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Texas Football: 5 overreactions from thrilling Red River win

By Andrew Miller

DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 06: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns throws against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter of the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - OCTOBER 06: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns throws against the Oklahoma Sooners in the first quarter of the 2018 AT&T Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl on October 6, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 15: JT Daniels #18 of the USC Trojans reacts as Chris Nelson #97 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates a stop on the goal line in the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX – SEPTEMBER 15: JT Daniels #18 of the USC Trojans reacts as Chris Nelson #97 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates a stop on the goal line in the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 15, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

2. This is one of the most talented front sevens in the nation

We have to emphasize how important the turnovers were for the Texas defense since holding the Heisman-contending Oklahoma quarterback Murray in check is so difficult. Murray still managed to go way over 400 total yards for the day with five total touchdowns. The only edge that Ehlinger had in that regard was with less interceptions tossed.

Yet, this Texas front seven did what it had to do to contain one of the most explosive offenses in the nation and come away with the win. Orlando knew he wasn’t going to shut down the Sooners offense completely. Any Lincoln Riley-coached team is going to be tough whenever the offense takes the field.

The improved play of senior defensive ends Charles Omenihu and Breckyn Hager is contributing to how well this team is doing overall. Omenihu came up with two sacks on the game and Hager recovered one of the two forced fumbles. He has now tied his season high for sacks in his career and just needs one more to eclipse that mark from a season ago.

Even senior linebackers Anthony Wheeler and Gary Johnson have been pretty reliable of late. Johnson is having a much more productive season. That says a lot since he was still pretty good in his first season on the Forty Acres last year. This front seven is forming together very nicely all-around and proving to be the clear best in the Big 12 for these levels of the defense.

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