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Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp runs onto the field ahead of the game between Texas Football and Ohio State at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin, Sept. 12, 2026.<\/p>\n
Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
For the first time since the heyday of Mack Brown\u2019s squads two decades ago, Texas football<\/a> has a stranglehold on its ancient rivalry with Oklahoma<\/a>.<\/p>\n The No. 1 Longhorns <\/a>have won three of the past four games in the Red River Rivalry, a stretch of success not seen since 2006-09, primarily because of a dominant defense. In those three Texas victories, the Sooners have failed to reach the end zone each game while scoring a total of nine points.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n To put that offensive anemia for the crimson and cream in context, Oklahoma hadn\u2019t scored less than double-digit points in the series before 2022 since 1998.<\/p>\n So, why has Texas been so dominant on defense? And can the Longhorns translate their recent success to Saturday\u2019s meeting even though head coach\u00a0Steve Sarkisian<\/a> replaced longtime defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski<\/a> with Will Muschamp<\/a>?<\/p>\n NO. 1 TEXAS VS. OKLAHOMA<\/p>\n When\/where:\u00a02:30 p.m. Saturday in Dallas.<\/p>\n TV\/radio:\u00a0ABC; 1300 AM, 98.1 FM, 105.3 FM.<\/p>\n On Monday during his weekly news conference,\u00a0Sarkisian offered some insight into his 3-2 record against Oklahoma.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s interesting when you look at just even since I’ve been here: The team that runs the ball, the team that converts third downs, the team that wins the turnover battle, and the team that can pressure the quarterback generally comes out on top,\u201d Sarkisian said. \u201cYou get back to the core fundamentals of what the game of football is all about. As much as we want to talk about the emotions of the game, as much as we want to talk about the trick plays or the craziness that can happen in this game, it generally comes back to the things that are important to football.<\/p>\n \u201cWho can run the ball? Who can convert third downs and extend drives? Who can create turnovers? Who can take care of the ball, and then ultimately, who can who can pressure the other team’s quarterback?\u201d<\/p>\n How Texas fared in each of those categories gives a clue to why the Longhorns have won three of the past four matchups in the Cotton Bowl.<\/p>\n MORE: Arch Manning is leading an average Texas offense. Here are 2 Longhorns who could help<\/a><\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n 2022: Quinn Ewers unbothered in rout<\/p>\n In the most lopsided Texas victory in a 121-game series that dates back to 1900, Longhorns\u00a0quarterback\u00a0Quinn Ewers<\/a> didn\u2019t even get a whiff of the Sooners pass rush while completing 21 of 31 passes for 289 yards and four touchdowns in a 49-0 Texas win. Oklahoma didn\u2019t get one sack while the Longhorns corralled the Sooners quarterbacks three times.<\/p>\n The other defensive stats cited by Sarkisian stack up, too. The Sooners ran for 156 yards but averaged just 3.7 yards a carry, they turned the ball over twice, and they converted just three of 15 third-down plays while squeezing out 195 yards.<\/p>\n 2024: Anthony Hill leads sack parade for Texas<\/p>\n Then a sophomore, current Tennessee Titan rookie Anthony Hill\u00a0Jr. had a pair of sacks while leading a Texas defense that racked up six sacks in a 34-3 win. Texas met its goals in the other defensive metrics, too: Oklahoma ran for just 89 yards, turned the ball over twice and converted five of its 13 third-down plays.<\/p>\n Article continues below this ad<\/p>\n MORE: Paralysis by urinalysis: What Texas football must clean up during its bye week | Golden<\/a><\/p>\n 2025: Colin Simmons feasts in Oklahoma backfield<\/p>\n<\/p>\n