No. 1 Texas Longhorns vs. No. 18 Oklahoma Land Thieves
The Longhorns and Sooners meet for the 120th time Saturday in the Cotton Bowl. Two of college football’s bluebloods will continue their great rivalry, meeting for the first time as members of the Southeastern Conference and with Texas ranked No. 1 for the first time since 1984. The statistics favor Texas, but this will be a hard fought game. And a Texas win. With the 2:30 p.m. start (thank you Del Conte!), the State Fair of Texas will be rocking with a couple of hundred thousand folks packing Fair Park for wax paper cup beers and corny dogs.
This will help get you ready – hype video from The Guys of Texas Podcast:
The “Mini-Movie” from the 2022 RRS:
We get the best broadcast team in college football: Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit (and Ben), and Holly Rowe. The game will be televised on ABC and streamed on ESPN+. The SEC Network will be there all day, broadcasting live from Fair Park, starting at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning with Marty & McGee, then the SEC’s gameday program, SEC Nation, starts at 9:00 a.m. with Laura Rutledge, Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper, Jordan Rodgers, and Tim Tebow.
The game can be heard around the world on the Longhorn Radio Network with the Voice of the Longhorns Craig Way, joined by Roger Wallace and Will Matthews. Listen in Austin on the Flagship, KVET 1300 AM and 98.1 FM. In the Metroplex on KRLD 1080. In the Petroplex on KBAT 99.9. In Tyler on KTBB 600AM and 92.1 FM. SiriusXM Channel 82. Dr. Rubén Pizarro-Silva and Jesus Mendoza with the call in Spanish on certain Longhorn Radio Network affiliates and streaming on the Longhorn apps.
One of my favorite Red River Shootout memories:
A great fact from Kyle Umlang: This game will be the 44th RRS in which both Texas and Oklahoma are ranked. That’s more than the Iron Bowl, Egg Bowl, and Lone Star Showdown, combined.
The Second Saturday in October is my favorite day of the college football season. With three exceptions, in well over half a century of watching college football and the Texas Longhorns, there is not a game in a venue that excites me more than watching the Longhorns and the Land Thieves play in the Cotton Bowl. My favorite game of all time was the National Championship game in the Rose Bowl against Southern Cal, and second would be the Rose Bowl with Michigan the year before. The game in Austin against Texas Agricultural & Mechanical when Ricky ran for the Heisman and broke Tony Dorsett’s single season rushing record is next. But those were once in a lifetime game experiences. We get to do this every single year.
Sunday night, the line was Texas minus 14 on ESPN (after opening at Texas -8.5 earlier in the year) and a total of 51.5. The money line was anywhere from Texas -300 to Texas -835. And OU was +240 to +540. Early Friday morning, Texas favored by 14.5, and the over/under was at 48.5. The money line averaging about Texas -650, Land Thieves about +475.
Great collection of photos from the last forty years, Austin American-Statesman:
Texas vs OU: 150 photos of the Red River Rivalry
SARK!
https://twitter.com/KirkHerbstreit/status/1843388919989076218
Vanderbilt 40, No. 1 Alabama 35
I don’t often (if ever) have a headline of another team’s game, but if a win every deserved some recognition, the Commodores win over the Crimson Tide is that game. The biggest story in college football, and almost all American sports, was Vanderbilt’s upset win over No. 1 Alabama. Going into Saturday, the Commodores were 0-60 against Top 5 ranked teams. The Dores flat-out beat the Crimson Tide. Since 1958, Vandy had beaten Bama just two times before last Saturday: 1969 and 1984. The carrying of the goalposts to the river was epic, but this video shot from a hovering police helicopter with night vision, is one of the coolest things you will see this fall (that doesn’t happen on the field of play).
https://x.com/Chris_Oven/status/1843475343304470986
SEC Shorts of the week:
College Football
A tough weekend for ranked teams. No. 4 Tennessee (unfortunately to Arkansas), No. 9 Missouri (to Texas Agricultural & Mechanical), No. 10 Michigan, No. 11 Southern Cal, and No. 22 Louisville (to Southern Methodist) all lost. Miami (Florida) should have lost. Terrible officiating in that one. Recap of Week 6 below.
2024 Oklahoma Land Thieves
Head Coach Brent Venables is in his third year in Norman. Venables is a good coach, and his Sooners are 4-1 (1-1 SEC) coming into the RRS. Their games this season:
Game 1: 51-3 over the Temple Owls. Jackson Arnold started at quarterback and was 17/25 for 141 yards and 4 TDs. Taylor Tatum had 5 carries for 69 yards and a score. Sam Franklin had 4 carries for 45 yards. The Land Thieves forced and recovered 4 fumbles. Danny Stutsman was the leading tackler with 6 (3 solo).
After the season opening loss to the Land Thieves, the Owls have one win – 45-29 over the Utah State Aggies. Losses to Navy (11-38), Coastal Carolina (20-28), Army (14-42), and Connecticut (20-29).
Game 2: 16-12 over the Houston Cougars. Jackson Arnold was 19/32 for 174 yards and 2 scores with a pick. Jovantae Barnes had 12 rushes for 40 yards, Jackson Arnold 11 for 28, as the Sooners totaled 75 yards rushing against Houston. Danny Stutsman was the leading tackler with 15, 12 solo.
Houston is 2-4 this season. Season opening loss to UNLV (7-27), the OU loss, then a 33-7 win over Rice. The Cougars were shutout by Cincinnati (34-0) and Iowa State (20-0), before bouncing back last week against Texas Christian 30-19.
Game 3: 34-19 over Tulane. Jackson Arnold was 18/29 for 169 yards, 1 TD, 1 pick, plus 97 yards on the ground in 14 carries with 2 more scores. Jovantae Barnes had 53 yards on 14 carries. The Thieves rushed for 182 against the Green Wave.
