Seems like there are more storylines in this year’s Oklahoma-Texas showdown than usual.

But as the sun begins to set on downtown Dallas on Saturday night and the winners pass around the Golden Hat Trophy and plant school flags on the 50-yard line and the fans start to think about dinner at the fair, which storylines will have marked the difference in victory and defeat?

Will the supreme talent of the No. 1-ranked Longhorns win the day? Or will OU’s true freshman quarterback steal the spotlight? Who will rise up to become an unexpected hero and instant legend? 

Which of these Red River rivals will be the first to land an SEC win?

While Texas is undefeated, the Sooners are 15-point underdogs. 

Here are three keys for Oklahoma to beat Texas:

No matter what, under no circumstances can Texas be allowed to run the football on Saturday.

Realistically, the Longhorns’ passing game is probably going to cook. 

OU’s secondary has struggled all season defending the deep ball. OK, they’ve struggled a lot longer than that. Let’s just say it’s the last thing Brent Venables‘ reclamation project to fix the Sooner defense.

Going off the first five games, it’s just a bad matchup for Oklahoma.

Quinn Ewers, who was 31-of-37 for 346 yards (one TD and two interceptions) in last year’s game, is back as the starter after missing two games with a strained oblique muscle. His backup, Arch Manning, has a 200.4 efficiency rating that ranks third in the nation, while Ewers’ rating of 175.2 would rank 11th nationally if he had thrown enough times to qualify statistically.

Manning averages 11.54 yards per pass (second nationally), while Ewers completes 73.4 percent of his passes.

The Longhorns have three receivers — Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond (18.2), freshman Ryan Wingo (22.5) and sophomore Johntay Cook (17.1) — who average more than 17 yards per catch.

All of which simply means the Longhorns are going to hit big throws — it’s not like Oklahoma has shown the ability to stop anyone — so the OU defense absolutely must resolve to not give up consistent yards on the ground, too.

The Sooners must stack the box and make Texas one-dimensional. Although the Texas offensive line will be a handful, running backs Jaydon Blue and Jerrick Gibson aren’t elite (they both average less than 5 yards per carry). Gang tackling will be at a premium, and the OU interior must be aggressive and get penetration.

Because if Texas can both run it and throw it when they want to — Steve Sarkisian is a gifted schemer and play-caller — this game will be a blowout.

Face it, Texas has better players right now. Steve Sarkisian has had four years to establish the culture and build out his roster. Brent Venables has had only three. So talent-wise, the Longhorns have the edge. That’s why the won the Big 12 last year for the first time in 14 years, and why they made their first trip to the College Football Playoff.

That means it’s absolutely paramount that Oklahoma steal a possession or two, and not give anything back.

Turnovers will be huge.

If the Sooners play turnover-free, they’ll have a chance — because it’s entirely likely they’ll be able to get the football away from the Texas offense.

Oklahoma leads the nation in fumbles recovered this season with eight. Remember, last year the Sooners ranked second nationally in interceptions with 20. 

If they can get Quinn Ewers or Jaydon Blue to give the football away a couple of times, it’ll be incumbent on the offense to cash those in for points. It won’t be easy. Texas QBs have thrown 17 touchdowns with just one interception so far this season, and the Longhorns have lost just three fumbles in their five games, including one against UTSA and two in their most recent game at Mississippi State.

However, if OU loses the turnover battle, the Sooners can expect a long, quiet ride back to Norman.

The weather forecast calls for a high of 93 degrees and clear skies.

But the Sooners are going to need a lightning bolt — maybe two.

Somewhere, Oklahoma is going to need an unexpected score, a game-changing moment, a bolt out of the blue. 

Whether that’s a pick-six by Billy Bowman or a scoop-and-score by Danny Stutsman or a blocked field goal by Damonic Williams or a punt return by Peyton Bowen, OU will be fighting uphill all day and is going to need something stunning to happen. 

