Clutch performers from Oklahoma-Texas in Red River Showdown
By John Buhler
It was an absolute thriller between Oklahoma football and Texas football on Saturday.
Oklahoma football survived in quadruple overtime over Texas football in their big rivalry game.
The 2020 installment of the Red River Showdown between the No. 22 Texas Longhorns and the unranked Oklahoma Sooners did not disappoint. A Sam Ehlinger pick in the end zone by Tre Brown sealed the Longhorns’ fate, as Oklahoma got its first win in conference play this year in overtime No. 4.
These five players were the big performers in the 2020 Red River Rivalry.
Scouting Report. Texas Longhorns. player. Pick Analysis. DL. T'Vondre Sweat. 5. 851
It may not seem like much in the grand scheme of things, but Texas defensive lineman T’Vondre Sweat was the one to force the fumble on Spencer Rattler in the first half. This play temporarily knocked Rattler out of the game, as Texas would take it the other for an impressive first-half touchdown. Frankly, Texas needed one more big play like this to knock off Oklahoma in this one.
DB. Oklahoma Sooners. Tre Brown. 815. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. 4. player
It’s not how you start, but how you finish. Ehlinger was eating the Sooners’ lunch defensively in the second half, especially in overtime. We had a feeling that whichever player stepped up in the defensive side in crunch time would lead his team to victory. Had Brown not come down with the interception in the fourth overtime period, there’s a good chance this game would still be going.
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Oklahoma Sooners. T.J. Pledger. player. RB. 3. 815
The most consistent player on either side of this game was Oklahoma running back. T.J. Pledger was there to give Rattler something positive to lean on. Pledger had 22 carries for 131 yards and two rushing touchdowns. Though Rattler was the one to carry the Sooners in the four-overtime periods, Oklahoma doesn’t get there without the play of its running back on Saturday afternoon.
QB. Sam Ehlinger. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Texas Longhorns. 2. 851
What more could Ehlinger have done in this game to help his team win the Red River Rivalry? Though he was picked off twice in the four-overtime thriller, Ehlinger accounted for all six of the Longhorns’ touchdown on the afternoon. He completed 30-of-53 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns. As a runner, he had 23 carries for 112 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Scouting Report. QB. 815. Pick Analysis. Oklahoma Sooners. Spencer Rattler. 1. player
Rattler didn’t play up to snuff in the first half. He was benched in favor of Tanner Mordecai before resuming his starting role in the second half. Rattler won his first signature game of his Oklahoma career. He completed 23-of-35 passes for three touchdowns and an interception. As a runner, he had 14 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown. He shined when his team needed him the most.
Overall, this game was all about the quarterback play, in addition to missed kicks in the overtime periods. Ehlinger played well enough to win, but it was Rattler who got his first career win in Big 12 play. Oklahoma can now play with some much-needed confidence throughout the rest of the season. Texas is left to pick up the pieces of another lost season under head coach Tom Herman.
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