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3 keys on defense for the Oklahoma Sooners against the Texas Longhorns

Published

1 day ago

October 9, 2025

3 keys on defense for the Oklahoma Sooners against the Texas Longhorns

The Oklahoma Sooners (5-0, 1-0) and the Texas Longhorns (3-2, 0-1) will face off in the 121st edition of the Red River Rivalry on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. With OU looking to stay unbeaten, and the ‘Horns ready to get back in the thick of things in the SEC, the 2025 matchup between the hated rivals has plenty of storylines heading in.

One of the big storylines that will unfold in Week 7 is the play of OU’s defense versus the Texas offense. While the Sooners have been brilliant so far defensively through five games this year, the Longhorns have struggled a bit when they’ve had the ball. Those struggles were on display last week in a loss at Florida.

With both teams done with the nonconference portion of their schedules this season, Saturday in South Dallas marks the beginning of a stretch run in the SEC, with the league looking more wide-open than normal this year. The winner in Red River can catapult itself into SEC contention, while the loser will have some regrouping to do.

The Sooners will lean on their defense against the ‘Horns, especially considering the uncertainty over which quarterback will be playing for OU. However, whether it’s John Mateer or Michael Hawkins Jr. under center this week, the OU defense has built a standard that they will once again be called upon to uphold.

Here are three defensive keys for Oklahoma against Texas.

1. Stop the run

The Longhorns did not run the ball well last week against Florida, and it was one of the keys to the Gators pulling the upset. If the Sooners can repeatedly stuff the run and make Texas one-dimensional, that’s a recipe for success, especially against a play-caller that’s as good as Steve Sarkisian is.

Texas has good running backs, and they’re players that can get loose for big gains if the Sooners blow an assignment. Oklahoma can’t let that happen, or it could be a long day when the Longhorns have the ball.

2. Hold up on the outside

In order to suffocate a run game, most defenses have to put extra defenders in the box to gain a numbers advantage inside. OU did that against Auburn earlier this year, but it resulted in the cornerbacks being left on islands one-on-one against wide receivers. Auburn’s run game didn’t hurt the Sooners, but there were some big opportunities through the air.

OU’s secondary will have to hold up against Texas’ talented wide receivers, or else it could open up so many things for Sarkisian and this offense.

3. Pressure, Pressure, Pressure

Arch Manning will probably end up having a fine college and professional football career. Right now, he isn’t playing well for Texas. After all of the offseason hype, he’s fallen flat, especially in the two games against Power Four teams that were both losses.

If Brent Venables and the Oklahoma defense can stop the run, hold up on the islands and get pressure in Manning’s face, they’ll have success defensively in this game. Manning isn’t yet the player he was projected to be at this stage of his career, and Venables needs to take advantage by turning up the heat.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Aaron on X @Aaron_Gelvin.

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No 6. Oklahoma vs. Texas: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

Published

11 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Press Room

No 6. Oklahoma vs. Texas: Sooners Wire Staff Predictions

The Red River Showdown takes college football’s center stage in just over 24 hours. The Sooners are 5-0 and 1-0 in the SEC. Texas comes into the game 3-2 and 0-1. The Longhorns are coming off a disappointing loss to the Florida Gators last Saturday. The Sooners weren’t thrilled with their performance in a 44-0 win over Kent State, but they’ve gained some momentum heading into the game after starting quarterback John Mateer was deemed probable to play on Thursday night’s availability report.

It’s a game where rationality and reason often are thrown out the window, and this figures to be a very tight football game featuring two very good defenses. Unlike last year, though, the Sooners come into this game with a much healthier offense, one playing good complementary football to support its defense.

If the Sooners have College Football Playoff aspirations, they need to come away with another win. Here’s how our staff at Sooners Wire thinks the game will go in this week’s game predictions.

