Few regular-season matchups put as much pressure on a quarterback as the Texas-Oklahoma rivalry.
The emotions of an age-old border conflict, the pre-game crowds at the State Fair of Texas, and the four hours of constant crowd noise at the Cotton Bowl – not to mention the playing of the game itself – are conditions that haunt every will put the quarterback to the test.
Top-ranked Texas (5-0, 1-0 SEC) and No. 18 Oklahoma (4-1, 1-1) enter that whirlwind environment with vastly different experiences, skills and question marks surrounding the most important position in the rankings. field.
Oklahoma starts Michael Hawkins Jr., who will have to deal with the emotions of being the first true freshman starting quarterback for the Sooners in the history of a rivalry that dates back to 1900.
“I’m confident,” Sooners coach Brent Venables said in Hawkins.
Texas will likely start Quinn Ewers, who has missed the last two and a half games with an abdominal injury. Ewers has missed time in each of the last three seasons, with the latest injury coming on a non-contact pass that left him straining a muscle.
Both teams had last week off, which gave them extra time to get both quarterbacks ready.
“If anyone took advantage of the time off, it was probably (Ewers),” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said.
The newcomer
Hawkins replaced Jackson Arnold late in the first half of Oklahoma’s loss to Tennessee and provided enough of a spark to earn the starting job at Auburn the following week. His debut as a starter was a success: the Sooners rallied in the fourth quarter to earn a victory over the Tigers and claim the program’s first road victory in the Southeastern Conference.
Hawkins’ biggest play was a 48-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, which brought back memories of Kyler Murray with its burst of speed. And it caught Texas’ attention.
“His first touchdown was a pass, he put it away and took off and ran,” Sarkisian said. ‘If he pulls it, it’s not to get four, five or six meters. He went for 50.”
Oklahoma quarterbacks have won four Heisman Trophies since 2003. As a freshman, Hawkins has a chance to be on the radar for that kind of honor down the road.
For now, Hawkins needs to stay in the moment and take it one game at a time before that can happen.
“Play the calls. Don’t overcomplicate things and don’t try to win the game in the first quarter,” said Venables. ‘But he’s a playmaker, so you don’t want to handcuff him. But don’t let the emotions hijack what it takes to execute – the precision, the timing, the patience, the progression – all those things that a quarterback has to have.”
The veteran
On the experience map, Texas has the clear advantage.
Ewers is a third-year starter and has done well in the Cotton Bowl pressure cooker in his two previous appearances in this rivalry.
Last season, he led Texas to the Big 12 championship and the College Football Playoff. Last season, he also lifted Texas to a lead over the Sooners in the final two minutes before Oklahoma scored the winning touchdown with 15 seconds left.
Ewers has played perhaps his best in Texas’ biggest games, including a 49-0 outing against Oklahoma in 2022, a win at Alabama in 2023 and a win at Michigan this year.
Ewers opted not to turn pro after last season and was among the early contenders for the Heisman after the Longhorns’ big win at Michigan.
But he has proven to be vulnerable. Shoulder and sternum injuries caused Ewers to miss all or part of four games in 2022, and three more last season. He hasn’t played since the first half against UTSA on September 14.
Ewers’ return against Oklahoma is similar to 2022, when he missed the three games before the Oklahoma game and then beat the Sooners with four touchdown passes.
Ewers hasn’t seen the media since his injury against UTSA, but if he goes down again, Texas has a major backup.
Sophomore freshman Arch Manning has started the last two games. He passed for nine touchdowns and ran three more this season. His second career start was Texas’ first win in the SEC.
Manning is the grandson of NFL Hall of Famer Archie Manning and the nephew of Super Bowl winners Peyton and Eli. Even though he doesn’t have deep roots in the Texas-Oklahoma rivalry, he will certainly have help to succeed in a big moment.
“I have no hesitation in bringing Arch into the game” if necessary, Sarkisian said. “We’re fortunate to have two quality players at the quarterback position that we have confidence in, and their teammates have confidence in them.”