Tulane is 4-2 on the season, so this was a good win for OU. The Green Wave opened with a 52-0 win over Southeast Louisiana, then lost 27-34 to Kansas State before their loss in Norman. Since then, Tulane has won 3 straight: 41-33 over Louisiana Lafayette, 45-10 over South Florida, and 71-20 over UAB.
Game 4: Tennessee (then No. 6) handed the Thieves their first loss, 25-15, in Norman. Jackson Arnold got the start at QB and was 7 for 16 for 54 yards with a pick, fumbled twice, and lost 21 yards on 5 carries (3 sacks). Michael Hawkins Jr. came in and finished 11/18 for 132 yards and 1 score, rushing for 22 yards on 12 carries. Stutsman only had 3 tackles. Hope someone looked at this tape closely. The Volunteers finished with 194 yards passing and 151 rushing; the land thieves, 186 passing, 36 yards rushing.
Tennessee is 4-1 after last weekend’s loss in a tough trip to Fayetteville. Before that 69-3 over Tennessee Chattanooga, 51-10 over North Carolina State, and 71-0 over Kent State.
Game 5: Oklahoma made their first SEC road trip to Auburn, and despite some real injury issues going into the game, the Land Thieves rallied with 17 points in the fourth quarter to beat the Tigers 27-21. Michael Hawkins, Jr. was 10/15 for 161 yards passing and 14 carries for 69 yards and a score. Jovantae Barnes carried 18 times for 61 yards and a score. Kip Lewis had a pick 6 with 4 minutes left in the game to put the Thieves up 24-21. Huge road win for Venables, especially considering his defense gave up 338 yards and 3 touchdowns to War Eagle quarterback Payton Thorne (Thorne is the 6th ranked QB in the SEC, 37th nationally).
Auburn opened the 2024 campaign with a 73-3 destruction of Alabama A&M. The Tigers dropped their next game to California Berkeley, 14-21, but bounced back with a 45-19 win over New Mexico. Then a 14-24 loss to Arkansas, the loss at home to OU, and then last weekend’s 13-31 loss at Georgia. Auburn is 2-4 overall and DFL in the SEC.
The Roster
Offense
I think we are all assuming that Michael Hawkins Jr. (No. 9, 6-1, 196, freshman, Emerson HS in Dallas) will be starting at quarterback instead of Jackson Arnold (No. 11, 6-1, 210, Sophomore). Arnold was to have been the bright future for the Sooners, a star at Denton Guyer, who Venables and staff kept and, allegedly, let Dillon Gabriel go to Oregon (where he is kicking butt). The scary thing for Texas is Hawkins might be a legitimate dual-threat quarterback (rated as high as No. 3 dual-threat in the 2024 class). Hawkins is 23/37, 310 yards, 62.2% completion, 1 touchdown, 4 sacks, no picks. He has run for 101 yards on 28 carries with a score. If Hawkins struggles, I won’t be shocked to see Venables make a move back to Arnold. Arnold can run too, and he has 138 yards on the ground (41 carries, 2 scores) and is second on the Sooners in rushing. Which actually isn’t saying much.
The Land Thief rushing attack is led by Jovantae Barnes (No. 2, 6 foot, 207 Junior), who has gained 199 yards on 57 carries and 2 touchdowns. 5 catches for 20 yards and 1 score. Taylor Tatum (5-10, 206, Freshman, Longview Lobo) has 116 yards and 2 scores on 18 carries, 1 catch for a score. All told, the Sooners have 643 yards rushing. As you will see below in the stats, they suck. 100th in yards per game. Also, 107th in total yards, 101st in yards per attempt, and 85th in rushing touchdowns. Will be interesting to see if some other kids get some carries, like Gavin Sawchuk or his younger brother, freshman Gabe Sawchuk.
I was curious how this compares to the last couple of years, coming into the RRS. In 2023, Marcus Major was their leader, 3.8 yards per carry, 199 yards on 51 carries. Tawee Walker 5.1 yards per rush, 193 yards on 38 carries. Javontae Barnes, 28 carries for 122 yards. In 2022, Eric Gray 460 yards on 66 carries with 3 touchdowns; Javontae Barnes 223 yards on 44 carries and 3 touchdowns In 2021, Kennedy Brooks 318 yards on 54 attempts and 4 touchdowns; Eric Gray 245 yards on 49 carries.
The big What? for the Sooners is wide receiver. Deion Burks is out, and he is their top man with 201 yards on 26 catches for 3 scores. Brenan Thompson (No. 15, 5-9, 168, junior who played his freshman year here at UT) has 10 catches for 106 yards and 1 score. J.J. Hester has 3 catches for 86 yards, and Jaquaize Pettaway has 4 catches for 81 yards). Not a lot of quality or depth. A bad combination against the second best pass defense in the country.
Tight End Bauer Sharp (No. 10, 6-4, 243, R-Jr from Dothan, Alabama, transfer for SE LA) is second in yards and receptions, with 18 for 159 and a score. Another tight end, Jake Roberts, has 6 catches for 67 yards and 1 score.
Defense
The Oklahoma defense is by far the strong unit on this team. Decent national rankings. Some very good players.
Like most good defenses, and like so many Land Thief teams of the past, they have a couple of good guys at linebacker. Danny Stutsman (No. 28, 6-4, 243 Senior, Mike LB) leads the team with 40 tackles, 22 solo. He is a disruptive force, and I would aver the best player on the Oklahoma team. Kip Lewis (No. 10, 6-1, 215, RS from Carthage, Will LB) is fourth with 21 tackles and the interception he returned 63 yards for a touchdown to beat Auburn. Samuel Omosigho (No. 24, 6-2, 229, Sophomore) has 19 tackles.
