Texas Football: Caleb Williams replaces Spencer Rattler in first half

In the first half of the Red River Rivalry game between No. 21 ranked Texas football and the No. 6 ranked Oklahoma Sooners, there were plenty of fireworks. Texas saw redshirt junior quarterback Casey Thompson have a good start to the game. But Oklahoma starting quarterback Spencer Rattler didn’t have his best start in the first half.

Two first-half turnovers for the Sooners, thanks to some miscommunications and poor ball control from Rattler, led head coach Lincoln Riley to yank his usual starting signal-caller in favor of freshman Caleb Williams. Rattler threw one pick on a miscommunication with his target Austin Stogner that landed in the arms of senior safety B.J. Foster.

And then, former Alabama Crimson Tide graduate transfer and senior edge rusher Ben Davis forced a fumble from Rattler when he was trying to run for the first down. Rattler had turnover problems throughout the season, and it continued this weekend.

Riley is spoiled in the fact that he has two former five-star recruits playing at quarterback this fall. And there was plenty of controversy of late involving the Oklahoma fan base wanting Williams to come in at quarterback in place of Rattler. But their wishes came to fruition in the first half against the Longhorns in Red River.

Spencer Rattler replaced by Caleb Williams for OU against Texas football

Last season, Riley pulled out Rattler in Red River against the Longhorns in favor of Tanner Mordecai (now with the SMU Mustangs). That did help to spark the Oklahoma offense last year in Red River. And Williams did have a big rushing touchdown on a fourth and short play where he was put in place of Rattler in the first half.

Rattler finished up the first half with eight completions on 15 passing attempts, good for 111 passing yards, no passing touchdowns, one interception, one rushing touchdown, and one fumble.

Meanwhile, Williams registered 32 passing yards, no passing touchdowns, no interceptions, and one rushing score. He also has 66 rushing yards, mostly from that rushing score on that critical fourth-down play call by Riley and the Sooners.

Texas carried a 38-20 lead into the locker room at halftime against Riley and the Sooners. This was a big first-half offensive performance for Sark and the Longhorns to take a three-possession lead after 30.