It’s OU-Texas weekend in Dallas, and that means the 119th Oklahoma football matchup with the Texas Longhorns at the historic Cotton Bowl surrounded, naturally, by the State Fair of Texas.
This is the final season these two longtime rivals will do battle as members of the Big 12 Conference. Next season this annual rivalry clash becomes the property of the Southeastern Conference, which already has several of the most prized rivalries in college football.
ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be present for the eighth time in the history of the Red River Rivalry series and the 40th time in Oklahoma program history. The Sooners are 26-13 in games attended by the “GameDay” crew and 4-3 when the live TV program is present at the OU-Texas game in Dallas.
This being an odd year, the Sooners are designated as the visiting team.
How to watch
The game will be carried on ABC beginning at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday. ESPN is sending its No. 1 college football broadcast crew with Chris Fowler doing the play by play, Kirk Herbstreit providing analysis and Holly Rowe on the sidelines. The game will also be streamed on FuboTV.
Weather forecast
Partly cloudy, 67 degrees at kickoff
Betting information
Texas is currently a 5.5-point favorite in the game, according to Betsided, a FanSided.com website. The line has gone down one full point over the last 24 hours. The over/under is 60.5. Money line: Texas -218, OU +180.
Key players
For Oklahoma, it’s Dillon Gabriel and the Sooner wide receivers (principally Andrel Anthony, Nic Anderson and Jalil Farooq) on offense, and Danny Stutsman, the one-man wrecking crew, on defense. Gabriel is first in the Big 12 and fourth nationally in passing touchdowns this season with 15 and fifth nationally in completion percentage (75.2). He has110 career touchdown passes and needs just 21 more touchdowns to move into the top five among FBS career leaders.
For Texas, QB Quinn Evers, RB Jonathan Brooks and WR Xavier Worthy on offense and LB Jaylan Ford on defense. Evers is a Heisman candidate this season and he is surrounded by a plethora of playmakers, including the Big 12 leading rusher in Brooks, and three of the conference’s top 12 receivers. Ford keys an outstanding Longhorn defense with 32 total tackles, four tackles for loss and two interceptions.
Injury report
Oklahoma
WR D.J. Graham: Out
TE Kaden Helms: Questionable
Cheetah Justin Harrington: Out for season (Knee surgery)
LB Phil Picciotti: Out for season
DB Jayden Rowe: Out for season
Texas
OL Cole Hutson: Out
DL Kristopher Ross: Out
DB Ryan Watts: Questionable
TE Ja’Tavian Sanders: Questionable