Oklahoma Sooners vs Texas Longhorns: 5 Players to Watch

Oct 5, 2013; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Brennan Clay (24) runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. The Oklahoma Sooners beat the TCU Horned Frogs 20-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The Red River Rivalry is the biggest game in the college football season for Oklahoma Sooners fans. Even in years when OU plays Notre Dame or battles a national powerhouse, Oklahoma vs Texas is the game that most fans look forward to. It is a weekend where Oklahoma and Texas fans travel in mass to Dallas for a weekend of fun and the big game. Even when one of the teams is horrible, such as the ‘90s under head coach John Blake, or recently when OU has blown out the Longhorns in back-to-back games, it is still an anticipated weekend.

When OU and Texas plays in the Red River Rivalry, anyone can win – no matter who the better team happens to be.

With the big game this weekend, here is a look at five Oklahoma Sooners players to watch in this big Red River Rivalry Oklahoma vs Texas weekend.

Blake Bell

Blake Bell remains one of the most beloved players on the Oklahoma Sooners team in Oklahoma, but he still can’t seem to get credit on the national scene. Listen to the game announcers the last two weeks and you will hear them call him a “running quarterback” who lacks accuracy in his throws. Those announcers don’t seem to be watching Bell play and are just judging him by his Belldozer past.

You can’t call Blake Bell a running quarterback when he throw the ball 104 times through three starts. Yeah, he has run the ball 40 times this season for 214 yards, which is pretty good, but he has also thrown the ball for 835 yards with six touchdowns through the air. As for his lack of accuracy, Bell has completed 69.2 percent of his passes and has not thrown in interception all season.

Blake Bell ranks 13th in the nation in his completion percentage and his quarterback rating is 31st in the nation. That is not a “lack of accuracy.” Bell is fun to watch, and should have a lot to do with whether or not Oklahoma wins this game.

Brennan Clay

While Blake Bell is the fun player to watch on this offense, my best memories of Oklahoma vs Texas comes in the running game. Back in the John Blake era, I was at the game in 1997 where De’Mond Parker ran for 291 yards and Ricky Williams raced for 223 yards in the game that Texas won 27-24.

I was also at the game in 2000 where Quinton Griffin set the Oklahoma Sooners record for rushing touchdowns when he ran for six touchdowns as Oklahoma beat up Texas 63-14. Rushing is the key to beating Texas and that is where Brennan Clay comes into the conversation.

Yes, OU has a committee of running backs with Roy Finch and Damien Williams involved as well, but Brennan Clay is the workhorse and true stud in this backfield and it will be interesting to see how he does in this year’s Red River Rivalry.