One of the oldest, and most anticipated match-ups in sports took place yesterday at the Cotton Bowl with the 104th showdown between the University of Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners. This game has been a hot topic of conversation since the last meeting, a high scoring affair where Texas topped OU, 45 -35.

This year Oklahoma’s record is 3-2, while Texas is 5-0. Texas to date, however, has fallen short of fans expectations with the running game not gaining ground and the passing game lagging behind. However, Texas’ defense and special teams has saved the day in the last two games. 

Throughout the week leading up to the game fans have been bombarded by media coverage talking about last year’s game. How Texas won the game but lost the national championship.

When Texas Coach Mack Brown was asked about last year’s win he responded by stating, "People have constantly asked me is there revenge for what OU did to us last year," Brown said. "All OU did was win all their games after us. When pushed further he stated, "They [OU] didn't do anything to us. It wasn't about them. Our problem is we lost to [Texas] Tech and put the decision-making process back in the hands of the BCS computers and the Big 12 tiebreakers. … It came down to outside sources that made that decision, not the two teams."
Well that was the past and the future…well that’s yet to be determined and today’s game is but a moment in time.

With a stadium packed to capacity with red and orange, and to the roar of fans, the Texas vs. OU game kicked off .

Oklahoma started the 1st quarter with Sam Bradford in as quarterback. Bradford quickly got his Sooners going with a 77 yard run down the field. The drive ended with a field goal instead of touchdown much to the relief of Longhorn fans. Oklahoma 3, Texas 0.

The Longhorns’ took possession and QB, Colt McCoy quickly started the drive with a draw play to RB, Foswhitt Whittaker. Just a couple plays later Colt fumbled. Longhorn fans begin to worry and memories of last weeks poor offensive game come to mind.

Oklahoma takes possession and Bradford tries to get a drive going, but the Texas defense quickly puts a halt to the Sooners’ momentum as Bradford goes down. Sooner fans gasp as Bradford appears to be hurt. Later when asked what he was thinking when he went down Bradford responded, “I thought, this can’t be happening to me, this can’t be happening to our team right now…just extremely frustrating that it had to happen today.”

Texas possession, but just as quickly as the Sooners’ lost possession so do the Longhorns.

Landry Jones comes in as quarterback for the Sooners. Jones quickly takes charge as he completes several passes and drives the Sooners down the field 54 yards, but the Texas defense holds them to only a field goal. Oklahoma 6, Texas 0.

Second Quarter and Oklahoma has possession. Jones moves his Sooners forward but a couple plays later the Texas defense led by LB, Emmanuel Ancho rushes Jones causing a fumble. Texas recovers at the 24 yard line.

Texas possession; Colt gets hammered as he goes down not once but twice. The drive ends as the punting team comes in.

Oklahoma possession; Jones gets some momentum going as he gets a couple of first downs. The momentum stalls out as the Texas defense steps up the rush. Oklahoma punts again.

Longhorn fans are looking for Colt to get the offensive game started. Colt fires to WR, James Kirkendoll but to the dismay of Longhorn fans the pass is incomplete.

With Oklahoma up again, Jones seems to get his Sooners moving, but thanks to the Texas defense the Sooners quickly call in the punting team.

Colt starts the drive for the Longhorns a 12 yard run for a first down, the longest run so far for the Horns. Longhorn fans get energized as Colt rushes up the field again for another seven yards. Just as the Horns momentum starts, Kirkendoll draws a personal foul and the Horns are forced to punt, but Oklahoma’s DB, Dominique Franks fumbles the return and WR, Malcolm Williams is there to recover the ball. Williams takes the ball down the field for what was thought to be a touchdown, but Williams’ fumbles at one yard line for what may be a touchback. After review officials conclude Texas has possession at the 10 yard line. Time 4:52 left in the second quarter.

Colt fires to Shipley and the pass is complete but a couple of plays later he goes down for the 11th time in the game. Colt throws deep to Shipley but overthrows and the pass is incomplete. Horns’ kicking team comes in and kicker Hunter Lawrence delivers for Texas. Oklahoma 6, Texas 3. Time 3:42

Texas kicks off to Oklahoma. Oklahoma fumbles and Ancho is there to recover the ball, giving Texas another break.

Colt passes to Buckner and again the ball is almost intercepted. Colt scrambles and throws the ball out of bounds. Time out. Colt passes to Greg Smith, first down. Time 2:30. Colt takes the ball, runs and fumbles. Oklahoma recovers the ball in end zone. But was Colt down? Officials review the play, touchback Oklahoma.

Oklahoma on the 10 yard line; Jones does a reverse to DB, Desmond Jackson but fumbles. Texas fans hope for a Longhorn possession, but Oklahoma has possession on the one yard line.

With 47 seconds left in the second quarter Jones throws from inside the end zone and the pass is complete but it’s forth and 23 with 34 seconds. Oklahoma punts. Shipley down at mid field misses the catch but recovers it at the 38 yard line.

Colt and Horns hustle but it’s too little too late. Half time.

Third quarter, Texas begins aggressively with Colt completing passes to Jordan Shipley and John Chiles. The Horns finally seem to be getting some offensive momentum when Colts goes down again for the 15th time. The Longhorns bring in the kicking team and Lawrence delivers a 41 yard field goal. Texas 6, Oklahoma 6.

Oklahoma’s first possession of the third quarter is short lived. Oklahoma punts.

Colt hands off to Whittaker for a couple of one yard gains. Colt fires to WR, Marquise Goodwin for a first down and again to RB, Cody Johnson for another first down. The Horns offensive game is now rolling and Colt now has times to make plays happen. A reversal and few missed plays later. Colt passes to Goodwin. TOUCHDOWN! Texas 13, Oklahoma 6.

Oklahoma answers back as Jones steadily marches his team down the field. TOUCHDOWN! Texas 13, Oklahoma 13.

Four minutes left in the third quarter and both teams are battling for every play. Neither team willing to give up a yard and the third quarter comes to close.

Fourth quarter; Texas again seems to take charge as Cody Johnson rushes up the middle for a first down. It’s battle for every yard. Colt’s passes to Kirkendoll, the pass is complete but it’s short and the kicking team comes on the field. Lawrence delivers with a 32 yard field goal. Texas 16, Oklahoma 13.

Time 12:08; with a lot of game left the Sooners are still in the game. The Texas secondary is proving to be strong and snuffs out the Sooners’ drive.

Texas possession; Colt and the Horns try to pick up momentum again but the Oklahoma defense will not go quietly into the night. The Horns punting team comes up.

Oklahoma encounters the same with the special teams and defense taking over for the rest of the fourth quarter. The Horns hang on to the lead as the game draws to an end.

Texas 16, Oklahoma 13.

The game is over and the Horns can claim victory but the win wasn’t pretty. In a post game interview Coach Mack Brown was asked to comment on the game, "I thought it was more like a fight. It was tough, it was ugly."

When Colt was asked about the Horns’ less than perfect performance he commented, “You've got to be confident in yourself and trust your teammates...find a way to win…and we did."

With this win Colt McCoy becomes the third Longhorn quarterback (along with Bobby Layne and Peter Gardere) to beat Oklahoma three times. When asked about how he felt being in such company Colt responded, "This is one of the greatest games in college football. Knowing it wasn't that pretty, but you gave it your best effort ... I'm speechless."

Well there you have it. The Red River Rivalry is over. The dust has settled and Longhorn fans can breathe a sign of relief with this win.

What does this lack luster performance mean for Texas? Will they remain at # 3 and will they be ready for Missouri? All good questions that can only be answered with next weeks’ game. So stay tuned and HOOK’EM HORNS!