Five of their other top tackles are defensive backs, starting with Robert Spears-Jennings (No. 3, 6-1, 219) with 35 tackles (24 solo), 2 sacks, an interception, and 2 forced fumbles. He is a very good player. Bill Bowman Jr. (No. 2, 5-10, 194, Senior from Denton Ryan) has 23 tackles (17 solo), 1 interception, and a fumble recovery.
The Thursday evening injury report.
Longhorns
Land Thieves
Our punter is hurt? Better have not been a scooter.
No. 1 Texas Longhorns vs No. 18 Land Thieves
Calvin Anderson, 2018, one of my favorite Longhorns, after the No. 19 Longhorns upset the No. 7 Land Thieves 48-45. Sam Ehlinger was 24/35, 314 yards, 2 TDs, and ran for 72 yards and three scores. Lil’ Jordan Humphrey caught 9 passes for 133 yards and a score, and don’t forget LJH threw 2 passes, completing both, one for a touchdown (to Collin Johnson). And Cameron Dicker got a nickname and became a legend.
The Statistics
Offense
Statistic |
Texas |
Land Thieves |
| Rushing Offense | #37 – 191.4 ypg | #100 – 128.6 ypg |
| Passing Offense | #10 – 322.2 ypg | #118 – 169.2 ypg |
| Total Offense | #7 – 513.6 ypg | #121 – 297.8 ypg |
| Scoring Offense | #7 – 45.0 ppg | #69 – 28.6 ppg |
| First Downs | #26 – 23.2/game | #118 – 16.0/game |
| Sacks Allowed | #16 – 5, 22 yards | #103 – 14, 76 yards |
| Tackles for Loss Allowed | #53 – 25, 78 yards | #95 – 32, 112 yards |
| Third Down Conversions | #9 – 52.5% | #130 – 26.9% |
| Fourth Down Conversions | #76 – 50% 4/8 | #60 – 57% 4/7 |
| Red Zone Attempts | #10 – 25 | #72 – 18 |
| Red Zone Offense | #29 – 93% / 89% | #20 – 95% / 68% |
| Long Run Plays | #70 – 25/10, 11/20, 3/30, 2/40 | #86 – 22/10, 5/20, 4/30, 2/40 |
| Long Pass Plays | #19 – 61/10, 25/20, 13/30, 7/40 | #103 – 36/10, 8/20, 5/30, 3/40 |
Defense
Statistic |
Texas |
Land Thieves |
| Rushing Defense | #29 – 106.6 ypg | #27 – 105.6 ypg |
| Passing Defense | #2 – 121.6 ypg | #75 – 218.6 ypg |
| Total Defense | #3 – 228.2 ypg | #41 – 324.2 ypg |
| Scoring Defense | #2 – 7.0 ppg | #19 – 16.0 ppg |
| First Downs Allowed | #4 – 12.8/game | #42 – 17.4/game |
| Sacks | #28 – 13, 83 yards | #9 – 18, 109 yards |
| Tackles for Loss | #20 – 38, 139 yards | #14 – 40, 154 yards |
| Third Down Conversions | #8 – 27.8% | #17 – 30.3% |
| Fourth Down Conversions | #48 – 46% 6/13 | #97 – 62.5% 5/8 |
| Red Zone Attempts | #2 – 6 | #7 – 10 |
| Red Zone Defense | #8 – 67% / 17% | #45 – 80% / 40% |
| Long Run Plays Allowed | #4 – 12/10, 1/20, 1/30, 1/40 | #22 – 16/10, 1/20, 0 – 0 |
| Long Pass Plays Allowed | #1 – 19/10, 8/20, 2/30, 1/40 | #49 – 40/10, 14/20, 9/30, 6/40 |
Other
Statistic |
Texas |
Land Thieves |
| Turnovers | #67 – 7, 3F, 4I | #33 – 5, 2F, 3I |
| Turnover Margin | #46 – 9:7 +2 | #3 – 13:5 +8 |
| Penalties | #63 – 32, 249 yards | #53 – 31, 284 yards |
*Based on total number of penalties.
Match-up Comparison
Texas Offense |
Land Thieves Defense |
| Rushing Offense – 191.4 ypg | 105.6 ypg – Rushing Defense |
| Passing Offense – 322.2 ypg | 218.6 ypg – Passing Defense |
| Total Offense – 513.6 ypg | 324.2 ypg – Total Defense |
| Scoring Offense – 45.0 ppg | 16.0 ppg – Scoring Defense |
| First Downs – 23.2/game | 17.4/game – First Downs Allowed |
| 3rd Down Offense – 52.5% | 30.3% – 3rd Down Defense |
| 4th Down Offense – 50% | 62.5% – 4th Down Defense |
| Red Zone Offense – 93% / 89% | 80% / 40% – Red Zone Defense |
| LRP – 25/10, 11/20, 3/30, 2/40 | 16/10, 1/20, 0/20 0/30 – LRP Allowed |
| LPP – 61/10, 25/20, 13/30, 7/40 | 40/10, 14/20, 9/30, 6/40 – LPP Allowed |
Texas Defense |
Land Thieves Offense |
| Rushing Defense – 106.6 ypg | 128.6 ypg – Rushing Offense |
| Passing Defense – 121.6 ypg | 169.2 ypg – Passing Offense |
| Total Defense – 228.2 ypg | 297.8 ypg – Total Offense |
| Scoring Defense – 7.0 ppg | 28.6 ppg – Scoring Offense |
| First Downs Allowed – 12.8/game | 16.0/game – First Downs |
| 3rd Down Defense – 27.8% | 26.9% – 3rd Down Offense |
| 4th Down Defense – 46% | 57% – 4th Down Offense |
| Red Zone Defense – 67% / 17% | 95% / 68% – Red Zone Offense |
| LRP Allowed – 12/10, 1/20, 1/30, 1/40 | 22/10, 5/20, 4/30, 2/40 – LRP |
| LPP Allowed – 19/10, 8/20, 2/30, 1/40 | 36/10, 8/20, 5/30, 3/40 – LPP |
Texas is No. 1 in the nation in redzone touchdowns allowed – just 16.67%. One opponent touchdown in 6 redzone attempts. Pretty good.
