Oklahoma
No. 15 Oklahoma aims to stop recent dominance by Texas
No. 15 Oklahoma and Texas — dangerous and improving — will square off Tuesday night in a key early Big 12 Conference clash in Norman, Okla.
It will be the first of two regular-season games between the teams in the schools’ final campaign in the Big 12 before they join the Southeastern Conference.
Texas has won the past five meetings in the series. The final meeting of the season will be March 9 in Austin.
The Sooners (15-3, 3-2) have won two straight games overall this season, including a slug-it-out, 69-65 victory at Cincinnati on Saturday that was their first league road win of the season.
Javian McCollum shrugged off a right ankle injury to lead Oklahoma with 16 points. Otega Oweh added 14 points and John Hugley IV 11.
The Sooners made 16 of 18 free throws, with Rivaldo Soares hitting a pair with six seconds left to ice the game for Oklahoma. The Sooners also forged a 41-34 rebounding edge and scored 17 second-chance points.
“It was a gritty game,” Oklahoma coach Porter Moser said. “We made a bunch of big plays down the stretch, and so did they. A lot of things went into winning a game against a team that good. We stayed the course — that’s what I liked the most. We kept playing hard.
The Longhorns (13-5, 2-3) will head to Norman after a rousing 75-73 home win over then-No. 9 Baylor on Saturday. Tyrese Hunter took the ball near mid-court, drove the lane, and hit the game-winning layup as time expired for the final of his 21 points to lift Texas and allow the Longhorns to snap a two-game losing streak.
The game, the final one scheduled in Austin between the longtime rivals before Texas moves to the SEC in July, featured 21 lead changes and 10 ties, with neither team in front by more than eight points.
Dylan Disu added 19 points for the Longhorns, with Max Abmas hitting for 15 and Kadin Shedrick scoring 10.
“Every game to me is a must-win game,” Longhorns coach Rodney Terry said. “I don’t get caught up with that kind of stuff. Was this our biggest game? Yes, because it was the next game. And is the next game a big game? Yes, it is — it is the biggest game.”
Texas’ defense was the difference against the Bears, allowing Baylor just one field goal — a 3-pointer that tied the game at 73 with five seconds remaining — immediately before Hunter’s decisive drive and basket. The Longhorns improved to 10-2 at home this season.
“In order for us to be a successful team, we have to be together, and that’s what we stressed this whole week,” Disu said after the win. “Everything we do is for each other. When we play for each other, play for our team, play for the coaching staff, we feel like we can beat any team in the country.”
–Field Level Media
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The UFC handed out four bonuses after Saturday’s card in Oklahoma City, including a pair to the main event fighters.
After UFC Fight Night 281, four fighters picked up an extra $100,000 for their performances at Paycom Center. Additionally, two fighters got $25,000 extra checks for finishes that weren’t bonus-winners.
Check out the list of winners below.
Dricus Du Plessis (24-3 MMA, 10-1 UFC) put on a masterful performance with a unanimous decision over former welterweight champion Kamaru Usman (21-5 MMA, 16-4 UFC), whose return to middleweight ended in failure – and him saying he didn’t want to be a sore loser, then listing about six reasons why he was being precisely that. Du Plessis frequently made Usman look slow, though the broadcast team starting in the third round lauded him for his grit. DDP’s scorecards included a 50-45, which Usman took particular exception with as part of his “I’m not a sore loser” sore loser time on the microphone with Daniel Cormier, who seemed unsure if he should feel sorry for him or be embarrassed for his assertion that he somehow was in a competitive fight.
Performance of the Night: Felipe Franco ($100,000)
Felipe Franco (11-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) turned in a performance to remember for his first win in the UFC when he took out Levi Rodrigues (5-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC) with a second-round TKO. Back at 205 pounds after a loss in his UFC debut at heavyweight, Franco mounted Rodrigues and pounded him out in the second frame.
Performance of the Night: Tommy McMillen ($100,000)
Tommy McMillen (11-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC) looked like a star has been born when he set a new promotional record for significant strikes in a three-round featherweight fight. And thought he took a few licks himself from Alberto Montes (11-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC), he put him away with about 90 seconds left in the fight after a torrid of standup punishment.
Finish bonus: R.J. Harris ($25,000)
R.J. Harris (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) had a stellar debut in the UFC at heavyweight when he drilled Alvin Hines (7-2 MMA, 0-2 UFC) with an uppercut in the first round that took him off his feet. Harris was on him in the bat of an eye and a few punches later had a stoppage in 100 seconds.
Finish bonus: Dione Barbosa ($25,000)
Dione Barbosa (10-4 MMA, 4-2 UFC) made things look easy against Alice Melisano (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC). Knowing her easiest path to victory was on the canvas, she took the UFC newcomer and “TUF” grad down right away, then worked her way to an eventual rear-naked choke finish in the opening round. Barbosa was the second biggest betting favorite on the card at 7-1.
The Oklahoma Sooners surprised the college football world with their breakthrough 2025 season. The Sooners made the College Football Playoff after a 6-7 season in 2024.
The Sooners navigated one of the toughest schedules in college football and still finished the regular season with a 10-2 record. With another offseason of development and the return of several key contributors, expectations are high around Norman heading into 2026. However, that optimism has not carried over to the national conversation.
ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) projects the Sooners will finish with a 7-5 record this season. Despite that projection, FPI still ranks Oklahoma as the No. 12 team in the country. That disrespect likely comes from the up-and-down tenure under head coach Brent Venables. So far, he’s had two double-digit-win seasons, while also having two losing seasons. Oklahoma hadn’t had a losing season since 1998 until Venables took over before the 2022 season.
On3’s Ari Wasserman said that Oklahoma has been overlooked nationally on his show with Andy Staples.
Oklahoma has already shown it can compete at the highest level after making the College Football Playoff in its first season as an SEC member. Now, the challenge is proving that last season was not just a one-year breakthrough.
With a talented roster, an elite defense, and key players returning, the Sooners have the opportunity to exceed national expectations and establish themselves as a consistent contender in the SEC.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.
Du Plessis returns to the Octagon for the first time since losing his middleweight title to Khamzat Chimaev last August. Standing across from him is Usman, a former welterweight champion who defended his title five times, with signature wins over Jorge Masvidal and Colby Covington. The pair headline a stacked card filled with rising contenders and can’t-miss prospects.
Where To Watch UFC Oklahoma City
Live results, highlights, fight recaps, post-fight interviews and more will be added throughout the event. Preview each matchup below before the action begins. The main card kicks off Saturday at 8pm ET/5pm PT live on Paramount+ in the United States.
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