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3 reasons the Texas Longhorns will win the Red River Rivalry

By Ryan Van Dever

AUSTIN, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 30: Xavier Worthy #1 of the Texas Longhorns gives a stiff arm to Cobee Bryant #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 30, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 30: Xavier Worthy #1 of the Texas Longhorns gives a stiff arm to Cobee Bryant #2 of the Kansas Jayhawks in the third quarter at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 30, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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Jonathon Brooks is a key contributor for the Texas Longhorns, will the Oklahoma Sooners be able to defend the run game.
Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks runs against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday September 30, 2023. /

2. The Sooners haven’t faced a team of this caliber all season

The Sooners have faced Arkansas State, SMU, Tulsa, Cincinnati, and Iowa State, no fault of their own; you play the schedule you are given. When you compare schedules, the Texas Longhorns are much more battle-tested than the Sooners.

The one advantage to not being battle-tested is that you don’t have to open up the playbook when playing teams that are not up to your level. You can easily throw in some vanilla coverages and play only a little of your hand so that your upcoming teams on your schedule don’t have that film to study.

An important factor will be points. Yes, I said points. You must be saying, “Seriously, I know points are important.” I understand that, but hear me out: If Texas football gets seven, Oklahoma has to go get seven and can’t settle for three. You can’t be doing the long game with the Longhorns; they score too fast and are too explosive to not match points.

Oklahoma will be able to score points; they have too much firepower and too many weapons to not be able to score. Jeff Lebby and Dillon Gabriel are far enough into a quarterback-offensive coordinator relationship where they can play off each other. Both Texas and Oklahoma’s offenses will have explosive plays throughout the game; it is inevitable.

The bottom line is this: I am sure that the Sooners have a lot of tools left in their bag, as they weren’t going to show their entire hand against lighter competition. In the same respect, the Longhorns have revealed who they are, but not entirely. You have to expect they have a few cards left up their sleeve.

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