- OU is last on SEC in Rushing, Passing, Total Offense, First Downs, and Third Down Conversions. That is really rancid.
- OU and Kentucky have allowed only 1 run over 20 yards and none over 30 yards.
- Texas pass defense is tied with Washington for first in yards per attempt at 4.5.
BCF Toys
Excellent advanced analytics. If you want the explanation of one of these statistical categories, the link is embedded.
| FEI | OFEI | DFEI | SFEI – Adj | |
| Texas | No. 4: 1.25 | No. 5: 0.63 | No. 4: 0.59 | No. 41: 0.03 |
| OU | No. 18: 0.66 | No. 47: 0.08 | No. 10: 0.50 | No. 3: 0.11 |
Louisiana State is the No. 1 OFEI, with a 0.78.
| NAY | OAY | DAY | |
| Texas | No. 2: 0.445 | No. 6: 0.688 | No. 1: 0.243 |
| OU | No. 59: 0.41 | No. 116: 0.356 | No. 4: 0.315 |
| NPD | OPD | DPD | |
| Texas | No. 2: 3.50 | No. 6: 4.09 | No. 1: 0.59 |
| OU | No. 36: 0.81 | No. 88: 1.93 | No. 9: 1.13 |
| NPP | OPP | DPP | |
| Texas | No. 2: 4.40 | No. 7: 7.88 | No. 1: 3.48 |
| OU | No. 66: 0.03 | No. 118: 4.66 | No. 13: 4.63 |
BCF’s Game Projection. “Game Projections are calculated from current FEI ratings and include the projected win likelihood (PW), projected margin of victory (PM), projected points scored (PF) and allowed (PA), and projected total points scored (PT) for each FBS game.”
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Texas | OU Land Thieves | .809 | 12.9 | 32.9 | 20.0 | 52.9 |
ESPN Analytics:
College Football Insiders:
Texas Homer
Advanced Stats Preview for the RRS from Nik Patel on BON
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 18 Oklahoma advanced stats preview
Chip Brown, one of the best ($):
Texas can send Oklahoma a message of reckoning now that Red River Rivalry is an SEC game
The official Game Notes from The University of Texas
Week 7 – Oklahoma Land Thieves Game Notes – University of Texas Athletics
TCT Thoughts
Quinn Ewers is back. We have all, naturally, been enthralled with Arch Manning, but let’s not forget before he got hurt, Ewers was the Heisman favorite. He should be back and mostly healthy, and I suspect ready to get a win over the Land Thieves and be 2-1 over our arch-rivals.
The key match-up will probably be Michael Hawkins Jr. and the Texas linebackers. Hill and Gbenda are going to have bring and play their best A Game, and the big guys up front are going to have to help them out. We don’t know how much of a college-level dual-threat Hawkins is, and thus far the other parts of the Oklahoma offense have not shown a propensity for gaining yards, or for getting first downs, or for converting third downs. This is a huge stage, and I read somewhere that Hawkins is the first true freshman to ever start at quarterback for the Land Thieves in the RRS.
The Sooner offensive line is mid to lower mid in quality and performance. Kwiatowski and his staff need to take advantage of that and terrorize Hawkins. This would be a good game for him to turn the ball over a few times. The OU offense has been better since Hawkins took over, but I am counting on this great Texas defense to reverse that trend. Our defensive line, especially with Collin Simmons, needs to get after Hawkins. With a banged up and not so good receiving corps, our defensive backs should be able to cover well and not give Hawkins quick targets.
The Sooners are 4-1 because of their defense. It is not ranked as high as the Horns, but it is plenty good and definitely good enough to keep the Thieves in the game. They are Top 10 in sacks. But they have not played an offensive line like the 2024 Longhorns. Our Big Men should be able to protect Quinn – they better. Quinn needs to have the couple of seconds he needs to make his reads, especially early so he can knock the rust off after missing the last couple of games. I think if Quinn can get some rhythm, and if our running backs can get some yards, then we should be able to build a decent lead by halftime.
Texas has only won 3 of the last 10 games with the Sooners (counting the 2018 loss in the Big 12 CG). Not acceptable, and it is time for Texas to start a new era of dominance in the Red River Rivalry. Based on what we have seen so far this year, this Texas team can and should win this game. But, in looking back over the season, this is probably going to be our toughest game yet, and not just because it is with our biggest rival. While their offense appears pitiful, who knows how much that might be because of the instability at quarterback. Of course, the fact they have 5 wide receivers out won’t help the Land Thief cause, but one of the magical things about this game (sometimes good magic for the Horns, sometimes bad), is that some kid, often a freshman, steps up and steps out and makes a name for himself. We have seen it many times over the decades of this great game, and let’s just hope that on Saturday, that magic comes for a kid in the Icy Whites with the burnt orange steer on the sides of his helmet.
Interesting tweet from Joe Musatto, a guy that writes for the Oklahoman: “The 11 Sooners on the field for the game-winning touchdown against Texas last year? Not one of them will suit up in the Cotton Bowl on Saturday.”
