Texas hands Oklahoma third straight Red River loss

Texas and Oklahoma meet in the Red River Rivalry amid contrasting expectations: Oklahoma has struggled, but coaches and players warn that the rivalry’s history and intensity make recent form an imperfect guide. Sooners coach Brent Venables is 1-3 against Texas, with Oklahoma outscored 106-9 in the three defeats; another loss would give the Longhorns three straight wins over Oklahoma for the first time in 27 years and intensify scrutiny of Venables. Oklahoma is expected to start quarterback John Mateer despite Venables considering a halftime change in the previous game. Texas’s key tasks include limiting Oklahoma receiver Isaiah Sategna III and protecting quarterback Arch Manning, while the matchup’s iconic Cotton Bowl and State Fair setting remains central to its appeal.