So far this season, it’s been pretty slim pickings. Oklahoma’s longest off-script play has been a 26-yard interception return by Jaydan Hardy. The longest kickoff return was only 21 yards, and the longest punt return was 24.

Jaren Kanak scooped up a fumble on a punt return and brought it back 21 yards for a touchdown against Temple — and that’s the kind of quick strike the Sooners are going to have to produce.

If Michael Hawkins can test the experienced, athletic Texas secondary, it might produce something good. But Thursday’s news that Deion Burks is not expected to play means either Brenen Thompson, J.J. Hester or Jaquaize Pettaway are the Sooners’ best hopes for doing something big on offense.

Or maybe the return of freshman Taylor Tatum this week can provide an opportunity to strike a big one against the Texas D.

But something big has to happen.

Whether it’s Caleb Kelly forcing a fumble on a kickoff return, or Jonathan Jackson or Rocky Calmus bringing back an interception for a TD, or Roy Williams flying in and dropping off a touchdown for Teddy Lehman, or Damien Williams going 95, or Jarrail Jackson running a punt back for a score a day after being made to run stadium steps, or James Winchester making a game-saving recovery of a fumbled punt, this game always seems to produce unexpected heroes at unexpected moments.

Below are the Texas high school football scores for games played Thursday through Saturday, Oct. 10-12, 2024.

2024 TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

THURSDAY TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORE

CLASS 6A
Cypress Ranch 38, Waller 21
Galena Park North Shore 70, Baytown Goose Creek 0
Haltom 23, Grand Prairie 14
Houston Bellaire 38, Wisdom 12
Houston Strake Jesuit 28, Alief Elsik 26
Justin Northwest 28, Keller Central 14
Katy 45, Katy Taylor 0
Killeen Ellison 38, Belton 19
McKinney 31, Plano West 7
New Braunfels Canyon 41, Schertz Clemens 20
North Mesquite 49, Dallas Sunset 6
PSJA 28, Edinburg 6
Richardson 33, Irving Nimitz 0
Richardson Lake Highlands 38, Dallas Jesuit 10
Richardson Pearce 63, Irving 27
SA Northside Jay 49, Laredo Cigarroa 0
Southlake Carroll 50, Northwest Eaton 14
The Woodlands 70, Cleveland 0
Weslaco 42, La Joya 14
Wylie 42, Garland Rowlett 0

CLASS 5A
Brownsville Lopez 41, PSJA Southwest 14
Brownsville Memorial 40, Harlingen 9
CC Carroll 51, CC King 14
Cedar Park 31, Georgetown East View 29
Crosby 34, Humble Kingwood Park 14
Crowley 35, Mansfield 23
Dallas Kimball 42, Dallas Lincoln 9
Fort Bend Marshall 61, Rosenberg Lamar 6
Frisco Lebanon Trail 24, Frisco Centennial 20
Frisco Reedy 38, McKinney North 13
Georgetown 42, Leander Rouse 14
Gregory-Portland 34, CC Ray 14
Houston Milby 54, Houston Austin 0
Katy Paetow 41, Katy Cinco Ranch 31
Magnolia 45, Klein Forest 14
Mission Sharyland 30, Mission Memorial 20
SA Burbank 45, SA Highlands 7
Saginaw 21, FW Arlington Heights 15
West Mesquite 48, Dallas Adams 0

CLASS 4A
Alvarado 48, Carrollton Ranchview 14
Lubbock Estacado 28, Levelland 24
North Dallas 51, Dallas Conrad 8
Rio Hondo 49, Falfurrias 21

CLASS 3A
Big Lake Reagan County 44, Ozona 28
Muleshoe 42, Lubbock Roosevelt 36
Palestine Westwood 63, Crockett 14
Taft 13, Banquete 2
Tulia 20, Dimmitt 12

