Amazing comeback, amazing catch and the craziest Red River showdown ever

Let the Red River Showdown create the most glorious moment since cameras began to be inserted into blocks of orange foam.

A few blades of grass between the foot of Oklahoma wide receiver Marvin Mims and the sideline, captured in great detail by the pylon camera, made the difference between glory and discouragement on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. .

The Mims’ 52-yard acrobatic touchdown grab, on third and 19 with 7:25 left in the game, thrown by a backup quarterback who had previously been primarily used as a runner, is the perfect encapsulation of the ‘unpredictability when Texas and Oklahoma meet.

It was also the biggest game in perhaps the biggest game between the two die-hard rivals in 117 games, as No.6 Oklahoma staged a furious rally to beat No.21 Texas 55-48.

All the clichés are true when it comes to playing Texas in Oklahoma. Nothing that you might expect really matters, usually doesn’t matter. Perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising. It’s the only game played at a 91-year-old stadium amidst thousands of people eating corn dogs and fried seafood okra dumplings.

But that didn’t matter in 2020, when he stood in the middle of an empty fairground after the fair itself was canceled, with just 24,000 fans out of 92,000 seats. In the bizarre setting, the two teams played for nearly five hours, a four-hour overtime slugfest featuring what was until Saturday’s 103-point affair the most points in the history of rivalry as the Sooners clinched a 53-45 victory.

This year, in the first meeting since the two schools announced a yet to be determined departure for the SEC, a veritable big 12 hubbub erupted, with Oklahoma blowing Texas away from a 28-7 deficit in the first. trimester. It was the first time in University of Texas football history that he lost a game the Longhorns led by 21 points.

“I try to think of the times in my career when I was the most proud of a team,” OU coach Lincoln Riley said. “If there are, there aren’t many.”

This year’s edition of the rivalry wasn’t just notable for the comeback itself. It was remarkable for the way it all turned out.

A year after most fans were barred from attending the game, they did not miss the opportunity to have their voices heard. As chants of “Texas Fight” roared from the north end of the stadium, “Boomer Sooner” made up for them from the south side. As the rides continued to rotate outside the stadium walls, the drama continued to develop on the pitch.

There was Texas junior Casey Thompson, whose father, Charles, played for Barry Switzer in Oklahoma. The quarterback dismissed the Sooners’ crimson and creme for UT’s burnt orange and finally got his turn to start after waiting behind four-year-old starter Sam Ehlinger for his chance on that stage.

But on Saturday, Thompson was eclipsed not by Spencer Rattler, the pre-season favorite for the Heisman Trophy, but by Caleb Williams, a true freshman from Washington, DC, who left the bench after two first turnovers. by Rattler.

All Williams did was throw for 211 yards and rush for 88 more to start a true Oklahoma freshman’s most total offense against Texas. And on that key third, pocket collapsing, he rolled to his right and passed Mims to tie the game for the first time since kick-off.

“My God, what a game,” Riley said of Mims. “They threw a few out today. My man went to get them. He was very special today.”

Like Williams, Texas had their own freshman star Xavier Worthy, who had the second-best receiving performance in school history in just his sixth game, capturing nine passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns, including one from 75 yards on the Longhorns. first part of the game.

Still, Worthy will be remembered in that game for a fumble in an ill-fated attempt to kick off his own end zone with 7:17 to go, leading to an Oklahoma touchdown in one. only game for his first lead of the game. .

Texas running back Bijan Robinson entered Saturday’s game gaining some Heisman vapor on the heels of a 216-yard, two-touchdown performance against TCU. But it was Oklahoma’s Kennedy Brooks who stole the show after splitting his time with Eric Gray, running for 217 yards and two touchdowns against the Horns.

Even the special teams put on the show. Texas blocked a punt in the first quarter and recovered it on the 2-yard line, leading to a touchdown by Robinson. Michael Turk of Oklahoma then hit an 85-yard punt; Texas Cameron Dicker threw a 78.

“Those of us who have been in this game know how difficult it is to win it – for both teams,” said Riley. “That’s why it’s the best rivalry in college football, the best frame.”

Steve Sarkisian, you might be new here, but none of the all that is. Even seemingly predictable games are always unpredictable in this rivalry.

As in 1996, when the 0-4 Sooners under first-year coach John Blake pulled off a 30-27 upset and shocked a Texas team consisting of Ricky Williams and Priest Holmes and entered the season in the sixth. rank.

Or in 2018, when Oklahoma, with eventual Heisman winner Kyler Murray, who threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns and ran for 92 yards, lost 48-45 when then-freshman Dicker threw kicked the winning basket with nine seconds left.

It was the eighth game in a row – domestic highs between two teams – decided by a score. This is the fourth time since 2016 that Texas and the OU have combined for at least 85 points, the most between two FBS schools over that period.

And there is always a chance that the two teams will face off again in the Big 12 Championship game.

“I would love to have another chance with these guys, hopefully in December,” Sarkisian said after the game.

The only thing that’s certain is that if he does, we don’t know what’s going to happen.