The keys to the game, as usual – don’t turn the ball over, don’t commit stupid penalties. Given how good the Oklahoma defense is at forcing turnovers, this may be the single most important factor in the outcome of the game. If you read my notes about last week’s games below, note the results in the Southern Cal loss and Texas Christian loss. Both, in my opinion, because of turnovers. Both to underdogs, schools without as good a roster and without the national rankings to suggest they should get an upset. But they did. Texas has to take care of the ball on Saturday. Our offensive line has got to quit jumping offsides. We do that, and we win big.
I am optimistic that while this game may have some moments of high anxiety, the Longhorns will dominate over the sixty minutes of clock. I think the analytics are underestimating what the Sarkisian offense under Ewers can do, and I think the Land Thieves offense is about to have their toughest test of the season.
Texas 41, Oklahoma 17
https://www.instagram.com/p/DA6vDIAJTox/
The Texas State Fair
The link to this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards. Pretty sure the Dominican Fritura Dog is spectacular. Fried Burnt End Bombs too.
Big Tex Choice Awards | State Fair of Texas
AP Top 25 & Coaches Poll
Massey Ratings
Ohio State, Texas, Oregon, Alabama (don’t ask me), Penn State, Georgia are the Top 6.
PFF – Texas No. 1!
Texas, Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Miami (Florida)
College Football Rankings: Top 25 entering Week 7
ESPN College Football Power Index
ESPN SP+ from Bill Connelly
Nate Manzo (@cfbNate):
Longhorns vs. Land Thieves
Texas and Oklahoma are two of the true bluebloods of college football. Hard to admit, but the Oklahoma Sooners have an even more glorious historical record than the Longhorns. Which, in some ways, makes it all the more amazing that Texas leads the all-time series 63-51-5. Coach Sarkisian is 1-2 against Oklahoma. Need to even that this year!
In my review of last year’s loss, I said “Not sure how or why the focus wasn’t there, but if we are going to win Championships, it has to be 100% from when they come out of the tunnel until we all sing the Eyes of Texas. I trust Sark, and I believe in Quinn Ewers.” All the more true this year, because Championships are achievable and Texas needs to win this game. I think the Longhorns will be ready this year, and if someone isn’t, next man up.
Do y’all know why we say y’all instead of you? Because that way we leave out the 2 worst letters in the English alphabet – O U.
Red River Shootout Legends and Highlights
There have been many Longhorn legends launched or elevated in the Cotton Bowl, or plays which indelibly engraved a Longhorn’s name in Texas Football History.
Vince Young in 2005, Game No. 100 in the RRS, breaking an ugly losing streak with a 45-12 win, throwing for 241 yards and 3 touchdowns (including a 64 yard TD bomb to Billy Pittman), and aided by 116 yards on 9 carries from Jamaal Charles (an 80 yard touchdown run helped). Highlights from the game, with the Great One, Keith Jackson.
The 2008 game, when Texas beat No. 1 Oklahoma: Texas trailed 14-3 in the second quarter when Jordan Shipley returned the OU kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Shipley and Quan Cosby would have 112 yards and 122 yards receiving, respectively, as Colt threw for 277 yards. Chris Ogbonnaya ran for 127 yards. One of my favorite stat lines from the game: Cody Johnson, 3 carries, 4 yards, 3 touchdowns. Efficient. Our field goal kicker was Hunter Lawrence, and he was 3 for 3; meanwhile, a guy named Justin Tucker did a great job on kickoffs – 8 for 525 yards.
Big Man Touchdown. In 2005 after Bomar gets clocked, Rodrique Wright rumbles for the score.
Stonie Clark staying home on the reverse by James Allen and stopping the Land Thieves on the goal line on fourth down to preserve the upset. The first video is under 40 seconds. The second is of all four downs of the goal line stand – a bit longer.
As for great games by great players, Peter Gardere is the only Longhorn quarterback with four wins over the Land Thieves (and the only starting quarterback on either team with 4 wins in the rivalry): Peter the Great beat the Sooners in 1989 (28-24, Land Thieves were ranked No. 15); 1990 (14-13, Land Thieves were ranked No. 4); 1991 (10-7, Land Thieves were ranked No. 6), and 1992 (34-24, Land Thieves were ranked No. 16).
Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show at The University
This was pretty funny. From a couple of years ago. Worth watching.
Texas One
The Texas One Fund is the official NIL collective that supports The University of Texas athletics. Texas One provides opportunities to Longhorns use their name, image, and likeness to promote charitable causes. Contributions to Texas One now count toward your Longhorn Foundation loyalty points. It is critically important to support Texas One and NIL for Longhorns. Consider a monthly donation. It makes a difference.
University of Oklahoma
Academic Rankings |
||
National |
||
Texas |
Oklahoma |
|
| Forbes | 31 | 113 |
| U.S. News & World Report | 32 | 132 |
| ARWU | 25 | 115-142 |
| Washington Monthly | 87 | 205 |
Global |
||
| ARWU | 45 | 501-600 |
| QS | 66 | 401-710 |
| THE | 52 | Unranked |
| U.S. News & World Report | 56 | 503 |
I have been honing this small piece on the University of Oklahoma and the Sooners for years. I like it.
My favorite Land Thieves football quote is from OU president George Lynn Cross (a very bright guy – Ph.D. in Botany from the University of Chicago). Cross, who was in a budget meeting with Oklahoma legislators (I am guessing around the Wilkerson Era), was asked why OU needed more money. Cross replied: “I would like to build a University of which the football team could be proud.” Aspirational thoughts are so important. Keep wishing.
The etymology of Boomer Sooner: “Boomers were those who by constant agitation tried to bring about the opening of Oklahoma to settlers before 1889, and Sooners were the settlers who slipped in to stay before the gun was fired. In 1905, Arthur M. Alden, a history and physiology student, wrote the lyrics to the university’s “Boomer Sooner”, borrowing the tune from Yale’s “Boola-Boola” but improvising on the words. A year later an addition was made to it from North Carolina’s “I’m a Tarheel Born” and the two combined form the university’s battle song of today.” Yale, the University of North Carolina, and OU. “One of these things is not like the other things”. Worth noting that basically the entire fight song is “borrowed” from others.
