National Championship Hopes Run Through 'Red River' for Sooners, Longhorns

Oct 2, 2001

AP- Last year, it was a game that marked the coming-out party of the eventual national champion. This year could produce the same result as Oklahoma and Texas collide in the annual "Red River Shootout" at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. This critical matchup between the third-ranked Sooners (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) and fifth-ranked Longhorns is the first of the season pitting a pair of top-five teams and could end one of these school's national title hopes. This is the first time since 1985 that both teams are facing each other when ranked among the top five.

"Both teams understand and realize the importance of this game, and always have," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said.

Last season, Oklahoma whipped its fans into a frenzy with a stunning 63-14 dismantling of Texas. It was the second-biggest victory by the Sooners in the 95-year history of the "Red River Shootout".

That victory began an incredible three-game stretch for the Sooners, who followed that rout with a win at Kansas State and a home victory over Nebraska en route to the top spot in the polls. It would also be the ranking Stoops' team would hold at season's end following its 13-2 victory over Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

"The Texas-OU game is back to a game that has national prominence and means something, and that's good for college football," Longhorns coach Mack Brown said. "Both schools are back where they ought to be."

This year, Brown's squad has been building momentum for this game, scoring 40 or more points in all four of its wins. Texas is coming off an impressive 42-7 drubbing of Texas Tech on Saturday.

Chris Simms had a stellar performance, going 21-of-26 for 224 yards, with two rushing touchdowns and one through the air. After the rout, all the Longhorns had on their minds was their chance for revenge against the Sooners.

"Words just can't explain how long we've been looking forward to playing Oklahoma," linebacker D.D. Lewis said. "We've had all offseason, all spring and all season long to think about it."

Simms has completed 41-of-57 passes for 535 yards and five touchdowns in his last two games. He has been helped by tailback Ivan Williams, who has totaled 255 yards in his last two games - 152 on 26 carries Saturday.

The Sooners were fortunate to extend the nation's longest current winning streak to 17 games with a 38-37 victory over then-No. 12 Kansas State on Saturday. Despite three interceptions and a constant stream of pressure by the Wildcats, Nate Hybl threw for 283 yards and a pair of touchdowns to Antwone Savage.

"I'm very proud of our players to have withstood it," Stoops said. "We found a way to make enough plays to win the football game, and that's special."

This is the seventh time the teams have met while owning top-five rankings. The last game ended in a 15-15 tie in 1985 when the Longhorns were ranked No.1. Oklahoma has a 3-2-1 edge in such games, but Texas leads the all-time series 55-35-5.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

National Championship Hopes Run Through 'Red River' for Sooners, Longhorns

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