Texas-Oklahoma matchup offers intensity few rivalries can match

By Colby Gordon
Special Contributor

There are few rivalries in sports like the one that takes place Saturday when Texas clashes with Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas for the 115th time.

For Longhorn players, the Red River Rivalry is an experience that is something special and almost indescribable.

“It’s [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]an unreal experience,” Texas senior defensive back Brandon Jones said. “Just to be able to run out and hear the cheers of our fans and the boos of their fans all mixed, it’s just something that’s inexplainable — you’ve got so many emotions going on. The first thing you want to do is scream because there’s so many things going on. The start of the game is unbelievable.”

From running out of the tunnel, to seeing the stadium split in half by fans of both teams, players noted the game is unique, and even has some aspects most people don’t see.

“The teams are right next to each other when you come out of the locker rooms and before you run out of the tunnel,” senior defensive lineman Malcolm Roach said. “There’s a lot of trash talking going on and things like that, but that comes with a big rivalry game like this.”

Offensive lineman Zach Shackelford summed up the rivalry with one word.

“Intense,” he said. “The game is always intense.”

Oklahoma (5-0 overall, 2-0 against Big 12 opponents) comes into the game ranked sixth in the Associated Press poll, with the Longhorns (4-1, 2-0 against the Big 12) being 11th. Both teams being ranked high and in contention for the College Football Playoff adds even more pressure to the rivalry.

“When you win, games like this turn into an even bigger deal,” Shackelford said. “We’ve put ourselves into this position and it’s going to be a big game because we’ve made it this way.”

“Games like this is what you live for,” offensive lineman Sam Cosmi added. “It’s something special.”

Texas will be the best team the Sooners have faced up to this point in the season as Oklahoma has faced only one team, Texas Tech, that currently has a winning record. The Sooners’ four FBS opponents are a combined 8-16 and their other win is over FCS foe South Dakota.

“I don’t think they’ve really played anybody like us,” Cosmi said. “It’ll be interesting going into the game and see how they respond and see what type of team they really are.”
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