John Mateer, Sooners upset Longhorns
The Oklahoman • • sports
Key Points:
- Oklahoma upset No. 1 Texas 27-24 in the 2026 Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl, with kicker Tate Sandell redeeming himself by making the game-winning 47-yard field goal after missing three earlier attempts.
- Texas quarterback Arch Manning was criticized as a liability for his performance, including a crucial late interception by Oklahoma's Courtland Guillory that set up the winning field goal.
- Oklahoma's defense played a key role in the victory, limiting Texas to 194 total yards in the first half and forcing multiple three-and-outs, while the Oklahoma offense struggled with turnovers but capitalized on defensive scores.
- The game featured momentum swings including a pick-six by Oklahoma safety Peyton Bowen and a Texas touchdown pass from Manning to Ryan Wingo, with both teams exchanging leads before the final minutes.
- Pre-game analysis highlighted Texas' strong defense and explosive offense led by Manning, while Oklahoma was praised for its defensive unit but questioned on offensive consistency, making the upset result notable.