The book: BOOM TOWN: The Fantastical Saga of Oklahoma City, Its Chaotic Founding, Its Apocalyptic Weather, Its Purloined Basketball Team, and the Dream of Becoming a World-Class Metropolis.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/08/how-oklahoma-city-was-born-in-a-day.html
From the article:
Consider, for instance, OKC’s bizarre origin story. It reads less like an episode of actual history than a spaghetti western written by a faulty algorithm. The place was founded on a single afternoon, in an event called the Land Run, during which a formerly empty patch of prairie became a city of 10,000. The chaos that ensued was so alarming that the U.S. government never allowed anything quite like it to happen again. This formative absurdity set the tone for everything that followed: the shootouts and power grabs and even – eventually – NBA basketball.
Oklahoma City was born in an event called, with extreme dramatic understatement, the Land Run. The Land Run should be called something like “Chaos Explosion Apocalypse Town” or “Reckoning of the DoomSettlers: Clusterfµ€k on the Prairie.”
The bugle notes had yet to fade when, like some kind of ancient creation myth, the empty landscape sprouted people. It was an ambush of settlers. … These were, in the lingo of the times, Sooners, or Moonlighters. We would call them cheaters. … At the sound of the bugle, all of the cheaters came running. The land was free, they knew, only for those who got there first.
“I’m a Sooner born and Sooner bred and when I die, I’ll be Sooner dead.” Quite touching, actually.
Week Seven in the Southeastern Conference
The South Carolina Gamecocks (3-2, 1-2) travel to Tuscaloosa to play No. 7 Alabama (4-1, 1-1), 11:00 a.m. on ABC/ESPN+. I bet it was not a fun week at practice for the Crimson Tide. Bama favored by 21, , total is 50.5.
No. 21 Missouri on the road at Massachusetts, 11:00 a.m. on ESPN2. The Minutemen should be a nice way to recover after the beating Texas Agricultural & Mechanical gave Mizzou. Tickets as low as $8. Tigers favored by 27, over/under is 54.5.
Mississippi State (1-4, 0-2) at No. 6 Georgia, (4-1, 2-1), 3:15 p.m. on the SEC Network. Not sure how to interpret this, but Georgia is a bigger favorite over the Bulldogs than Missouri is over UMass. UGA minus 34, total is 54.5.
Florida (3-2, 1-1) at No. 8 Tennessee, 6:00 p.m. on ESPN from Neyland. Volunteers favored by 15, total is 56.5.
No. 9 Ole Miss (5-1, 1-1) at No. 13 Louisiana State (4-1, 1-0), 6:30 pm. on ABC/ESPN+. The Magnolia Bowl. And the best game of the day not being played in the Cotton Bowl. A really great rivalry. Tigers lead the Rebels 65-42-4, in a series that began in 1894. Should be a great football game in Death Valley. Rebels favored by 3.5, over/under 61.5. Hotty Toddy!
BCF’s Game Projection.
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Ole Miss | Louisiana State | .542 | 1.5 | 32.4 | 31.0 | 63.4 |
College Football Insiders
Vanderbilt (3-2, 1-1) at Kentucky (3-1, 1-2), 6:45 p.m. on the SEC Network. Who knew that this game would be potentially big! Wildcats favored by 13.5, over/under is 44.5.
Week 7: Service Academies
Army and Navy both undefeated and 5-0 for the first time since 1945. Of course, that was six years after the last national championship won by Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College.
UAB (1-4) at Army (5-0), 11:00 a.m. on CBSSN. The Black Knights are favored by 26.5 at home at Michie Stadium. Total is 54.5.
Air Force at New Mexico, both 1-4. 6:00 p.m. on truTV/Max (truTV is one of those channels you find every year for one week during March Madness; that’s all I know.) Hopefully this is the weekend the Falcons get off the ground and get a win. Lobos favored by 6.5.
Top 25 – Week 7
Friday
No. 16 Utah (4-1) at Arizona State (4-1), 9:30 p.m. on ESPN. Utes favored by 5.5, total is 46.5. Watch out for Cameron Skattebo. Second in the Big 12 and sixth nationally in rushing – 615 yards, 123 yards per game.
Saturday
No. 10 Clemson (4-1) at Wake Forest (2-3), 11:00 a.m. on ESPN. Tigers favored by 20.5, over/under is 61.5.
Stanford at No. 11 Notre Dame, 2:30 p.m. on NBC. I don’t think the Irish will have any lapses this Saturday. Notre Dame favored by 22.5, over/under is 45.5.
No. 4 Penn State (5-0) at Southern Cal (3-2), 2:30 p.m. on CBS/Paramount+. Really need the Trojans to get this win at home in the Coliseum. Nittany Lions favored by 3.5, total is 50.5. I am going with Southern Cal for the big upset. Fight On! ✌
BCF’s Game Projection.
| Projected Winner | Projected Loser | PW | PM | PF | PA | PT |
| Penn State | Southern Cal | .558 | 2.1 | 30.2 | 28.1 | 58.3 |
Cal (3-2) at No. 22 Pitt (5-0), 2:30 p.m. on ESPN. Panthers favored by 3, total is 58.5. Cal should be 4-1!
Purdue (1-4) at No. 23 Illinois (4-1), 2:30 p.m. on FS1. Illinois favored by 22, total is 48.5.
Arizona (3-2) at No. 14 Brigham Young (5-0), 3:00 p.m. on FOX. Go Cats! Cougars favored by 3.
