Oklahoma vs. Texas: 5-Key Recap from Red River Rivalry 2013

Oct 12, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Blake Bell (10) throws a pass in the second quarter oaf the game Texas Longhorns during the Red River Rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

One thing that both Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns fans know, it is that it doesn’t really matter which team is better in any given year, because at the Red River Rivalry, it is anyone’s ballgame. The Texas Longhorns proved that on Oct. 12 when they came in under fire, with head coach Mack Brown’s job on the line, and beat the Oklahoma Sooners. They didn’t just beat the Sooners, but they did it convincingly, 36-20.

Texas came into the game as a 14-point underdog and then dominated the Oklahoma Sooners. The Longhorns defense picked off Blake Bell twice in the game, his first two turnovers of the 2013 college football season. Without defensive leader Corey Nelson in the lineup, the Sooners were unable to stop the run or Case McCoy’s throws in the game. It was just an impressive performance by Texas and Oklahoma just couldn’t keep up.

Here is a look at five moments from the game that affected the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry Oklahoma vs. Texas game.

Defense Unable to Stop the Run

It has seemed like all season the Mike Stoops defense has bent but did not break. This game, they finally broke. Much of that might be because of the loss of Corey Nelson, who is the heart and soul of the Sooners’ team. However, Nelson is a linebacker and this game saw the defensive line unable to stop the Texas Longhorns from moving the ball. Texas ran the ball for 254 yards in this game with both Johnathan Gray and Malcolm Brown eclipsing the 120 yard mark.

Texas Took Advantage of the Turnover Battle

Blake Bell has been extremely accurate this season. He has completed almost 70-percent of his throws and had no turnovers coming into the Red River Rivalry. That changed in this game when he threw his first two interceptions of the season while only completing 46 percent of his passes. The Oklahoma Sooners recovered two turnovers as well, but the Longhorns turnovers affected the game more.

In the first quarter, Bell threw his first interception, which Texas returned for a touchdown to put them ahead 10-3, a lead they never relinquished. They picked off Bell in the third quarter when the Sooners were driving and only trailing by 16. The Longhorns responded on the next drive with a touchdown to take a 23 point lead.

The Sooners returned a Pick-6 as well, but it was in the fourth quarter with the game already out of hand.