Red River Revenge is Coming

By Owen Pannell | KZA Sports

IT'S TIME. The greatest game in all of sports is this Saturday, and I cannot wait. I’ll actually be in attendance, and I’m so excited to experience the greatest atmosphere in sports, and watch the Sooners get a win. We don’t know yet if John Mateer will be available, but I have 100% confidence either way. Here is your 2025 Red River preview.

Keys to Victory

- Run the ball

Especially if Hawkins is at QB, it’s going to be very hard to win this game without a run game. Hawkins adds an even bigger threat than Mateer does on the ground, but we are going to need a back to step up.

- Force turnovers

Turnovers are always a massive part of the storyline in these matchups. Whoever forces more generally has more success, and in a game like this that will most likely stay true. Forcing Arch into some mistakes would shake his already shaken confidence, and make the rest of the game even easier defensively.

- Stop the run

If the Sooners make the shorthorns win the game with the arm of Arch Manning, losing the game seems very unlikely. Florida held them to 52 yards on the ground, and we definitely have a better defense than them.  I love the matchup at the line of scrimmage for OU, and with star Texas RB CJ Baxter likely out again, so this should be a success.

- Big plays

The Red River runs off of big plays. Every single game, you can point to a handful of plays by the winning team and say “that won them the game”. We haven’t seen much of it this year, but I really am hoping to see a 60+ yard touchdown.

- Pressure the QB

We’ve been elite at this all year, pressuring the QB will be massive for the Sooners. 5+ sacks would certainly make it very hard for texas to win, and with their poor offensive line play, it’s definitely possible. Making Arch speed up his already poor decision making would force him into mistakes.

Biggest Storylines

- The Golden Hat

You don’t even need to make storylines for this game. Taking back the Golden Hat is all these 2 teams care about right now. Not the playoff implications, not being ranked higher, nothing other than beating the team on the other side of the river. 

- John Mateer

All week people have been talking about John Mateer. Currently, he’s listed as questionable, which implies there’s a 50 percent chance he plays. If he plays, that would be absolutely legendary, and I don’t see how the Sooners wouldn’t get this win.

- Arch Manning

The OU QB has been making good headlines, while the Texas QB has been making awful headlines. Is this the game where Arch Manning finally looks like the man we were promised he would be? 

Things I want to see

- A run game

I’ve been saying this all year, but we need a run game if we want to make it far into the postseason. The Texas defense is the best one we’ve played all year, so it would certainly be impressive to put up 150+ on the ground.

- Win the turnover battle

I said this before and I’ll say it again, we must win the turnover battle. Let’s say Mateer doesn’t play, and Hawkins goes out and has 2-3 turnovers, that puts us in a very difficult position to win. However, if we limit the turnovers to 0 or 1, and the defense forces a couple, we will win the game. Texas will only win if they dominate the turnover battle.

- WIN WIN WIN WIN

At the end of the day, I don’t care about how it looks, I just want to win. If OU leaves the Cotton Bowl 6-0, I’ll be the happiest man on Earth.

Key OU Players

- The QB

Whether it’s Mateer or Hawkins, we need our QB to play amazing. Mateer needs to make some big plays if he’s the one under center, but Hawkins just needs to limit the mistakes in my opinion.

- RB Tory Blaylock

Blaylock has been our best running back all year long, and we’re certainly going to need him to show up in Dallas. If he gives us 65+ yards on the ground, I’ll consider that a success.

- RB Jaydn Ott

We saw him get involved last weekend, but if he could be a difference maker and bust out a couple long runs, that would be massive.

- WR Isaiah Sategna

Sategna has been our best receiver so far, and in the return game he’s been electric. We’re going to see a couple big plays from him, calling it now.

- WR Deion Burks

Burks has been quiet recently, it’s time he has another massive game. This man has to find the endzone.

- TE Jaren Kanak

It’s hard to find someone who hates Texas as much as Jaren Kanak. He’s been a top TE in college football so far, and I promise you he’s going to have an impact here.

- DE R Mason Thomas

R Mason is about to be in the nightmares of Arch Manning. He’ll be living in the Texas backfield all day long.

- DT David Stone

The best defensive tackle in the country is David Stone. He’s certainly going to be a key factor in both stopping the run and getting to the QB.

- CB Eli Bowen

After making his return last week, Bowen should be a full go and ready to strap up these shorthorn receivers.

- CTH Kendal Daniels

Kendal Daniels will bring pain to Texas, no doubt about it. He’s going to be flying all around delivering big hits and making huge tackles.

- LB Kip Lewis

OU’s leading tackler thus far, he needs to take a leave out of Danny Stutsman’s playbook and come to the field ANGRY.

- SS Peyton Bowen

Bowen is going to have an insane game, I can just feel it. He went off against Texas as a freshman in 2023, and a sequel to that is coming.

- K Tate Sandell

Kicking could very well be the difference in this game, and if it is I’m glad we have Mr Sandell. Only missed 1 kick all year, he’s basically automatic.

Top Texas Players

- WR Parker Livingstone

Despite suffering a leg injury, Livingstone is expected to play. He’s been the Horns best WR so far, with 279 yards and 3 TDs.

- WR Ryan Wingo

Another good receiver Texas has is Ryan Wingo, who has been a little disappointing, but is still certainly a playmaker.

- DB Michael Taffe

A very experienced DB, Taffe is a key part to this great Texas defense.

- LB Anthony Hill Jr

Arguably the best backer in college football, Hill is certainly going to cause some issues for the Sooners.

- DE Colin Simmons

He only has 1.5 sacks this year, but he is a very talented edge rusher. The OL will have their hands full with him.

- CB Malik Mohummad

Muhummad is expected to make his return after missing the Florida game. He is easily the best corner for Texas, and arguably one of the best in the nation.

Prediction

I’ve got the Sooners dominating in the Cotton Bowl, getting a 31-10 win. This would all but knock Texas out of the playoffs, and I can’t wait. LET”S GO BEAT TEXAS! BOOMER!

OU- 31 TEX- 10

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