Texas Football: 3 catalysts that can help upset OU

What could amount to the biggest game of the regular season is now on tap for new head coach Steve Sarkisian and No. 21 ranked Texas football this weekend. Head coach Lincoln Riley and the Oklahoma Sooners await Texas in the annual Red River Rivalry game at the Texas State Fairgrounds in Dallas on Oct. 9.

Texas is looking to extend its winning streak to four games, and really establish itself as the frontrunner to win the Big 12 Championship this year, by beating the rival Sooners this weekend. The impact that a win over Oklahoma would have for Sark and the Longhorns in terms of momentum throughout the rest of the Big 12 slate, and success on the recruiting trail, is mind-boggling.

The last time that Texas beat Oklahoma in Red River was back in 2018. That came thanks to a big effort from then-sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger to get the 48-45 win over the Sooners. Also, then true freshman kicker Cameron Dicker put the game away for Texas to win Red River for the first time since 2015.

Bijan Robinson and No. 21 Texas football are looking for the upset of OU this weekend

Now, the Longhorns have a team that is looking to take command of the Big 12. But Texas is still an underdog in this edition of Red River. Texas is pretty much stuck now as a three-point underdog a little bit under 48 hours from kickoff. And the ESPN matchup predictor (based on the Football Power Index) gives Oklahoma just under a 60 percent chance to beat Texas this weekend.

This is the first time this season that Texas isn’t the favorite in the FPI from ESPN. Given that, it won’t be easy for Texas to pull the upset here. Which catalysts can step up for the Longhorns to help them get a big win over Oklahoma in Red River this weekend?