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    • A look at Red River Rivalry provides surprises
    Duluth

    A look at Red River Rivalry provides surprises

    Eira Gwyneth Posted on

    NORMAN – When OU and Texas meet in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday, the Longhorns will likely be ranked in the top two while the Sooners will be well behind after a loss to Tennessee and a close matchup against Auburn.

    But even though Texas is favored in the competition, there is still plenty of hope for the Sooners.

    The rivalry has produced many surprises throughout its history, but this OU team has a chance to do something only one other Sooners team has done.

    In 1982, OU came into the showdown at 2-2. The Sooners lost at home to West Virginia and USC.

    But then Marcus Dupree’s talent was shown for the first time in college when he ran off a 63-yard touchdown on a fake reverse late in the first quarter.

    Texas tied the score a few minutes later and Dupree was able to stay under control for most of the rest of the game, but unranked OU dominated play on the ground and pulled off an upset over No. 13 Texas 28-22.

    It is the only time in the rivalry’s history that the Sooners won when they were at least ten spots behind the Longhorns.

    Texas has pulled off seven such upsets.

    Here’s a look at the eight upsets in the rivalry’s history in which the winning team was at least ten spots behind the losing team at the start of the competition:

    More: Quinn Ewers injury update: Will QB play for Texas vs. OU football in Red River Rivalry?

    2019: No. 19 Texas 48, No. 7 OU 45

    • Records for the game: OU 5-0, Texas 4-1
    • Star of the game: Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger threw for 314 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 72 yards and three touchdowns.
    • How it happened: The Longhorns led early in the second quarter and built a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter. But the Sooners didn’t go down without a fight. Kyler Murray hit Lee Morris for a touchdown, broke off a 67-yard run for a touchdown and then tied the game with a quick three-play, 57-yard drive with 2:38 left. But then Ehlinger led the Longhorns down the field and helped set up Cameron Dicker’s 40-yard field goal with nine seconds left.

    More: Can OU football match the QB luxury of Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers at Texas in the Red River Rivalry?

    2015: Texas 24, No. 10 OU 17

    • Records entering the game: OU 4-0, Texas 1-4
    • Star of the game: Texas running back D’Onta Foreman ran nine times for 117 yards, including an 81-yard rush that set up a touchdown and gave the Longhorns a 14-point fourth-quarter lead.
    • How it happened: A week after the 50-7 loss to TCU, Texas pounded the ball down the field at OU’s defense for 313 rushing yards. The Longhorns also held Sooners quarterback Baker Mayfield to just one touchdown pass. At the time, it was a win that was thought to have perhaps moved coach Charlie Strong’s program in the right direction. He was released after the end of the next season.

    2013: Texas 36, No. 12 OU 20

    • Records entering the game: OU 5-0, Texas 3-2
    • Star of the game: The numbers weren’t overwhelming for Case McCoy, but the accomplishment was worth it. McCoy filled in for the injured David Ash and was 13 of 21 for 190 yards and two touchdowns. He did throw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, but by that point the Longhorns were already well ahead.
    • How it happened: Late in the first quarter, Chris Whaley picked off Blake Bell and returned him 31 yards for a touchdown that gave the Longhorns a 10-3 lead. It was a lead they would never relinquish. McCoy hit Marcus Johnson for a 59-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give the Longhorns a 17-3 lead, and Mike Davis scored a 38-yard touchdown late in the third quarter. Texas’ Jonathan Gray and Malcolm Brown each rushed for 120 or more yards.

    1991: Texas 10, No. 6 OU 7

    • Records entering the game: OU 4-0, Texas 1-2
    • Star of the game: Texas’ Bubba Jacques converted a 30-yard scoop-and-score in the fourth quarter to upset OU.
    • How it happened: Tied 7-7 at the start of the fourth quarter, OU coach Gary Gibbs said the game ultimately came down to Jacques’ one play. The Sooners’ offensive line struggled to block Texas’ pass rushers. For Gibbs, it was the third straight loss to the Longhorns in his many years as head coach. He also lost to Texas in 1992 and 1994 and ultimately resigned after the 1994 season.

    1990: Texas 14, No. 4 OU 13

    • Records entering the game: OU 5-0, Texas 2-1
    • Star of the game: Keith Cash caught a 16-yard touchdown pass from Peter Gardere on fourth down with two minutes to play to give the Longhorns a one-point lead. Cash’s twin brother Kerry scored Texas’ other touchdown.
    • How it happened: The Sooners’ defense was loaded and forced three turnovers in the second half, but OU’s offense couldn’t take much advantage. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Longhorns got the ball back on their own and Gardere helped produce a 91-yard touchdown drive. Freshman Butch Hadnot broke off a 21-yard run and OU was called for pass interference soon after, helping Texas get within striking distance before guard Keith Cash hit the goal line for a touchdown. In the end, the Sooners had a chance to win, but RD Lashar’s 46-yard field goal attempt went wide of the left net, giving the Longhorns the win.

    1989: Texas 28, No. 15 OU 24

    • Records for the game: OU 4-1, Texas 2-2
    • Star of the game: Texas freshman quarterback Peter Gardere threw for 144 yards and two touchdowns, including a 25-yard touchdown to Johnny Walker with 1:33 left.
    • How it happened: Gardere starred against OU and his late-game heroics to upset the 17-point favorite Sooners are still remembered. This was Gibbs’ first of four straight losses to Texas as OU coach.

    1982: OU 28, No. 13 Texas 22

    • Records entering the game: OU 2-2, Texas 3-0
    • Star of the game: Senior fullback Weldon Ledbetter ran for 144 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries to ignite the Sooners. Ledbetter had just two touchdowns in his career heading into the game, Ledbetter broke off a 59-yard touchdown run early in the second half that gave OU a 21-10 lead, then added a 6-yard touchdown run early in the fourth half. Yard score added after the Longhorns cut the ball. The Sooners’ lead is five.
    • How it happened: Marcus Dupree started with a bang, scoring a 63-yard touchdown late in the first half. The Sooners dominated on the floor and outrebounded the Longhorns 384-163. OU only attempted two passes in the game.

    1958: No. 16 Texas 15, No. 2 OU 14

    • Records entering the game: OU 2-0, Texas 3-0
    • Star of the game: Texas coach Darrell Royal defeated his mentor and former coach Bud Wilkinson.
    • How it happened: Entering this competition, OU had dominated the rivalry in the 1950s, winning seven of the previous eight games against Texas. A decade into his tenure as the Sooners’ quarterback, Royal defeated his former team. This game started a new trend in the series, as OU coach Bud Wilkinson lost his next five games against the Longhorns before retiring.
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    Eira Gwyneth
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