No. 2 Ohlo State at No. 3 Oregon, 6:30 p.m. on NBC/Peacock. This should be one heckuva football game. Buckeyes are lucky they got an afternoon time slot instead of having a full-on night game at Autzen. As it is, Ohlo State is favored by 3, total is 54.5. Not a Ducks fan often, but will be Saturday night!
No. 11 Iowa State (5-0) at West Virginia (3-2), 7:00 p.m. on FOX. Based on reports from a few guys who have watched some Big 12 games, the officiating is still atrocious. May explain why undefeated Cyclones are only 3 point favorites at Milan Puskar Stadium. Total is 53.5.
No. 18 Kansas State (4-1) at Colorado (4-1). 9:15 p.m. on ESPN. Not really prime time. Wildcats favored by 3.5, total is 55.5.
No. 17 Boise State (4-1) at Hawaii (2-3), 10:00 p.m. on CBSSN. Boise favored by 20.5, over/under is 60.5. I miss good ole Timmy Chang.
Other Games of Interest – Week 7
Saturday
Georgia Tech (4-2, 2-2) at North Carolina (3-3, 0-2), 11:00 a.m. on the CW Network. Our friend William Mack Brown needs a win. Yellow Jackets favored by 4 on the road at Kenan Stadium. Total is 59.5. Good luck Coach!
Miami Redhawks (1-4, 01- MAC) at Eastern Michigan (4-1, 1-0 MAC), 1:00 p.m. on ESPN+ from Rynearson Stadium in Ypsilanti (which is in eastern Michigan). Miami favored by 2.5! Total is 46.5.
Louisville (32-, 1-1) at Virginia (4-1, 2-0), 2:30 p.m. on the ACC Network, Scott Stadium in Charlottesville. Cardinals favored by 7.5, total is 54.5. Go Hoos! Wahoo Wa!
North Texas (4-1) at Florida Atlantic (2-3). 6:00 p.m. on ESPN2. I have been remiss in not making note of the success that Coach Eric Morris is having in Denton with the Mean Green. The Elf’s quarterback is the well-traveled Chandler Morris (a year with the Land Thieves and then at Texas Christian from 2021-23). Morris is 6th in the nation in passing, 328.6 yards per game Plus a 65.4% completion and 16 touchdowns. North Texas favored by 5.
UTSA at Rice, 6:00 p.m. on ESPN2. Roadrunners favored by 3.5.
Hurricane Relief
The tragic loss of life and destruction from Helene and Milton is heartbreaking. There are dozens of charities and organizations doing good work to help those hurt by the hurricanes. A couple of longtime big ones are my first choices for support.
The Salvation Army’s disaster response is most worthy.
The Salvation Army Mission Statement: The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
The American Red Cross is on the ground and has been for weeks helping people try and put their lives back together.
Washington & Lee University
The Generals shutout the Averett Cougars, 35-0. W&L pounded out 364 yards on the ground, and all five touchdowns came by the run. Anthony Crawford led the Generals with 92 yards on 10 carries, accounting for four of the scores. The defense held the Cougars to 83 yards rushing and 72 yards passing.
This week the Generals host Hampden-Sydney College at Wilson Field, 1:00 p.m. Blue Ridge Mountains time. The Tigers are 3-1, with wins over Brevard (51-30), Centre (38-34), and Guilford (31-0), after losing their season opener to Delaware Valley (21-41). Bet on Mr. Mica.
John, Jacy, and Harrison Donovan with Tommy, Jill, and Scott Holstead.
Dell Children’s Star Ball
Dell Children’s Hospital is one of Austin’s greatest treasures and assets. Exceptional healthcare for our babies and children, delivered compassionately and with love.
Each winter, the big fundraiser is the Dell Children’s Star Ball. This year’s ball is February 1, 2025 at the Four Seasons. Presented by the Nyle Maxwell Family of Dealerships. I hope you will consider sponsoring or supporting with a generous gift.
Dell Children’s Ball – Dell Children’s Foundation
Week Six in the Southeastern Conference
As featured above, VANDERBILT BEAT ALABAMA! Crimson Tide were favored by 22.5 and lost by 5. Holy Cow.
Texas Agricultural & Mechanical got a huge win at home, beating the Missouri Tigers quite soundly, 41-10. Connor Weigman got the start at quarterback for the aggies, to the surprise of many, and to the surprise of many, he was very solid – 18/22, 276 yards. No touchdowns, but no interceptions and no fumbles. Le’Veon Moss had 138 yards rushing on 12 carries with 3 scores, Amari Daniels added two touchdowns and gained 34 on his 9 carries. Texas Agricultural & Mechanical defense held Mizzou to 68 rushing. Pretty good.
No. 5 Georgia with a solid 31-13 win over Auburn between the hedges. Georgia was favored by 22.
No. 12 Ole Miss 27-3 over South Carolina, good cover by the Rebs.
Arkansas 19, Tennessee 14. The Vols were favored by 13.5 and barely covered that with their total score.
Florida and Billy Napier got an important win over Central Florida, 24-13.
Week 6: Service Academies
Navy took down Air Force 34-7. Middie QB Blake Horvath passed for 134 yards and led Navy with 115 yards rushing on 19 carries – with 2 scores. Navy finished with 329 yards rushing.
Army beat Tulsa 49-7, a 42 point win when the line was 11.5 (and the total was 50.5). The Black Knights ground out 321 yards rushing with 5 touchdowns. Army QB Bryson Daily was 5/5 for 140 yards and 2 scores and he rushed for 110 and 2 scores. Daily is 8th in the nation, averaging 120.4 yards per game.
Top 25 – Week 6
Friday
Michigan State scored 10 in the fourth quarter (to cover), but No. 6 Oregon dominated the game and won 31-10. Did watch a bit after I got home from Matt’s.
