A week after suffering a humbling loss at Florida and seeing their place in the Top 25 vanish, the Texas Longhorns roared back into the national conversation by knocking off sixth-ranked Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl. That win, by a 23–6 margin, did more than put Clemson’s critics to rest — it rescued Texas’s season, at least temporarily, and reasserted that this program still has fight.
The context could not have been more stark. Texas, once a preseason No. 1 and a national title hopeful, had crashed out of the rankings after back-to-back lopsided losses to Ohio State and Florida. National relevance had slipped away, and talk around Austin had shifted toward disappointment. But Oklahoma — unbeaten and ranked sixth — presented a clear opportunity for restoration. Texas seized it.
From the opening tilt, Texas’s defense set the tone. Holding the Sooners to just 258 total yards, intercepting three passes, and sacking Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer multiple times, the Longhorns forced OU into stalemate after intermission. The defensive line’s pressure and secondary’s discipline denied Oklahoma sustained drives. Mateer, returning from surgery just 17 days prior, would finish with three interceptions and no chance to mount a comeback.
Offensively, Texas produced a far different performance than it had the previous week in Gainesville. Quarterback Arch Manning was efficient and mistake-free — 21-of-27 passing for 166 yards and no turnovers. Running back Quintrevion Wisner powered the ground game with 94 yards and added receiving yards as well, giving Texas balance. The offense had long been criticized for faltering under pressure; here, it delivered when needed.
But perhaps the signature moment was special teams: Ryan Niblett broke loose for a 75-yard punt return touchdown in the fourth quarter, virtually putting the game out of Oklahoma’s reach. That play, along with timely field goals by Mason Shipley and a key passing touchdown to DeAndre Moore early in the second half, helped seal the Longhorns’ dominance.
Coach Steve Sarkisian, under fire earlier in the season, was blunt in his postgame assessment: “We learned how to fight,” he said, adding that his team would no longer wait to try “knock somebody out” in later rounds — instead, they would compete every quarter. The emotional surge was apparent on the field, in the locker room and in the way Texas responded to criticism.
In that one afternoon, Texas reinserted itself into the Big 12 (or SEC, depending on alignment) title conversation and made a strong case to re-enter the national rankings. The Longhorns had not beaten a Top 10 team this year until now (their last was over Michigan the previous season). Moreover, in doing so, they extinguished some of Oklahoma’s own championship momentum.
Of course, one victory does not fix all of Texas’s issues. Consistency remains a concern, especially against tough conference opponents. But this was exactly the type of statement game that hungry programs need. After losing credibility and dropping out of the Top 25, Texas showed it still has muscle — and, for now, its season is back alive.
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