Struggling Oklahoma limps into rivalry game with Texas
The Associated Press - Oct. 06, 2022 03:17 AM EDT
Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (8) is tackled by West Virginia defensive back Jacolby Spells (28) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (8) is tackled by West Virginia defensive back Jacolby Spells (28) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
A pass intended for Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims, left, falls incomplete as Kansas State safety Josh Hayes defends during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy (8) celebrates a first down, next to West Virginia defensive back Jacolby Spells (28) during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Stephen Spillman)
Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims (17) makes a touchdown catch in front of Kansas State cornerback Omar Daniels (4) in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Norman, Okla. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
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Texas (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) vs Oklahoma (3-2, 0-2) in Dallas, Saturday, noon ET (ABC)

Line: Texas by 7 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Series: Texas leads 60-52-5.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Oklahoma, the long dominant power in the Big 12, is desperate to avoid an 0-3 start in league play in coach Brent Venables' first season and the Sooners look in disarray after two straight losses. Texas can climb back in the thick of the conference title chase with a win that would snap a four-game skid against its longtime rival.

KEY MATCHUP

Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy vs. the Oklahoma secondary. Worthy ate up the Sooners last season with 261 yards and two touchdowns and is now just hitting his stride in 2022, with two touchdowns a week ago against West Virginia. Oklahoma's corners and safeties were caught far out of position on several TCU touchdowns last week. Lose track of Worthy and he will score a lot again.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Oklahoma: WR Marvin Mims. Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel might miss the game with a concussion, and Davis Beville, General Booty or Nick Evers could all see action. Whoever gets the call has a prime target in Mims. He has 22 catches for 438 yards and three touchdowns this season. He had five catches for 136 yards and two scores last season against Texas.

Texas: Freshman QB Quinn Ewers. He's expected to return after missing three and a half games with a clavicle injury. Ewers has a slingshot arm that makes the deep throws look effortless. But he also hasn't played in a month, and he's never played in the circus of the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair.

FACTS & FIGURES

This is the first time since 1998 that neither team is ranked in this matchup ... The Sooners have won three straight in the regular-season series and four straight overall against the Longhorns. Oklahoma won 55-48 last year — rallying from a 28-7 deficit — and 53-45 in overtime the year before.

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