In the midst of a heated college football season, the top-ranked Texas Longhorns are gearing up to face off against their arch-rivals, the 18th-ranked Oklahoma Sooners, in the highly anticipated Allstate Red River Rivalry. Coach Steve Sarkisian is optimistic about the return of star quarterback Quinn Ewers, who has been sidelined with an oblique injury since mid-September. Despite Ewers’ limited practice time, Sarkisian believes he will be ready to start on Saturday, citing the benefits of the team’s recent bye week.
Ewers’ injury forced him to miss the past two games, during which freshman sensation Arch Manning took the reins and led the Longhorns to victories over UL Monroe and Mississippi State. However, with Ewers’ return, Sarkisian is confident that his team will be at full strength as they prepare to face the Sooners.
Oklahoma will be introducing a new starter, Michael Hawkins Jr., who impressed in his debut with a 27-21 road win over Auburn. Sarkisian is well aware of Hawkins’ ability to extend plays and create explosive opportunities with his legs, and has been preparing his team accordingly.
The Red River Rivalry is notorious for its nail-biting finishes, with nine of the last 10 games decided by a single score or less. Last year’s thriller saw Oklahoma come from behind to defeat Texas 34-30, with Ewers throwing for 346 yards despite two interceptions and five sacks.
As the two teams clash for the 44th time as ranked opponents, Sarkisian acknowledges the significance of the matchup. “There’s just stuff that happens in this game that makes it special,” he said. With the stakes high and the electric atmosphere of the State Fair of Texas, Sarkisian knows his team will be ready to put it all on the line come Saturday morning.
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