Four key Red River matchups
DALLAS — Here are four of the key matchups that figure to go a long way toward decidi n g S a t u r d a y ' s R e d R i v e r Showdown:
1
Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts vs. Texas S B.J. Foster
While Hurts doesn't have the speed of his predecessor, Kyler Murray, he makes up for it with power. When Hurts runs — which has been often — he runs more like a running back seeking contact than a quarterback trying to avoid it at all costs. Foster made waves early in the week when he said Hurts would “have to slide, or it's not going to be good for him.” It isn't likely that Hurts will change his game plan though, after saying he had a disdain for sliding. Foster has developed a reputation as one of the league's toughest hitters, but Hurts has doled out plenty of hits himself — while avoiding unnecessary contact — and his ability to stretch the field with his arm has continued to keep the Sooners as one of the most dynamic offenses in college football.
EDGE: Oklahoma
2
Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb vs. Texas CB Kobe Boyce
The emergence of Charleston Rambo as a legitimate big-play threat stresses defenses plenty, and the Longhorns will have a tough decision as they scheme against the Sooners' receivers. Bracket Lamb — as UCLA tried to — and Rambo can find plenty of open space to work. Go
one-on-one with Lamb and you risk a monster day by the junior. Texas figures to try several looks to mix things up but at the top of the list for matchups figures to be Lamb and Boyce. If Boyce holds his own, that lets Texas keep safeties free to help with the run and elsewhere.
If he struggles, not only could Lamb get loose but plenty of other options could open up. EDGE: Oklahoma
3
Oklahoma DE Ronnie Perkins vs. Texas LT Sam Cosmi
Cosmi made waves early in the week even he said Perkins and Sooners interior defensive lineman Neville Gallimore were “nothing to worry about too much.” Cosmi will have a chance to back up those words as he figures to see plenty of time against Perkins. Just a redshirt sophomore, Cosmi earned freshman All-American honors a year ago and has been a big key
to Texas' success so far. With four tackles for loss and a pair of quarterback hurries, Perkins has been solid but not great so far. If he can take a step forward in this game, it would be huge for the Sooners. EDGE: Texas
4
Oklahoma NB Brendan Radley-Hiles vs. Texas WR Devin Duvernay
While Longhorns receiver Collin Johnson gets plenty of attention, it's Duvernay who could be a big factor for the Longhorns in the game. Radley-Hiles has struggled for stretches this season and against an offense like Texas, any struggles — especially in open-field tackling — could get magnified. Sam Ehlinger will be looking at secondary options and Duvernay blossomed while Johnson was injured. With Johnson back, Texas' offense figures to get even more dynamic.