No. 1 Texas vs. Oklahoma live updates: Longhorns lead 7-0 after first quarter

DALLAS — The No. 1 Texas Longhorns are playing to win the Red River Rivalry against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Cotton Bow for a third straight year, but Steve Sarkisian’s team also has a chance to achieve another objective — keeping the Sooners out of the end zone in Dallas for the fourth time in the last five years.

During that stretch, Texas has notched wins of 49-0, 34-3, and 23-6, sandwiched around a last-second 34-30 loss in 2023, the only win that fifth-year head coach Brent Venables has over the Longhorns.

Player availability report

Pregame warmups

Listed as a game-time decision after sustained a toe injury in Week 2 pregame warmups, Texas sophomore defensive lineman Justus Terry was dressed and going through warmups on Saturday. For the Sooners, cornerback Eli Bowen was initially dressed but not a participant with Trystan Haynes set to receive the start with Jacobe Johnson also out. Haynes has only played 28 snaps this season. Tight end Jack Van Dorselaer came out onto the field without a helmet and did not go through warmups.

Before the opening kickoff, Bowen returned to the field without his pads and with a walking boot on his left foot.

First quarter

Texas won the coin toss and deferred to the second half, kicking off to start the game, delayed five minutes because the end zones did not have all the pylons in place. Trying to angle the kickoff, senior Gianni Spetic missed it badly enough to go out of bounds short of the end zone, giving Oklahoma the ball on its 35-yard line.

Testing the perimeter, Oklahoma picked up six yards on the swing pass, but quarterback John Mateer was dropped for a two-yard loss on second down, and then sacked on third down by Texas junior edge Colin Simmons, who came on a pure speed rush and forced a fumble on the play recovered by left tackle Ryan Fodje.

The Sooners punted the ball away and Longhorns punt returner Ryan Niblett picked up 10 on the return to the Texas 43-yard line.

Back after missing the Tennessee game with injury, senior running back Hollywood Smothers picked up four yards on first down before senior quarterback Arch Manning was unable to connect with junior wide receiver Ryan Wingo. On third down, Smothers picked up three yards as head coach Steve Sarkisian considered going for it on fourth down near midfield, but one-time Oklahoma running back was stopped three yards short and Texas punted it away, an angled effort fair caught at the 11-yard line.

Throwing a screen on a run-pass option to start the drive, the ball fell incomplete, the second-down rush was stopped for a one-yard loss, and the third-down check down to tight end Rocky Beers went for a short gain. The booming 47-yard punt included a four-yard loss on the return by Niblett, who was closed down quickly by multiple players.

A rare option keeper by Manning picked up two yards, fifth-year running back Raleek Brown gained six yards on second down, and Texas had to use a timeout when a look back to the sideline burned too much of the play clock and Manning didn’t operate with enough urgency when the call came in. Checking down to a swing pass to Brown resulted in a two-yard loss, forcing another punt that was moved back five yards on a delay of game. A good punt by senior Mac Chiumento resulted in another fait catch at the 11-yard line.

Looking for a downfield on first and second down, Mateer rolled right on both plays, throwing one pass away and simply missing on the second to set up 3rd and 10. Settling for another short pass on third down, the Sooners gained only one yard. Ready to punt for a third time, Oklahoma had to take a timeout. Texas had a return on for the shanked punt that traveled only 29 yards to the 41-yard line of the Sooners.

In the shot zone, Texas went for one and Manning avoided some pressure on the pocket, escaping to his left and gathering to fire a touchdown to junior wide receiver Cam Coleman, who made a characteristically strong play on the football at the back of the end zone to make it 7-0.

Gaines of four yards and two yards on the ground opened the fourth Oklahoma drive. On 3rd and 4, a called run by Mateer was stretched to the sideline by the Texas defense and stopped for a one-yard loss. Oklahoma initially appeared to cover the 53-yard punt well, but Niblett’s shiftiness produced an 11-yard gain out of nothing.

After a five-yard run by Smothers off the right tackle, Manning tried to hit a deep shot to Coleman again, but the pass was a little bit off target and Coleman wasn’t able to effectively make the adjustment. A false start turned 3rd and 5 into 3rd and 10, and Manning settled for a five-yard scramble under some pressure. Oklahoma took over at its own 21-yard line after a 46-yard punt.

A jet sweep for wide receiver Isaiah Sategna was stopped for a one-yard loss and Mateer scrambled in the backfield on his way to a five yard loss. On 3rd and 15, Mateer had a clean pocket and an open receiver, throwing over the middle to tight end Rocky Beers. On review, the spot was overturned and placed short of the first-down marker. A 56-yard punt flipped the field as Niblett had to make a fair catch.

From the Texas 14-yard line, Sarkisian called a play-action pass, but Manning didn’t see any receivers open and took a six-yard coverage sack. On second down, Brown gained four yards to end the first quarter with the Horns facing a 3rd and 12.

Second quarter