The Red River Rivalry 2026 arrives Saturday with the sport’s top-ranked team in the building. However, No. 1 Texas and quarterback Arch Manning face a scuffling Oklahoma squad at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
It is the 122nd meeting between the old rivals. It is also a conference game, because both programs now play in the SEC. Texas enters at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in league play. Meanwhile, Oklahoma sits at 2-2 and 0-1.
How to Watch the Red River Rivalry 2026
The SEC designated ABC as the broadcast home back on Sept. 28. Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Katie George will call the game. Oklahoma is the designated home team, even though the stadium sits in Dallas.
Oklahoma fans can also catch the Red River Showdown on 107.7 FM The Franchise. The forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and a high around 85. Then add the Texas State Fair crowds outside the gates.
Why Texas Is Favored in the Texas vs Oklahoma Game
The Longhorns are No. 1 in the AP poll for a fourth straight week, with 61 first-place votes. Georgia sits second, while Oklahoma is unranked. For a closer look at how the polls have shifted, see our college football week 6 recap.
The oddsmakers agree with the voters. Yahoo’s betting roundup lists Texas as a 7.5-point favorite, at -330 on the moneyline. The over/under is a modest 39.5. That number points to a field-position game, not a shootout. Lines can move before kickoff, so check again before you wager.
History also leans burnt orange. Texas has won three of the past four meetings, its best stretch in the series since 2006-09. In fact, the Longhorns held Oklahoma to just nine total points in those three wins. Last October, Texas won 23-6 here, and the Sooners’ John Mateer threw three interceptions that day. He was only two weeks removed from hand surgery.
Oklahoma’s Problems Up Front
The Sooners come in battered, and this Texas-OU game looks like a tough ask. They lost 41-13 at Georgia on Sept. 26, and they have dropped two of their last three. Earlier, they fell 17-10 at Michigan.
The biggest issue is the ground game. CBS Sports reports Oklahoma averages just 99 rushing yards per game. Texas averages 147.3. Coach Brent Venables has also called his program’s offensive line development “very disappointing.”
That puts more weight on Mateer, who has 883 passing yards and eight touchdowns. Still, he has thrown four interceptions over his last three games. Venables says he is sticking with his quarterback for now.
Arch Manning’s Test in This Red River Rivalry Game
This is Manning’s second start in the rivalry game. Last year he completed 21 of 27 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown. He added 34 yards on the ground. His name has also drawn plenty of attention off the field, as we covered in our look at Arch Manning’s NIL payout.
The Longhorns’ passing numbers need work, though. Texas ranks 71st nationally at 231.3 passing yards per game. Oklahoma’s pass defense ranks fourth, allowing just 122.5. In his last game, at Tennessee, Manning went 14 of 19 for 201 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. Even so, Texas won, thanks to a defense that piled up 10 sacks.
Manning does have weapons. Ryan Wingo leads the team with 19 catches for 239 yards. Transfer Cam Coleman has four touchdowns on 12 receptions. On defense, end Colin Simmons has 7.5 sacks.
What Sarkisian Is Watching Before Kickoff
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is not buying the hype around the matchup. He says the rivalry “generally comes back to the things that are important to football.” He also noted that Texas was in a similar spot a year ago.
Injuries are the other storyline. CBS says Texas is hopeful that Smothers and tight end Nick Townsend can return. No official report had been released as of Thursday.
What Comes After the Red River Showdown
A Texas win keeps its No. 1 case intact when the next AP poll drops around Oct. 11-12. A loss would crack the SEC race wide open. For Oklahoma, the Red River Rivalry 2026 is a chance to salvage a rough start against the best team in the country. Either way, the Cotton Bowl will be loud.
