Texas, Oklahoma Renew Rivalry as SEC Foes

The Red River Rivalry between No. 1 Texas and No. 18 Oklahoma, now an SEC matchup, is highly anticipated as Texas returns to the top of the rankings for the first time since 1984. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed that star quarterback Quinn Ewers will start after recovering from an abdominal strain, while Oklahoma will field freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., marking the first time a true freshman has started against Texas. While Texas boasts a strong defense and a high-powered offense, Oklahoma aims for an upset by focusing on minimizing turnovers and controlling the line of scrimmage. Historically, the team with the better rushing game often wins this rivalry. Analysts like Paul Finebaum have even suggested the Red River Rivalry might now surpass the Iron Bowl as the SEC's top rivalry. The game is set to be broadcast live from the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, where the historic rivalry has been played annually since 1929.