OU and Texas Collide at Cotton Bowl

DALLAS -- Regional bragging rights, front-running status in the Big 12 South and a head start to possible conference and national championships -- all in one game.

It's the second week of October and time for the Red River Shootout. With No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 5 Texas both undefeated and in the top five for the third time in four years, the game is even bigger.

``This week is a bit different,'' said Texas running back Cedric Benson, the nation's top rusher (187 yards per game). ``You can feel the energy in the air. It's going to take all us to change things this go-around.''

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Lately, the excitement for the Longhorns (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) hasn't lasted the length of the game -- or much past halftime.

Oklahoma (4-0, 1-0) has won four straight games in the series, including 65-13 last year. The current streak began with the Sooners' 63-14 romp in 2000 en route to a national championship.

``The last four years are over. They're in the past,'' Longhorns senior safety Phillip Geiggar said. ``We have to approach this game just like we have any other game.''

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jason White became Oklahoma's career touchdown passing leader (55) with three last week in a win over Texas Tech. Freshman Adrian Peterson is the first Sooner with four straight 100-yard rushing games to start his career, and is fourth in the Big 12 with 137 yards per game.

Saturday will be the 99th game in the series between border-state rivals. Texas leads 55-38-5. The game has been played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas -- where the stands are split evenly between fans from both teams -- since 1929.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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