Oklahoma football 2018 kickoff preview: Games 5 through 8
By Sixto Ortiz
Sooners and Longhorns fight for the Golden Hat
The rivalry battle in Dallas, no matter what the records are coming into the game, is often a toss-up. This venerable rivalry game, combined with the rowdy Cotton Bowl atmosphere, always makes for interesting and at times unexpected football. The game also has conference title implications, so if the Sooners want to continue their Big 12 domination, they must come out of Dallas with a victory.
The Longhorns, winners of the Tom Herman sweepstakes, are looking to improve and perhaps turn the corner in year two of the Herman coaching era. A lot of that hoped-for improvement will hinge on quarterback play. And Texas has two solid quarterbacks on its roster, Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger.
As summer turns to fall, Herman’s biggest decision will be naming a starter to take the reins of the Longhorn offense. Right now, it looks like Sam Ehlinger is the most likely to be Texas’ starter against the Maryland Terrapins on Sept. 1.
Ehlinger started against Oklahoma last season and had a decent game, going 19 for 39 for 278 passing yards and a touchdown. Ehlinger was the Longhorns’ leading rusher in last year’s game, as well, running for 106 of the 139 total rushing yards the Longhorn gained against the Sooner defense. So a prime task for the Oklahoma run defense will be containing Ehlinger’s running ability, so important to the Longhorns’ offensive scheme.
Texas ranked 96th nationally last season in rushing, so this is an area where you can expect Tom Herman to focus his efforts for improvement. Daniel Young and Toneil Carter sit atop the depth chart for the Longhorns, but unless someone emerges, it may be another running-back-by-committee approach for the Longhorn offense in 2018.
Defensively, the biggest loss for the Longhorns is dynamic linebacker Malik Jefferson, who will be playing on Sundays for the Cincinnati Bengals. Outside of Jefferson, Texas returns a pretty seasoned group on the defensive side of the ball. Chances are the Longhorn defense will improve upon its No. 41 national ranking from last season.
The Longhorns were awful against the pass in 2017 (108th in the country), but their run defense was stellar (No. 8 nationally). You can be sure Texas’ defensive coaches will be looking for more consistency in 2018.
The Sooners managed 4.46 yards per rushing attempt against the Longhorns in 2017, so Lincoln Riley’s offense had moderate success running the football. But Oklahoma had a quarterback by the name of Baker Mayfield who could make a defense pay for selling out against the run, so a key to this game for the Sooners will be having an effective enough passing game to be able to establish the run with the deep talent in the Sooner backfield.
If by this time in the season Kyler Murray is fulfilling his immense potential, that will not be a problem and the Sooner offense, behind a seasoned offensive line, will move the football on the ground in the Cotton Bowl. Add Murray’s tremendous running ability, and the Longhorn defense will have a tough time containing Riley’s versatile and lethal offensive attack.
Prediction: Oklahoma 38, Texas 28