I suppose at the end of the day, all you need to know about what happened at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday is that Oklahoma fans were brought to tears.
In the first half.
As someone that has covered nearly three decades of Texas/OU games on a professional level, I've never seen Texas make Oklahoma look as outright pathetic as it did today. Not even John Blake's 1998 team was as ragged as the outfit that Brent Venables put on the field on Saturday and you've never seen a Texas team readier to shove OU's face in the dirt as Steve Sarkisian's unit did.
Texas 49 Oklahoma 0.
Not only did the Texas offense run up and down the field at will against the Sooners, but the defense dominated the Sooners at historic levels. It felt like the Sooners could have been on offense for another three hours and it wouldn't have graced the end zone with a touchdown.
Damn, that had to feel good for every player, coach, trainer, alum and piece of livestock wearing burnt orange. For the rest of their lives, they'll have this day to reflect on, knowing that they not only beat the Sooners, but made them tap out long before the final whistle. Never before has this game been over when another team went up 14-0, but that's exactly what happened today.
Outright domination.
Don't just enjoy this one... bathe in it. Do some snow angels in it. Never forget the day that the 2022 Texas Longhorns beat Oklahoma so bad that the Sooners just quit trying to pretend that it wanted to continue playing.
It was a perfect tune-up game for a much tougher match-up next week against Iowa State.
*****
(Other thoughts on the game...)
* Quinn Ewers had himself one hell of a game (21 of 31 for 289 yards, four touchdowns, 1 interception and a 182.2 efficiency rating), but the truth of the matter is that he was a little rusty and not quite on his A-game on Saturday, which feels pretty ridiculous to say. Yet, he can play better and he will play better.
* Ho-hum, Bijan Robinson ripped off 130 yards rushing and two touchdowns. It could have been 200+ if the Longhorns really wanted to press the issue.
* Ja'Tavion Sanders (5 receptions for 71 yards and 2 touchdowns) is definitely the best tight end in the Big 12. Are we sure he isn't the best in the country?
* The Longhorns had more turnovers created by the defense in 20 minutes than it had accumulated in the first 5 games combined.
* Ewers at halftime: 16 of 22 for 211 yards, three touchdowns and a 198.3 efficiency rating.
* That Ewers throw down the seam to Sanders that made it 28-0 was a thing of beauty.
* Jordan Whittington is playing out of his mind. When he was leaping into the air for catches, he was pancaking dudes in. the run game.
* How did Texas mop up OU with a quiet game from Xavier Worthy? Who thought that was possible?
* Roschon Johnson was a beast today. OU definitely will be glad not to have to see him again.
* The throw that Ewers makes for the touchdown to Worthy that put Texas up 14-0 is an element of the offense that the coaches feel like he gives them more of that Hudson Card. He is better in that play-action set at making a quick read and delivery of the football than Card.
* The first 15 minutes of this game from safety Jerrin Thompson was the best 15 minutes of football I've seen from him since he's been at Texas. He was a heat-seeking missile for the entire quarter.
* The entire Texas defensive line handled its business today. It seemed like every single member of the line had a highlight reel moment at some point in the game. Keondre Coburn, T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy were pretty fantastic.
* Brent Venables embarrassed himself today by not having his team remotely in a position to be competitive.
* Was that jump pass that was intercepted by Jahdae Barron the worst jump pass in the history of the sport? If so, congrats to Oklahoma for that, I suppose.
* Incredible physicality at the point of attack b y the interior of the Texas defensive line (T'Vondre Sweat and Keondre Coburn) on the fourth down stop inside the 10-yard line.
* Attaboy, Steve Sarkisian. He had his team ready today and I thought he was really creative with some of his play designs. If he didn't have a signature win before today, he certainly does now.
That 90-yard drive that put Texas up 7-0 was just a thing of absolute beauty, from the play-calling/design to the hard-charging running of the backs to the playmaking of the receivers and to the physicality of every player in burnt orange. 12 plays, 90 yards and 4:31 off the clock.
