Legends Take: Oklahoma outplaying Texas

Every year, the Red River Rivalry has Big 12 and national championship implications. This season is no different, as Texas and Oklahoma appear to be on a crash course yet again.

“I think both those teams are trying to establish their identity,” said former Texas A&M head coach R.C. Slocum on Monday’s conference call.

Oklahoma struggled mightily on opening weekend against Utah State and squeaked out a 31-24 victory at home. But the Sooners bounced back in a big way with a dominating performance against Florida State this past weekend.

“I think their performance had a lot to do with the mental preparation of the game,” Legend Fisher DeBerry said. “It also had to with who they were playing and the significance of the game.”

Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones threw for 380 yards and four touchdowns against Florida State, nearly doubling his output against Utah State. Running back Demarco Murray added two scores in the Sooners’ 47-17 win.

DeBerry was in attendance at the Florida State game and noticed a change on the defensive side of the football as well.

“The thing that really improved the most for Oklahoma from one week to the next was their pass defense in the secondary,” DeBerry said. “Their defense really rose to the occasion. I think that Florida State was just surprised and overwhelmed to be honest with you.”

Texas, on the other hand, has been slightly less impressive in their first two games. Texas — which is rated above Oklahoma in both the AP and Coaches’ Polls — has a record of 2-0 after wins over Rice and Wyoming respectively.

“I saw Texas in their first game and thought they had a whole lot of work to do,” said Slocum. “They’re really young at quarterback. I think the kid (Garret Gilbert) has ability, but he’s just a very young guy.”

Gilbert isn’t the only Longhorn that has struggled. The highest single-game output by a Texas running back to this point is 62 yards — produced by Foswhitt Whittaker against Wyoming.

“They don’t have a real guy at running back right now,” Slocum said. “They thought they had settled on the big back (Cody Johnson), but I didn’t think he was very good against Rice — he looks like a big lumbering guy.”

“I think they’re just trying to find themselves, but they’ve got a couple of weeks before they play Oklahoma. And this is one of those things that all of the wrinkles will be worked out when they play. I don’t think we’ve seen the OU team or the Texas team that you’ll see the day when they play.”

Texas might have to be at their best this coming weekend when they travel to Lubbock to face Tommy Tuberville’s new-look Texas Tech squad.

“Historically, in the last several years, they’ve had trouble going out there and playing,” Slocum said. “That’s a very tough environment.

“This will be the biggest game played all year in Lubbock. They’re starting right now. They’ll be up all night partying tonight and it will go to this weekend.

“Mack’s not looking forward to going in there, I promise you.”

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