Sooners can turn around season with victory against Texas in Red River Rivalry

Red River Rivalry is chance for OU turnaround

An injured Heisman Trophy winner and a pair of one-point losses have made the first half of Oklahoma’s season a real downer.

Next up for the Sooners, a chance to turn the season around. No. 20 Oklahoma meets No. 3 Texas on Saturday in Dallas.

The intensity of the Red River Rivalry reached new heights last season, when Colt McCoy and the Longhorns won 45-35 in Cotton Bowl Stadium but the Sooners — by virtue of the three-way tiebreaker — went on to play in the Big 12 and national championship games.

Longhorns fans might never get over that.

Texas coach Mack Brown takes a more diplomatic approach to last year’s controversy.

“Our kids lost one game, their kids lost one game, and it came down to outside sources that made that decision, not the two teams, the two schools or the two coaches,” Brown said this week. “That shouldn’t have anything to do with us at all and even if it was, we’ve talked about revenge a lot. What you want to do is get excited about playing in this game; you don’t have to be mad.”

Both teams expected to have national title hopes entering this year’s game, too. But Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford injured his shoulder the first week of the season and the Sooners have lost twice by one point with him on the sideline — to BYU and Miami.

The Sooners can probably forget about the national title, and it’d be tough for Bradford to win another Heisman after missing 3½ games, but a fourth consecutive Big 12 championship is still very much in reach. Beating Texas would go a long way toward that.

It would also put a serious crimp in the Longhorns’ national title hopes. And that would be sure to put a smile on any Sooners’ face.

Though maybe not as big a smile as Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis would sport if the Fighting Irish can snap a seven-game losing streak to rival Southern California.

Just staying close to the Trojans would be progress for the Irish. USC has won the last three games by an average of 40-9.

The picks:

Bearcats’ No. 1 pass offense in Big East vs. Bulls’ top pass D … CINCINNATI 28-17.

Gators’ pass defense No. 1 country … FLORIDA 45-14.

Spurrier vs. Saban for first time since 2001 … ALABAMA 27-7.

More defense on display at Cotton Bowl this season … OKLAHOMA 27-21.

Hokies have won four of last five meetings … VIRGINIA TECH 28-20.

Another USC romp will not go over well, Charlie … USC 30-21.

Buckeyes barely even need an offense … OHIO STATE 27-7.

Hurricanes make a recruiting trip to Orlando … MIAMI 35-17.

Hawkeyes’ 10-game winning streak in danger … WISCONSIN 24-17.

Horned Frogs have won five straight vs. Rams … TCU 38-14.

Gophers have won four of last six, including two in Happy Valley … PENN STATE 31-21.

Huskers have allowed only one TD pass … NEBRASKA 28-17.

Cowboys’ Zac Robinson is Big 12’s top-rated passer … OKLAHOMA STATE 37-24.

Tyler Hansen starts at QB for sinking Buffaloes … COLORADO 34-28.

BYU has won seven of last eight meetings by average of 26 points … BYU 40-14.

Cougars can focus on C-USA title … HOUSTON 48-21.

Rebels have allowed 122 points last two games … UTAH 48-24.

Last week: 14-4 (straight); 4-10 (vs. points).

Season: 100-22 (straight); 49-55-3 (vs. points).