Ask Farrell: Sooners or Longhorns?
The Red River Showdown is one of the best rivalries in all of sports and this year has College Football Playoff implications as Oklahoma and Texas meet in Dallas.
The Sooners are ranked sixth in the country, but they haven’t played a challenging schedule. They’re averaging more than 53 points per game, only giving up 19 and transfer quarterback Jalen Hurts has emerged as a serious Heisman contender.
After Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray won back-to-back Heismans and were No. 1 NFL Draft picks, Hurts transferred in from Alabama and has had an immediate impact. He has thrown for 1,523 yards with 14 touchdowns and two picks, and also leads the team in rushing with 499 yards and seven scores.
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CLASS OF 2020 RANKINGS: Rivals250 | Position | Team | State
CLASS OF 2021 RANKINGS: Rivals100 | Position | Team | State
MORE RED RIVER: Lone Star State prospects predict winner
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Texas is ranked No. 11 beating with the lone blemish being a 45-38 shootout loss to LSU. Coach Tom Herman’s club is averaging nearly 42 points per game, giving up 26.6 and quarterback Sam Ehlinger is putting up big stats as well.
But digging through the stats, a surprising one popped up. Opponents have better passing stats than the Longhorns as they’re averaging 325 yards per game compared with Texas’ 308.
With this rivalry, stats can be thrown out, rankings can be thrown out and past history could also be arguably thrown out. This is always a contentious, heated contest and that’s expected again on Saturday as Oklahoma and Texas clash for Big 12 supremacy.
FARRELL'S TAKE
We ask Rivals National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell how he sees this one playing out.
"I expect a high-scoring game with Oklahoma pulling out a win mainly because the Sooners have the better and more dynamic offense. Both teams will struggle on defense, especially against the pass, and I do like Ehligher's ability to pass and run and keep his team in the game. But Hurts has more weapons at his disposal and he's been in some big games. I can see this playing out the same as the LSU game for Texas, a close loss and a good showing."