College Football Rewind: Most important games from 2003 season

By Jackson Caudell | May 4, 2020

NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 4: Head coach Nick Saban of the Loiusiana State Tigers holds up the Bowl Championship Series Trophy after his team defeated the Oklahoma Sooners in the Nokia Sugar Bowl National Championship on January 4, 2004 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Tigers defeated the Sooners 21-14 to win the National Championship. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

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NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Jason White #18 of the University of Oklahoma Sooners throws a touchdown pass against the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins at Memorial Stadium on September 20, 2003 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated UCLA 59-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

NORMAN, OK – SEPTEMBER 20: Quarterback Jason White #18 of the University of Oklahoma Sooners throws a touchdown pass against the University of California, Los Angeles Bruins at Memorial Stadium on September 20, 2003 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated UCLA 59-24. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

3. (1) Oklahoma 65, (11) Texas 13

The game that would later be dubbed the “Red River Bloodbath”, Oklahoma laid claim to being the best team in the country by taking Texas to the woodshed and putting the whole country on notice in the process.

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Future Heisman winner Jason White had a spectacular day, going 17-of-21 for 290 yards and four touchdowns.

The Sooners defense played a fantastic game, keeping Longhorns quarterback Vince Young in check and shutting down the potent Texas ground game led by future top-five pick Cedric Benson.

After a pretty tight first quarter, Oklahoma then exploded to a 37-13 lead at halftime and did not look back. Sooners receiver Mark Clayton had a record day with 190 yards, setting the Oklahoma single game receiving record and the defense forced six turnovers. This was the biggest margin of victory in the series between the two rivals.

You may be wondering why I ranked a blowout game so high. If Oklahoma had lost this game, Texas would go on to win the Big 12 South and possibly end the Sooners chances at making another national championship appearance under Bob Stoops.

Texas also stays alive in the national championship race with a win here.

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