CLASS 2A
Springlake-Earth 52, Hart 6

CLASS 1A
Ackerly Sands 52, Wilson 6
Aspermont 66, Rule 22
Jayton 56, Haskell Paint Creek 6
Lamesa Klondike 54, Midland Holy Cross 0
Newcastle 77, Perrin-Whitt 36
Spur 56, Silverton 6
Three Way 45, Bluff Dale 0

PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Arlington Pantego Christian 42, Willow Park Trinity Christian 18
Austin Regents 42, Tyler Grace Community 0
Bellaire Episcopal 48, Houston St. John’s 45
Dallas Greenhill 28, Austin St. Andrew’s 7
Dallas Parish Episcopal 56, Addison Trinity 0
FW Country Day 46, Irving Cistercian 16
FW Trinity Valley 17, Arlington Oakridge 14
Houston Kinkaid 42, Dallas Episcopal 7
Pasadena First Baptist 70, Wylie Prep 58
SA Holy Cross 62, CC John Paul 0

OTHER
Burkeville def. Calvert, forfeit
Cypress Bridgeland 56, Cypress Park 0
ETHS 59, Longview Trinity 14
Frisco Panther Creek 66, Nevada Community 0
Houston Emery/Weiner School 52, Logos Prep 22
Longview Heritage 72, Ladonia Fannindel 19
NMMI, N.M. 33, EP Cathedral 21
Prestonwood North 38, Decatur Victory Christian 32
San Antonio Prep 44, SA Jubilee 0
Sotomayor 48, SA Northside Stevens 28
Walnut Grove 64, Frisco Liberty 7

POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
Pasadena vs. New Caney Porter, ccd.

FRIDAY TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES

Results of Friday’s games will appear here after the games are concluded.

SATURDAY TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SCORES

Results of Saturday’s games will appear here after the games are concluded.

By Emmy Powell
Communications Specialist

The contributions of farmers, ranchers, dairymen and foresters are recognized on Oct. 12—National Farmer’s Day.

“We celebrate the farm and ranch families in agriculture every day, but especially on National Farmer’s Day,” Texas Farm Bureau President Russell Boening said. “What we do—growing our food, fiber and fuel—is extremely important. But we also provide more than food. Jobs, economic growth and sustainable solutions for the future are all tied to agriculture.”

Growing food isn’t without its challenges, though. Weather-related disasters, rising input costs and market volatility make it increasingly difficult to meet the demands of a growing population. Yet, farmers continue to rise to the occasion, using climate-smart agricultural practices to increase sustainability and protect and conserve natural resources.

“Each farmer may grow their crops a little differently, but we all share two common goals: to care for the land and livestock and to provide affordable, wholesome food for families everywhere—our own families included,” Boening said.

Advances in agriculture and sustainability aren’t new. Farmers and ranchers, like Boening, continue to make improvements, conserve resources and try to better their efficiency—all so that the soil they toil in will be healthy, fertile and ripe with possibility for the future.

“About 97% of farms in the U.S. are family farms,” Boening said. “We are deeply invested in our future. Our values are rooted in hard work, resilience and a connection to the land. That’s why we take care of the land and resources we’ve been entrusted with.”

The state’s varied climates and soil types enable farmers to grow a wide selection of crops, including grains, fiber, timber, fruits and vegetables. Texas is especially well-known for raising cattle, but sheep, goats and poultry are major sectors of the Texas agricultural economy, as well.

“On National Farmer’s Day, we recognize not just the work of farmers, but the traditions, ties to their communities and dedication to sustainability that make agriculture in Texas and the U.S. so great,” Boening said.

He noted that Texas Farm Bureau has worked on behalf of farmers, ranchers and rural communities for 91 years and will continue to do so.

“Farm Bureau is focused on giving farmers and ranchers a voice in Austin and Washington, D.C,” Boening said. “But our organization also provides value and impact through the resources, educational information and leadership opportunities available for farmers and ranchers of all sizes and backgrounds.”

For more information, visit texasfarmbureau.org/membership.