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Oklahoma Football: 3 takeaways from wild Red River Rivalry win over Texas

By James Costanz

Oct 10, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Charleston Rambo (14) celebrates the win against the Texas Longhorns with fans after the Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Charleston Rambo (14) celebrates the win against the Texas Longhorns with fans after the Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports /
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This installment of the Red River Shootout was an instant classic. It took four overtimes, 98 points and 897 yards but Oklahoma football finally won.

One of the best rivalries in all of college football is still as strong as ever. Fireworks are a given each year when these two storied programs meet in the Cotton Bowl. And 2020’s version of this classic was no different.

Both teams ran into turnover problems very early, combining for four turnovers in the first half. To put that in context, in their previous four meetings there was only 10 turnovers combined.

A major move was made in the first half as Spencer Rattler seemed to be benched after back to back ugly turnovers. Tanner Mordecai came in relief and played well enough to keep the Sooners in the game. It was a fairly even (albeit sloppy) first half, as both teams went into the locker room tied up at 17.

The second half was a different story. Joel Klatt even said it felt like he was watching a Big Ten game rather than the Red River Shootout. Oklahoma dominated time of possession in the second half, mainly due to their defense stifling this Texas offense.

This did not deter the Longhorns as they pulled off a wild comeback after being down 31-17 with under four minutes to go. A questionable call by Lincoln Riley to throw on third down led to Texas having 1:52 to make Riley pay for that decision. Sam Ehlinger went on to lead an incredible drive to even up this game and send the Red River Showdown to its 2nd overtime in this rivalry’s 120 year history.

The overtime periods alone were an instant classic. Both teams traded shots in the first two periods. The third overtime was bonkers as Oklahoma was able to block a Texas field goal attempt, only to have their kicker Gabe Brkic shank a 31-yard try.

This game finally wrapped up in the fourth overtime after Oklahoma scored, Ehlinger threw an interception in the end zone. It was the highest scoring (98 combined points) Red River rivalry game in the 116 game history between these two teams.

What did we learn from this classic installment of the Red River Shootout?

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