Texas is back from the brink?
The Longhorns picked off Oklahoma QB John Mateer three times and got a special teams touchdown in a 23-6 win over the No. 6 Sooners to throw an even bigger wrench into what looks to be a chaotic SEC.
Texas (4-2) scored 20 straight points after Oklahoma (5-1) took a 6-3 lead into halftime. The dagger for the Longhorns came with 9:54 left in the game when Ryan Niblett returned an Oklahoma punt 75 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown.
Oklahoma fans will, understandably, point out that a block in the back should have been called on the return. But the Sooners were not the better team on Saturday. Even with Mateer back on the field.
The Sooners QB returned to the field just 17 days after surgery for a broken bone in his right thumb. Mateer suffered the injury in Oklahomas Week 5 win over Auburn and became the Heisman favorite with his performance against the Tigers.
A few days later, Oklahoma wondered if hed even be available for the game at the Cotton Bowl. He was, and it wasnt his best performance.
Mateers arm strength didnt appear limited. But he looked rusty and Oklahomas offense was consistently befuddled by the Texas defense.
Just look at his second interception of the game. Oklahoma had the chance to kick a field goal for a 9-3 lead at halftime. But the Sooners called their final timeout of the half with 10 seconds to go ahead of a third down and Mateer threw the ball straight to Texas defensive back Malik Muhammed in the end zone.
Arch Manning, meanwhile, was unspectacular but efficient. Manning was 21-of-27 passing for 166 yards and a TD while also adding a 29-yard run. Texas offensive line was a huge question mark entering the game after its performance against Florida. Saturday, the Longhorns looked like they had the better line.
Texas had three sacks to Oklahomas one as Manning was not under the constant duress that he was a week ago.
It helped having RB Quintrevion Wisner back at close to full strength. Wisner got eight carries against Florida after missing each of Texas’ three games since the Longhorns’ Week 1 loss to Ohio State. Wisner finished the game with 22 carries for 95 yards
The Red River Rivalry doesn’t often make sense. Just look at the betting odds. Ahead of Saturday’s game, Texas closed as a 2.5-point favorite despite having two losses, no wins over power conference teams and Oklahoma getting Mateer back.
Oh, 80% of the money at BetMGM was on Oklahoma to cover the spread too.
Sure, you can credit that to oddsmakers knowing more than most about how sporting events will play out, but Texas hadn’t shown much through the first six weeks of the season.
Instead, the Longhorns put together their best game of the season while Oklahoma now has real questions ahead of one of the toughest finishing kicks in the SEC.
With No. 8 Alabama’s win over Missouri, just three teams the Tide, No. 4 Ole Miss and No. 5 Texas A&M don’t have a conference loss through the first half of the season. Will any of those teams finish the regular season without a conference loss? It’s hard to confidently bet yes.
Alabama still has LSU and Oklahoma, though both are at home. Ole Miss travels to No. 10 Georgia next week and Texas A&M has road games at No. 11 LSU and No. 14 Missouri.