Week 7: Oklahoma vs. Texas

The Red River Rivalry rules again.

The national game of the week.

The No. 1 Sooners and the No. 5 Longhorns.

Heisman candidate quarterbacks in OU’s Sam Bradford and UT’s Colt McCoy.

Mack Brown and Bob Stoops.

Bad blood and Big Tex and the Texas State Fair surround the Cotton Bowl, where inside the teams tangle for their place in the Big 12 and the BCS.

“This is going to be an awesome game,” said McCoy. “Two top five teams in the Cotton Bowl in a rivalry game. The atmosphere in the game is awesome.

“I love this week every year.”

Neither team has been tested, rolling unbeaten into their clash. And yet, one will fall back in the race for championships – conference and national – while the winner surges ahead.

Both defenses have dominated, but it’s the two offenses that have been the story of the early season.

McCoy has rebounded from a sophomore slump a year ago, flinging touchdown passes and also leading the Longhorns in rushing. But is McCoy’s top-rusher status a good thing for the Horns, who have auditioned candidates for the feature back role on a seemingly weekly basis?

Chris Ogbonnaya gave the Horns hope a week ago, with a combined 187 yards and two touchdowns rushing and receiving. Still, Texas hasn’t had a 100-yard rusher – other than McCoy – this season.

The Horns need one back – or a combination of runners – to be effective. One-dimensional is no way to go against the Sooners.

OU’s running game has disappointed a bit, too, with DeMarco Murray seemingly missing a step after offseason knee surgery. Since the Chattanooga game in the season opener, his longest run is 14 yards. Chris Brown may be the better back for now.

Offensively, Bradford directs a highly efficient offense that has gamebreakers at every receiver spot. Wideouts Juaquin Iglesias, Manny Johnson and Ryan Broyles have all starred so far. Tight end Jermaine Gresham is among the nation’s best.

It all makes for a marvelous matchup.

Inside the Cotton Bowl, the dividing line is set, right across the 50, separating burnt orange and crimson.

The Red River splits the two states and allegiances.

“Growing up in Oklahoma, it’s very clear at a young age which side you’re on,” Bradford said, “and what it means to be a Sooner.”

Notes:

This series has run in streaks for decades. The same holds under Brown and Stoops. OU won five straight from 2000 through 2004. Texas won in 2005 and ’06. The Sooners won last year. Will it begin another trend?

The teams have met 30 times with both teams undefeated. Stoops has won all three of the unbeaten matchups since 2001.

Bradford, just a sophomore, moved into second place on OU’s all-time passing touchdowns list with 54, after throwing two against Baylor.

The Longhorns have scored 215 points through five games, it’s best at that checkpoint since 1915.

Player to Watch (Longhorns) – Brian Orakpo, DE

Bradford’s staggering stats have been accomplished in the safety of a comfortable pocket, with few teams able to muster much of a pass rush. Orakpo’s 5 1/2 sacks rank third nationally. Matched against mammoth OT Phil Loadholt, Orakpo’s ability or inability to pressure Bradford will be key.

Player to Watch (Sooners) – DeMarco Murray, RB

Murray turned this game a year ago, with his dazzling, hurdling 65-yard touchdown run. He finished with 128 yards on 17 carries. That Murray has not been seen this season. If Murray can’t offer a breakaway threat, Texas could load up the blitz and come after Bradford.

Oklahoma by 10