Oklahoma
Texas
DALLAS, Texas (10/08/2026) — The Oklahoma Sooners beat the Texas Longhorns 27-24 on Thursday night at the Cotton Bowl, even though Texas outgained them by 144 yards. Oklahoma finished with 238 total yards to 382 for Texas. The Sooners still won the Red River rivalry and kept the edge in the SEC standings that comes with it.
The box score shows how Oklahoma won. Texas moved the ball more easily, but the Sooners held a narrow lead in time of possession, and Texas committed two turnovers. Those two giveaways matter a great deal in a game that ended with a three-point margin.
How It Happened
Texas had the bigger offensive output. The Longhorns threw for 260 yards on 19-of-31 passing, ran for 122 more, and picked up 16 first downs. Arch Manning accounted for three touchdowns, and Gianni Spetic added 6 points to make up the rest of the Longhorns' 24.
Oklahoma was more efficient with fewer opportunities. The Sooners completed 18 of 26 passes for 155 yards and ran for 83 yards on the ground. With 14 first downs and only two third-down conversions, Oklahoma did not put together many long, sustained drives. It made the most of the possessions it did get.
The Sooners' scoring came from two main sources. Tate Sandell led all scorers with 9 points, and Lloyd Avant found the end zone once. Oklahoma held the ball for 30:31 to 29:29 for Texas. That kept the time of possession close despite the gap in yardage.
The Oklahoma defense also forced key stops. Taylor Wein recorded a sack for the Sooners, part of a defensive effort that held a Texas offense averaging well over 300 yards on the night to 24 points.
Turning Point
The two Texas turnovers were the deciding factor. The Longhorns outgained Oklahoma by 144 yards, converted more third downs (three to two), and finished with two more first downs. In nearly every yardage category, Texas came out ahead. The result was decided by possessions Texas gave away.
When one team generates 382 yards and still loses by three points, it is hard to avoid looking at turnovers. Each giveaway took a chance at points away from the Longhorns. Each one also gave Oklahoma a possession it did not have to earn by driving the field. Against an Oklahoma offense that gained only 238 yards, those extra chances proved decisive.
Star of the Game
Tate Sandell, Oklahoma — In a game decided by three points, Sandell's 9 points were the difference. He led all players in scoring and gave the Sooners points on a night when yards were hard to come by. Oklahoma's offense needed to make every opportunity count, and Sandell did that.
Arch Manning deserves recognition on the Texas side. His three touchdowns produced most of the Longhorns' scoring and kept Texas within reach all night. Colin Simmons also stood out for Texas with two sacks, giving the Longhorns a consistent pass rush against the Sooners.
What It Means
For Oklahoma, the win shows it can come out on top without winning the stat sheet. The Sooners were outgained by a wide margin and still left the Cotton Bowl with the victory. Their defense, which got a sack from Taylor Wein, did enough to limit the damage. The offense was efficient, completing 69 percent of its passes. Winning the Red River rivalry carries weight in any season, and a conference victory over Texas strengthens Oklahoma's position in the SEC race.
For Texas, this is a frustrating loss because the overall performance was strong. The Longhorns had 382 total yards, a balanced attack with 260 passing and 122 rushing, and three touchdowns from Manning. Those numbers usually lead to a win. Ball security is the clear area to address. Two turnovers in a three-point loss leave little room for error, and the Longhorns will need to clean that up to stay competitive in the SEC title race.
Both teams leave Dallas knowing the margins in this conference are thin. Oklahoma made the most of its chances. Texas moved the ball well but could not overcome its giveaways.
