Quinn Ewers made his return from an abdominal injury to lead the Longhorns to a commanding 34-3 win over Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl.
Early Rust for Ewers
Returning after nearly a month, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers looked understandably rusty. He completed just three of his five first-quarter passes for 13 yards and threw an interception on his first attempt, overthrown to Matthew Golden. Texas struggled offensively in the opening quarter, gaining only 13 yards on 10 plays. Ewers acknowledged his shaky start but took full responsibility, saying, "I should have made those throws. It was solely on me."
However, Ewers found his rhythm in the second quarter, leading Texas to a 21-point surge. He ended the game with 199 yards passing, completing 20 of 29 attempts, including a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown.
Texas’ Run Game Finds Its Groove
Texas’ ground game, led by Quintrevion Wisner (118 yards on 13 carries), came alive after a slow start. After being held to zero rushing yards in the first quarter, the Longhorns exploded for 133 rushing yards in the second quarter, which allowed Ewers to settle in. Texas finished with 177 rushing yards in the final three quarters, helping control the game’s pace.
A Game-Changing Fumble Recovery
Leading 7-3 late in the second quarter, Texas appeared to be on the verge of extending their lead with a big 36-yard run from Wisner. But Oklahoma defensive back Robert Spears-Jennings knocked the ball loose near the goal line. The fumble bounced into the end zone, where Texas’ Silas Bolden, racing from far upfield, beat several Oklahoma defenders to recover it for a touchdown. The play swung momentum in Texas' favor, giving them a 14-3 lead and igniting the team.
Oklahoma’s Costly Turnovers
Oklahoma’s offense struggled all game, but back-to-back fumbles at the end of the second quarter were especially damaging. Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. forced a fumble from Oklahoma quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., which led to a 43-yard touchdown run by Wisner on the next play. Moments later, Oklahoma fumbled again after a run, though Texas failed to capitalize with a missed field goal.
Oklahoma’s Offensive Struggles
The Sooners' offense sputtered, managing just 107 total yards in the first half. Freshman quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr., filling in for the benched Jackson Arnold, completed 19 of 30 passes for 148 yards but faced relentless pressure from Texas' defense. Hawkins was sacked twice and struggled without key wide receivers, including top target Deion Burks, who were sidelined with injuries. Oklahoma couldn’t find a consistent rhythm, punting on six of their first 11 drives.
Texas' dominant defensive effort, combined with Ewers' recovery from his slow start, helped secure the Longhorns’ sixth win of the season and kept them undefeated.
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