Oklahoma Sooners FanSided Expert Answers Questions on Red River Showdown with Texas Football
By Tyler Brett
It’s always important to know your opponent. Texas football is set for the latest installment of the Red River Showdown with Oklahoma. So we sat down with Sooners FanSided expert, Chip Rouse, to get an Oklahoma perspective on this matchup.
Q: What are the expectations of the Sooners regarding their spot in the College Football Playoff?
A: The Sooners are fully aware that that ship has already sailed for 2016. The loss to Ohio State all but assured that the Sooners would not be making a return trip to the CFP this season. The No, 1 team goal every season, however, is to win the Big 12. You can’t make the Playoff without winning the conference. That goal, as well as receiving a bid to a top bowl, is still very much in front of Oklahoma at this point. With the up-and-down nature of the Big 12 this year, one and even two losses might be good enough to take home the crown.
Q: Any lingering concerns over Baker Mayfield’s ankle/foot injury suffered against TCU?
A: He was a little sore and did not practice on Monday, according to Bob Stoops, who went on to say at his regular Monday press conference that the Sooner starting QB will be fine and ready to go against Texas on Saturday.
Q: What is the confidence level in the Sooner defense?
A: The OU front seven on defense are playing much better, as evidenced by the fact that they held TCU to just 65 yards on the ground last weekend. They also were able to deliver much better quarterback pressure than they did against Houston or Ohio State. The breakdown in the OU defensive play so far has been at the back end in pass coverage, and in particular at the corner spot vacated by the departure of All-Big 12 defensive back Zach Sanchez. The Sooners have three returning starters in the secondary, all of whom were All-Big 12 selections or honorable mentions, but they haven’t been able to find the definitive answer at the other cornerback position.
Q: What are the key factors for Oklahoma in this game?
A: On offense, Oklahoma wants to be able to run the ball with the “thunder” and “lightning” combination of Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, which offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley knows will be no easy task against a solid Texas run defense.. If they are able keep the chains moving with an effective rushing attack, it will open up opportunities for Baker Mayfield and the Sooner receivers to better attack and gain big yardage through the air.
On defense, the Sooners much do a better job in pass coverage and keep the ball in front of them on deep routes. In order to be able to do that, though, they have to put pressure on and disrupt the rhythm of QB Shane Buechele and contain the rushing of D’Onta Foreman and the 18-wheeler (Tyrone Swoopes). Speaking of Buechele, there have been several college athletes coming out of the Buechele family tree, and all but Shane, I believe have ties to OU, although the family resides in the Lone Star State.
Q: What is your prediction for this game? For the rest of the season?
A: Both offenses have demonstrated the ability to score early and often. The team that plays the better defense, gets off the field more times on third down and maintains ball control the longest will win this game. Oklahoma is still smarting from its lone regular-season loss of a year ago at the hands of Texas I believe the momentum the Sooners gained from the win at TCU will carry over on Saturday. That, plus the redemption factor, will produce the 11th win by Bob Stoops over the Sooners longtime archrivals from south of the Red River. Final score: Oklahoma 42, Texas 34.
If Oklahoma can get by Texas and Kansas State the next two weekends (the K-State game is in Norman), the schedule over the second half of the season sets up better for the Sooners than any of the other Big 12 contenders. They have Baylor and Oklahoma State at home this year, but still have to go to Texas Tech and West Virginia. If I were to handicap OU at this stage of the season, I would have them going 9-3 overall and 8-1 in the conference, which should be good enough to defend their Big 12 title and give them 10 championships in 18 seasons under Stoops.