Longhorns and Sooners bring dominant defense and sput­tering offense to Cotton Bowl rivalry – Spectrum News

Longhorns and Sooners bring dominant defense and sput­tering offense to Cotton Bowl rivalry  Spectrum News

Texas quarterback Arch Manning has been inconsistent and Oklahoma's John Mateer has had a rash of turnovers. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Top-ranked Texas and Oklahoma square off this week in their annual rivalry, bringing two elite defenses to the Cotton Bowl Stadium. They will need them. Offensively, the Longhorns (4-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) and Sooners (2-2, 0-1) have struggled and sputtered through long stretches behind units that were expected to deliver much more punch than the penalties, punts and blooper-reel turnovers they have so far. “I see flashes of who we want to be,” said Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who remains the Longhorns' play-caller in his sixth season with the program.

“My biggest critique is the consistency.” Texas enters the game ranked No. 1 for the past month after beating previous No. 1 Ohio State on Sept. 12. But since then, quarterback Arch Manning has been wildly inconsistent, the offensive line has struggled to protect him and penalties have stalled drives. Oklahoma, meanwhile, is searching for anything from struggling quarterback John Mateer to jump-start a unit that ranks No. 104 nationally and complement a defense that can hold out only so long. Put these teams on the field Saturday and a scene like Oklahoma's classic 14-3 win in 2001, sealed with Teddy Lehman's deflected pass interception in the final minutes,