Oklahoma’s defense had a strong start against top-ranked Texas in the Cotton Bowl, but mental errors and poor tackling allowed the Longhorns to gain momentum and ultimately defeat the Sooners 34-3.
In the first quarter, Oklahoma’s defense dominated, holding Texas to just 13 yards of offense, and Billy Bowman Jr. intercepted Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. Despite the defensive effort, Oklahoma’s offense managed only a field goal, leaving the door open for Texas to rebound. Ewers connected with DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 26-yard completion, marking Texas’ first first down. Soon after, missed tackles by Oklahoma helped Ewers and the Longhorns take a 7-3 lead—a lead they would not relinquish.
By the game’s end, Texas had racked up 406 total yards, including 177 on the ground, leaving Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables frustrated with the team’s inability to maintain discipline, especially in setting the edges on defense. Venables stressed that players need to focus on their individual responsibilities rather than trying to do too much.
Linebacker Danny Stutsman echoed Venables’ sentiment, emphasizing that every player needs to do their job rather than overcompensating. He pointed to the need for better tackling in practice as a way to avoid costly mistakes in games.
Defensive coordinator Zac Alley highlighted the dangers of players trying too hard to make game-changing plays, explaining that this often leads to poor positioning and missed assignments. Alley repeatedly told his players to trust the process, stressing that if they focused on their jobs, the big plays would come naturally.
Oklahoma’s defense felt the pressure to carry the team as the offense continued to struggle, but this mindset led to costly mistakes. Poor tackling, especially after Michael Hawkins Jr.’s first-half fumble, allowed Texas to capitalize and score. This pattern of mistakes proved too much to overcome, leading to a lopsided defeat.
To bounce back, the Sooners’ defense will need to remain disciplined and avoid the temptation to overextend themselves. As Alley reminded his players, the defense’s job is to get three-and-outs regardless of the situation, and focusing on that will help them keep Oklahoma competitive despite ongoing offensive struggles.