Oklahoma’s Defense the Difference

A month ago, Oklahoma-Texas figured to have College Football Playoff implications. It still does, technically, considering the Longhorns are practically eliminated with a loss. Their offense simply hasn’t lived up to preseason predictions. Thing is, Oklahoma isn’t the team to go looking for a turnaround against. A low-scoring affair could be on the agenda, especially if the Sooners don’t have John Mateer in the fold. If they do, yikes. So, let’s split the difference, score-wise.

Oklahoma 24, Texas 14

Eric Bolin, Sooners Wire Contributor

Mateer not Back? Defensive Battle

This game is challenging to predict because there are so many important questions on both sides. If John Mateer starts and goes the distance for the Sooners, I feel good about Oklahoma’s chances to win (and put up more than 14 points). However, it feels like OU is trying to get Texas to believe that Mateer will play, and I can see them using that as a smokescreen, with Michael Hawkins Jr. filling in again. It feels a little soon for Mateer to be back. If it’s Hawkins under center, I feel much less confident about OU’s chances against a very good Longhorns defense. However, Oklahoma’s defense is also for real, and the ‘Horns are sputtering offensively. This one is setting up to be a low-scoring rock fight, so Oklahoma’s defense has to be on point all day. Without Mateer, it’ll probably be up to the defense to score at least once, but give me the Sooners in a close one. Arch Manning hasn’t shown much this year, but you’d hate for this to be his breakout game as a starter. I don’t think Brent Venables and the defense let that happen.

Oklahoma 14, Texas 10

Aaron Gelvin, Sooners Wire Contributor

Coming together for the Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners defense will face its biggest test of the season against the Texas Longhorns and Arch Manning. One could make the argument that Auburn’s offensive line and wide receiver play is better than Texas but the quarterback play favors the Longhorns. The Sooners will have to prevent big plays down the field and not allow Arch to escape the pocket and make plays with his legs on a regular basis. If the Sooners contain the former five-star quarterback, they’ll be in great shape.

With John Mateer’s availability for Saturday moving to probable on Thursday night, the Sooners offense gets a boost with Mateer’s experience and playmaking ability. As long as his grip holds up under duress, he’ll be the difference maker we’ve seen all season.

Oklahoma’s special teams has been a weapon this season and will continue to be in this one.

Oklahoma 27, Texas 13

John Williams, Sooners Wire Lead Writer

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

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John Mateer trending toward playing against the Texas Longhorns on Saturday

Published

23 hours ago

October 9, 2025

Press Room

John Mateer trending toward playing against the Texas Longhorns on Saturday

The news has come in on the latest SEC availability report that Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer is trending to play against the Texas Longhorns on Saturday.

That’s huge news for the Sooners, who will have their Heisman-contending quarterback and leader back for the Red River Showdown. Before sitting out the Sooners’ 44-0 win over Kent State, Mateer was averaging 351.25 combined passing and rushing yards and 2.75 touchdowns per game in Oklahoma’s 4-0 start.

His availability gives the Sooners’ offense a boost come Saturday. Although it will be his first experience in the Red River Showdown, Saturday will mark the 21st start of his collegiate career if he remains on track to play.

There weren’t any other changes on the availability report beyond Mateer. Wide receiver Keontez Lewis is the most notable name to watch. Lewis suffered a scary moment in the Sooners’ win over Kent State after running into the brick wall beyond the end zone.

If Lewis is unable to play this Saturday, look for Ivan Carreon and Javonnie Gibson to receive the snaps at outside wide receiver opposite Deion Burks and with Isaiah Sategna in the slot.

Oklahoma Sooners Availability Report

Player	Position	Availability Status
Troy Everett	OL	Out
Jacob Sexton	OL	Out
Jake Taylor	OL	Out
Kade McIntyre	TE	Out
Logan Howland	OL	Doubtful
Keontez Lewis	WR	Questionable
John Mateer	QB	Probable

Texas Longhorns Availability Report

Player	Position	Status
CJ Baxter	RB	Doubtful
Malik Muhammad	CB	Probable
Xavier Filsaime	OL	Probable

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

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