The Oklahoma Sooners picked up one of the defining victories of the first six weeks of the 2026 college football season, defeating the Texas Longhorns 27-24 in walk-off fashion. The 122nd edition of the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, did not disappoint, as the unranked Sooners upset the top-ranked Longhorns in the rivalry clash.

After the game, OU head coach Brent Venables gave his team a strong message in the locker room. Despite few outside the program believing Oklahoma could win, Venables praised the work his team put in to earn the win.

"We've got work to do, do we not?" Venables said. "I told you before, if we get out of our own way, and we play complementary football, and we freaking stay committed, and we continue to believe, and we continue to put our freaking head down, we can win every game in front of us."

The Sooners were rightfully criticized for a 2-2 start to the season, losing to Michigan and Georgia in disappointing fashion. However, Venables and his team should also be praised for how they responded against Texas. What happens from here will ultimately define this season.

Up next for the Sooners is Kentucky, a team that's picked up big wins over Texas A&M and LSU in the first half of the season. With Will Stein at the helm, Kentucky has a new identity and leadership, and they're coming to Norman to put another notch on their belt.

Oklahoma has to regroup and get back to the grindstone after a big win, and not let last week's emotions keep them from taking their next opponent lightly.

Every play has magnitude 🔊 pic.twitter.com/cOd6Lb1fbF

— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) October 11, 2026

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This article originally appeared on Sooners Wire: Brent Venables has strong locker room message after OU defeats Texas

Source: Yahoo Sports