Syracuse got a 44-41 win at No. 25 Nevada Las Vegas. Hard to figure when the sportsbooks don’t even have the winner right.
Saturday
Southern Methodist with a big road win as they upset No. 22 Louisville 34-27. Ponies are for real.
No. 8 Miami (Florida) was in Berkeley to play the California Golden Bears. I think everyone expected Miami to win. But for those of us who stayed up well past midnight to watch the game, it was a contest that Cal should have won. Up 25 points in the third quarter. Truly terrible officiating. A non-call on a targeting hit that no one, including the announcers, could explain. I will say it again and keep saying it: with betting not just legal but overtly promoted at both the collegiate and professional levels, and with players getting paid (over the table), the officiating is going to have to get a lot better. Because of the bettors. And the bookies. And the money and the families behind the bookies.
No. 3 Ohlo State 35-7 over Iowa.
Washington beat Michigan 27-17 in the rematch of last season’s title game.
Not sure what is going on with Lincoln Riley and his Trojans. Losing 17-24 to the Gophers? Perhaps the fumble, two interceptions, and 8 penalties? Mistakes hurt, and they will turn a win into a loss. In this case, a loss Southern Cal couldn’t afford.
No. 16 Iowa State stays undefeated with a 43-21 pummeling of the Baylor Bears. Baylor rushed for 79 yards. The Cyclones rushed for 265 yards. Oh Aranda.
No. 15 Clemson 29-13 over Florida State. Seminoles covered. That is the only good news in Tallahassee for Florida State..
No. 23 Indiana 41-24 over Northwestern.
Utah State at No. 21 Boise State was favored by 27 at home over the Mormon Aggies, and the Broncos covered that. 62-30. Boise is back.
No. 7 PSU 27-11 over UCLA. Bruins covered. There’s that.
Other Games of Interest – Week 6
Friday
I really expected Texas Christian to go to Houston and win and probably cover (16.5). The Cougars held the Frogs to 66 yards rushing. Josh Hoover threw 2 interceptions and fumbled once, and the Frogs lost another fumble. Four turnovers. Hard to win a road game like that. Houston 30, Texas Christian 19.
Saturday
Virginia 24-14 over Boston College. Good win and cover for the Cavaliers.
Pittsburgh 34-24 over North Carolina. Ouch.
Miami Redhawks lose at Toledo 20-30.
Nebraska 14-7 over Rutgers. What a Big Ten score. Line was 7.
The other late game I tried to watch was Texas Tech at Arizona. I couldn’t because Grande was fouled up again. What a cluster. And even worse, the Sand Aggies won 28-22.
Music
I was kind of piddling around on Sunday with what to do this week for music, and Monday night David Rex, a good friend and Sooner, sent me this clip of the Rolling Stones. A classic. Live in Austin Texas.
Which led me to just pick some of my favorite Texas and Oklahoma songs.
George Strait, If it Wasn’t for Texas
Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, live with San Antonio Rose
Willie and a lot of friends, including Kris and REK, Luckenbach Texas
Django Walker, Texas Longhorn – the SEC Version
Pat Green and Cory Morrow, Texas On My Mind
Asleep At The Wheel, Miles and Miles of Texas
Lil Joe & La Familia, Las Nubes
Roger Creager, Rancho Grande
Kevin Fowler, Texas Forever
Cross Canadian Ragweed, Boys From Oklahoma
Jim Nicar
“1934: The Texas vs. Oklahoma football program cover from 90 years ago at the Texas State Fair. The Longhorns won 19 – 0.”
From Jim’s Post on October 9, 2024.
Follow Jim on X
HAAM
Thank you to all of my friends who donated to HAAM! I am really grateful. As of about midnight Thursday night, $4,005 donated to my personal fundraiser. Thanks to Laura, Amy, Brenda, Kara & Bob, Gordon, Jake, Don, Debbie, Jeff, Jay, Little Joe, John, Mike, Amy & Perry, Mary Ann & Ben, Karen, Kari, Bill, Alfie, Lisa & Sam, Mike, Lenora, Angie, Rob, Mary Frances & Wilson, Bob, and several anonymous. Less than $1,000 from my goal!
Happy Birthday Judd Messer!
I am grateful for Judd and our friendship. A good young man.
Picture of the Week
Venus and the Crescent Moon in the southwest sky. From JType’s post on October 8, 2024.
Quote of the Week
“Meaning is not something you stumble across, like the answer to a riddle or the prize in a treasure hunt. Meaning is something you build into your life. You build it out of your own past, out of your affections and loyalties, out of the experience of humankind as it is passed on to you, out of your own talent and understanding, out of the things you believe in, out of the things and people you love, out of the values for which you are willing to sacrifice something. The ingredients are there. You are the only one who can put them together into that unique pattern that will be your life.”
John William Gardner (1912-2002), American author, OSS officer, cabinet officer, founder of the White House Fellows program and Common Cause, and a 1964 recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, born on this day, October 8th, in Los Angeles, California. The passage is from his book, Living, Leading, and the American Dream, published posthumously in 2003 and quoted by Brooklyn-based Maria Popova in her weekly newsletter, The Marginalian, May 26, 2024.
From a friend who sends out a daily motivational quote.
God Bless Texas
God Bless America
Tim Taylor
Member, Football Writers Association of America
Tailgating before Home Football Games
The Juan Heisman Tailgate
Lot 38, East of Sid Richardson Hall
HOOK EM HORNS!!
The Austin Horns Fan Dispatch
Vol. XXI, No. 8
© Timothy C. Taylor, Sr. 2024. All Rights Reserved (as to original material).
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You can contact me by mail:
Tim Taylor P.O. Box 5371 Austin, Texas 78763-5371