Photo via CBS Sports

Texas spent weeks escaping its flaws, and Oklahoma exposed all of them in Red River

Texas’s undefeated start and No. 1 ranking took a major hit in the Cotton Bowl Classic, as a series of costly turnovers and special teams blunders handed Oklahoma its first rivalry win since 2023.

The Longhorns, who had weathered inconsistent play with a 4-0 record, struggled to maintain composure against a Sooners offense that had managed just 23 points across its last two Power Five games. A blocked punt in the end zone set up Oklahoma’s first touchdown, while a late interception by quarterback Arch Manning and a botched fake-punt attempt—followed by a 53-yard field goal—further exposed Texas’s defensive and special teams vulnerabilities.

The game’s decisive moment came on a 47-yard Tate Sandell field goal with 19 seconds left, capping a second-half collapse that left head coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledging the need for greater consistency after another game of erratic execution.

Oklahoma’s victory underscored Texas’s inability to sustain full quarters against a below-average opponent, a flaw that had previously gone unpunished. The Sooners capitalized on defensive penalties that extended drives and a rare offensive touchdown in a rivalry where they had been shut out for three years.

Manning’s struggles under pressure, including the game-sealing interception, highlighted the Longhorns’ reliance on defensive stops to mask offensive and special teams inconsistencies—a strategy that failed against a team with little to lose.

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