Oklahoma football: Breaking down Q3 of OU’s 2021 schedule
By Chip Rouse
The annual Oklahoma football battle royal with Texas on Saturday closes out the first half of the Sooners’ 2021 schedule.
An Oklahoma win over the Longhorns in the 117th edition of what is now ballyhooed as the Red River Showdown would give the Sooners three consecutive wins in this classic rivalry game and, more importantly, an unblemished 6-0 record halfway through the regular season.
Following the showdown with Texas in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas are three more games in the month of October against Big 12 opponents.
Here is a short breakdown of the three opponents who fill out the third quarter of the 2021 Oklahoma schedule:
October 16 — TCU Horned Frogs in Norman
After two weeks away from Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Oklahoma returns home to host TCU. The Sooners have won the last seven games between these two teams and are 9-1 against the Horned Frogs since they became a member of the Big 12 in 2012.
Oklahoma is 16-5 all-time in games against TCU. Four of those five losses have been in Norman. The Sooners actually have a better record against TCU in Ft. Worth, where they have won eight of nine games.
The Sooners won last year’s game at TCU 33-14m when Spencer Rattler threw for 332 yards and a couple of touchdowns. The last time TCU visited OU, in 2019, the Sooners escaped with a four-point, 28-24 victory.
October 23 — @ Kansas Jayhawks
On paper, this game is a gigantic mismatch and should provide Oklahoma with somewhat of a breather, although on the road, after eight consecutive weeks without a bye. It’s tough to see the Jayhawks, who are 7-100 against Big 12 opponents since the 2009 season, winning this game.
Moreover, the Sooners own a 20-game win streak over Kansas. Phil Steele, of the highly popular and eponymous college football preview magazine, notes that Kansas has been no less than a 33.5-point underdog to the Sooners in every game played since the 2015 season.
October 30 — Texas Tech Red Raiders in Norman
History suggests this will be a high-scoring game. Oklahoma has scored at least 50 points in five of the past six games with Texas Tech. In the last five games alone between these two teams, the Oklahoma offense has averaged 671 yards of total offense,
The Sooners also have posted nine consecutive wins over the Red Raiders. and are 22-6 in the all-time series.
The last time Oklahoma lost to Texas Tech was in 2011. That game was played in Norman, and the unranked Red Raiders rolled into Norman and upset the No. 3-ranked and undefeated Sooners 41-38 Even though that game was a decade ago, you can be certain the OU players will be reminded of that game all week in their preparation for the Red Raiders.