, feeling as if some of his players didn’t give enough effort in practice. He was asked about freshman cornerback Jordan Mukes getting playing time late in the third quarter, and indicated the decision was made by performances in practice by other players. The th ir d - year defensive coordinator said the blame comes down to the coaching staff. “We have a high standard for how we practice,” Grinch said. “... What it comes down to is to be better coaches. … I think our guys want to prepare better. I ALEX GRINCH think they want to Defensive Coordinator play better.” Additionally, OU’s defensive line garnered just one sack players causing turnovers to improve against the Wildcats. With the defense’s its technique. inability to get off the field this season Fields mentioned the team sometimes watches Baltimore Ravens cornerback while surrendering numerous conversions that allow opposing offenses to Marlon Humphrey who forced eight milk the clock, the Sooners’ offense is fumbles last season and was a Pro Bowler. The task is to attack the ball, but also limited with scoring opportunities. The sparse scoring chances — just do it while maintaining a tackle, which nine or less possessions the last three Fields said sophomore defensive end weeks — haven’t bitten Oklahoma Reggie Grimes did against Kansas State, negatively quite yet, but with a workresulting in a program-record 70-yard horse like Robinson, perhaps this recovery return by redshirt junior lineweek is a test to the future prospects backer Nik Bonitto. of OU’s defense. “What we often see is the team that “Bijan’s a terrific player,” Riley said. wins the takeaway battle in the football “You’re watching him play and he does game is victorious at the end of the day,” so many things well. … He’s a complete Fields said. “... If you’re the last line of player and he’s certainly playing at a high defense and you’re the only guy, of course level. And they’re obviously putting the you got to get the guy on the ground, but ball in his hands a lot and he’s produced.” we want to be aggressive in everything

I think when you look at him, the film speaks for himself. He jumps off the tape… If he’s not the best one out there, he certainly is one of the best.