Sooners and top-ranked Longhorns face off for first time as SEC rivals

On Saturday afternoon at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, along with tens of thousands of fairgoers milling around the grounds on the busiest day of State Fair of Texas, the Oklahoma Sooners will go up against the No. 1-ranked Texas Longhorns in the 120th renewal of the football edition of the Red River Rivalry

This year's Red River matchup features several firsts. Oklahoma is starting a freshman at quarterback for the seventh time in its history, but this will be the first time for a true freshman in Michael Hawkins Jr. This also marks the first time since the Sooners and Longhorns started playing each other annually in 1929 that both teams had a bye the week immediately before the October rivalry game.

And perhaps the most noteworthy "first" associated with this year's game is that its the first as a member of the SEC.

Oklahoma has had the week off prior to the Texas game 13 different times, but that has not worked in the Sooners' favor historically. OU is just 3-9-1 in the series when having an extra week to prepare.

The 18th-ranked Sooners have won their last four games in the series when both teams are ranked among the top 25 teams nationally, but OU is just 7-16-2 all-time when going up against teams ranked No. 1.

Texas leads the overall Red River Rivalry series 63-51-5, but, Oklahoma has won five of the last sis meetings and 17 of the last 25 dating back to 2000.

Texas has been established as a 14.5-point favorite in Saturday's game. This is only the second time this century that the Longhorns have gone into the Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma as a double-digit favorite. Texas won 45-12 in 2005 as a 14-point favorite. The Sooners, on the other hand, have been double-digit favorites over Texas seven times and are 5-2 in those games.

Saturday's game will be televised nationally by ABC. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT. ESPN's top college football announcing team will call the action with Chris Fowler doing play by play, Kirk Herbstreit providing analysis and Holly Rowe and Laura Rutledge reporting from the sidelines.

What fans need to know about Texas

• Through five games this season, the Texas offense is averaging 513.6 yards per game, seventh best among FBS teams, and over seven yards per play. The Longhorns have playmakers at every skill position, including at quarterback with redshirt junior Quinn Ewers.

• When the Texas offense reaches the red zone, the Longhorns are 24 of 26 this season coming away with points, and 23 of those scoring chances have been touchdowns.

• Texas players to keep an eye on are RB Jaydon Blue (239 rushing yards, 4.7 yards per rush, 4 TDs); WR Isaiah Bond (20 receptions, 364 yards and 3 TDs); Ewers (73 percent pass completions, 691 yards, 8 TDs, 2 INTs). On defense: LB Anthony Kill (31 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.0 sacks).

• In addition to a prolific offense, the Longhorns also are one of the country's best defensive teams. Texas has allowed its opponents just 228 yards of offense per game, which ranks No. 3 nationally.

What to watch for from Oklahoma

• The Sooners expect to get several players back for this game, but they will still be without their five top wide receivers. Oklahoma continues to be a huge disappointment offensively. OU's anemic offensive output (297.8 total yards per game) ranks 121st out of 134 FBS teams, which is a giant contrast from several years ago when the OU offense led the nation. For the Sooners to be competitive in this game, someone in the receiving corps (namely Brenen Thompson, J.J. Hester and/or Jaquaize Pettaway) is going to need to step up and help out Hawkins.

• All eyes this game will be on quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. The freshman led a spectacular comeback against Auburn, showing off his legs and arm with a couple of explosive plays that led to touchdowns. He will probably have to do a lot with his legs if the Sooners are going to be able to move the chains against a physical and stingy Texas defense.

• Oklahoma's one real claim to fame this season has been the defense, which ranks No. 1 nationally in fumble recoveries (8), third in turnover margin (+8), fifth in sacks (3.5 per game), and ninth in tackles for loss (8 per game). The Sooners will need all of this and more if they are going to stay in the game against a better than good but not necessarily great Texas offense.

• In his regular Monday morning radio appearance this week on Sports Talk KREF 1400, former head coach Bob Stoops offered three keys for a potential Oklahoma upset of top-ranked Texas on Saturday: run the ball effectively, protect the ball and special teams excellence (kicking and gaining field position). Do all these things well -- plus win the turnover battle, which they've been able to d all season -- and this could be a pretty interesting game.

Injury report

Oklahoma: WR Jayden Gibson (out); WR Jalil Farooq (out); WR Nic Anderson (out); WR Andrel Anthony (out); WR Deion Burks (out); DB Gentry Williams (out); OL Geirean Hatchett (out); DB Kendel Dolby (out); TE Kade McIntyre (out).

Texas: RB C.J. Baxter (out); RB Christian Clark (out); RB Velton Gardner (out); RB Colin Page (questionable); P/K Michael Kern (questionable); LS Tate Haver (questionable); DB Derek Williams (probable).

Key matchup

Oklahoma's defensive secondary against the Texas receivers and pass offense, which ranks 10th nationally. The Sooners rank 118th defending the pass and gave up several big plays against Auburn.

Weather forecast

Clear and sunny with no chance of rain. Temperature 92 degrees at kickoff; 93 at the end of the game. Wind at 12 mph.

Standout stats

• Texas is 21-4 under head coach Steve Sarkisian when it scores first and 18-1 when it holds the opponent to 19 or fewer points.

• Oklahoma has won 88 consecutive games when it holds the opponent to 22 or fewer points.

Prediction

Candidly, it's hard to pick Oklahoma in this game given the way the season has gone thus far. Like Brent Venables said about Texas in his press conference this week: "Texas is playing probably better than anybody in college football right now. They are a complete team; no noticeable flaws." This is the challenge the Sooners are up against. The longer they can stay in the game score-wise, the better chance they will have to shock the college world with second straight week of a No. 1 team going down. I just don't see this happening -- not this year. Texas 34, Oklahoma 17