All eyes will be on the Cotton Bowl this Saturday for one of college football’s most storied traditions—the Red River Rivalry.
This marks the 121st edition, where emotions run high and pride is on the line. The Texas Longhorns, currently holding a 3-2 record, will face off against the undefeated No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners, who remain perfect at 5-0 this season.
Despite recent struggles that have left Texas grappling with an identity crisis, the Longhorns remain favored by ESPN’s FPI projections. ESPN’s model gives Texas a 60.9% chance to secure the win on Saturday at the Texas State Fair.
A key question looms over this rivalry: Will John Mateer return for Oklahoma? This could significantly impact the game dynamics. If he’s unable to play as he continues to recover from a hand injury, Oklahoma would turn to Michael Hawkins Jr. at quarterback.
On the other side of the field, Arch Manning will be hoping to play a cleaner game against the Sooners. Manning has already thrown 5 interceptions in his first 5 games so far this year.
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET live on ABC.
Lee Ann joins the Saturday Down South team, bringing over fifteen years of experience covering the SEC as both a sports journalist and football scout. With her keen eye for talent, she has also flexes her skills as the Director of Recruiting for the Rebel Walk( Ole Miss) Herring, is a staff writer at USA Today Sports Wildcats Wire, where she dives into the thrilling world of Kentucky football and basketball. When fall rolls around, you can catch her on air as an analyst for the Wake up 502 College Football Show on Big X Sports Radio 96.1 FM—because who doesn't love a good game day chat? A proud Brown University alum, Lee Ann balances her time between the sidelines and press box with her passion for coaching her boys' youth lacrosse and savoring a fine glass of bourbon alongside a good cigar. So, whether she's dissecting plays or rallying the next generation of athletes, Lee Ann is your spirited insider ready to tackle all things SEC!
