Texas Longhorns linebacker Brad Spence (14) celebrates a sack during the Red River Rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday Oct. 11, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Though one team is ranked No. 1 and the other isn’t ranked at all Texas football vs. Oklahoma on Saturday is sure to being some intrigue.
Will the top-ranked Longhorns earn a rare third blowout in a row against the Sooners? Will we see any “inappropriate” celebrations after a big play? Should Oklahoma consider benching quarterback John Mateer if things start poorly?
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) is pressured by Texas Longhorns linebacker Colin Simmons (1) during the Red River Rivalry between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday Oct. 11, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)
Texas is 4-0, including wins over then-No. 1 Ohio State and a ranked Tennessee team. After starting the year ranked, Oklahoma is 2-2 with losses to both of the power conference teams (Michigan and Georgia) it’s played.
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Columnists from three of the biggest outlets in Texas tackle five important questions about the 2026 matchup. Here’s what the Austin American-Statesman’s Cedric Golden, the Houston Chronicle’s Kirk Bohls and the Dallas Morning News’ Kevin Sherrington are thinking ahead of the Week 6 matchup.
Will Texas continue its (very) recent trend of Red River Rivalry blowouts?
BOHLS:I’m expecting a much closer game because these are two of the best defenses in all of college football. I see a few big offensive plays with a turnover or two turning the tide and Texas prevailing 20-6.
GOLDEN:The Longhorns haven’t won three in a row in the since Mack Brown’s crew owned the last three matchups of the 1990s. It’s a rivalry game but nothing suggests this woebegone OU offense will do enough to beat an opponent that’s simply more talented on both sides of the ball. Texas will win by double digits.
SHERRINGTON:Depends on what you mean by a blowout. Does 12 points qualify? I don’t see them scoring 35 or more against the Sooners unless they suddenly develop a running game.
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback John Mateer (10) talks to his team after a timeout in the fourth quarter of the Red River Rivalry, as the Sooners play the Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Oct. 11, 2025. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Brent Venables revealed that he considered benching John Mateer at halftime against Georgia, but has confirmed he will be his starter for the Red River Rivalry. Should that be the case?
GOLDEN:Who else can he play there? Mateer is making big bucks to lead this offense and it’s up to the coaching staff to figure out what works best for his skill set. We may see Whitt Newbauer but Mateer will be given every chance to make some plays.
BOHLS:That’s unimaginable in this game. But if OU implodes, you could make the argument that the Sooners should tinker with the idea of looking to the future even though 6-6 junior Whitt Newbauer from Mercer or 6-1 true freshman Bowe Bentley have combined to throw just two passes this season.
SHERRINGTON:There is a history for first-time starting quarterbacks at the State Fair, but I’m not sure this is the time to do it. Mateer isn’t who the Sooners thought he was going to be, but I don’t like the idea of starting a backup against the No. 1 team unless I’m pretty sure he’s better.
What matchup or matchups will ultimately determine this Red River Rivalry?
GOLDEN:The battle in the trenches is one to watch. Texas center Connor Robertson and guards Dylan Sikorski and Brandon Baker must take some heat off this struggling run game by winning against Oklahoma defensive tackles Jayden Jackson and David Stone. The Sooners are allowing only 3.25 yards per carry and the Horns averaged only 1.7 yards on 36 attempts at Tennessee.
BOHLS: I think Texas has to blanket OU’s top receiver Isaiah Sategna III with double coverage because he leads all Sooner targets with 20 catches this season and is by far OU’s most dangerous threat. I believe the offensive line must keep Arch Manning clean with no more than two sacks at most to give him time to attack the OU secondary and beef up Texas’ lagging passing game.
SHERRINGTON:Colin Simmons against the Sooners’ offensive tackles, and Arch Manning against the OU secondary.
Each of you gentleman has covered your share of RRRs. What is your favorite aspect of the tradition?
GOLDEN:The State Fair provides such a cool dynamic as the backdrop of the sanctioned violence going on in football stadium. The cool part is a person from Mars could land on the concourse after the game and know from the body language of the fans who won the game.
BOLHS: Without question, it’s the split stadium halved down the middle, which allows for a raucous ambiance no matter what. The passion of this game rivals any other historic annual reunion. But my post-game meal of a corny dog also ranks very high.
SHERRINGTON:What makes Texas-OU great isn’t so much the game itself but, rather, the venue of an iconic stadium; the setting at the State Fair; and a house divided, crimson on one end and burnt orange on the other. I’ve written many times, including this week, that it is the greatest annual sporting event in Texas. No one has ever argued the point.
Texas Longhorns punter Jack Bouwmeester (19) celebrates winning the Red River Rivalry with the Golden Hat after Texas beat Oklahoma 23-6 at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Oct. 11, 2025. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Should the RRR be a neutral-field game? Or should rotate home-away?
GOLDEN: They should never leave this location. It’s one of the coolest setups in the sport and no other gameday atmosphere can rival it in uniqueness. It provides something neither Norman, Austin nor Jerry World can match, let alone, top.
BOHLS: No freakin’ way it should move away from the Cotton Bowl. Not now. Not next year. Not ever. The beauty of this arrangement is the kaleidoscope of colors and sounds that top all over rivalry games. I would say move it to home and home over my dead body, but I’m afraid some fans might take me up on that offer.
SHERRINGTON:Don’t be ridiculous. It’s the most unique set-up in all of football. Make it home-and-home, and it’s just another football game.
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This article originally published at ‘No freakin’ way’: Why Red River Rivalry should never leave Dallas, other top questions.