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 Saturday, October 6, 2001
All eyes will on the heart of Texas this Saturday
By Brent Musburger
Special to ABC Sports Online
Ah baby, it doesn't get bigger than the Red River Shootout this week.
The Oklahoma-Texas showdown is the biggest game on the football schedule this week -- college or professional. The place to be Saturday at 2:30 p.m. CT (3:30 ET) is the Cotton Bowl in Big D, or in front of your favorite TV set watching ABC. Gary Danielson and Jack Arute will be there with me, and we've been talking for weeks about how this could wind up being the game of the season.
You have to go all the way back to 1984 to find Oklahoma and Texas undefeated and ranked in the Top 5 when they met in their annual border clash. That year, Texas kicker Jeff Ward nailed a 32-yard field goal as time expired to deadlock the game at 15.
|  | | Quentin Griffin found the end zone six times last year in the Red River Shootout. |
There will be no tie this time around, but this game could head to overtime. That's how close these two teams appear on paper. Then again, they looked pretty equal last year and OU destroyed the Longhorns 63-14.
Why the Sooners will win
This team is red hot -- 17 wins in a row and believing that no one can beat them. They play with the old Barry Switzer swagger. And they knock your helmet off on defense.
Rocky Calmus, Roy Williams and Tommie Harris (the best freshman DT I have seen in a long time) lead the way for the Sooners. On offense, Nate Hybl is getting better by the game. He throws a nice deep ball and he proved against Kansas State last week that he is plenty tough.
Bob Stoops' coaching staff showed us last January in Miami that they are the best in the country. Beating Florida State 13-2 didn't shock me, but keeping the vaunted 'Noles out of the end zone still boggles the mind. This staff is lethal in a big game.
Why Texas will win
63!!!!!
They've had a year to simmer and think about the worst licking Oklahoma ever put on them in the historic rivalry. They were awful last year. Quentin Griffin himself scored six times. And right there in the OU media guide is a big ol' picture of the preening Sooners posing in front of the scoreboard at the end of the game: OU 63, Texas 14. Man, that stings and the 'Horns are determined to do something about it. Never underestimate emotion in a big-time football game.
Quarterback Chris Simms is starting to live up to the incredible hype. Since last year's Texas A&M performance, I have been preaching that this kid's got it. Size, mobility and a rifle-like arm. The best backup quarterback in college football is Major Applewhite. And he's a backup for a reason: Simms is the real deal.
Brent's Top 5
1. Oklahoma: Like I have been saying since the season started: You stay No. 1 until someone knocks you off the pedestal.
2. Texas: Yeah, yeah, I know this is a hype job, but this week I can't help myself.
3. Miami: No disrespect for the 'Canes. This team could vault to No. 1 if they handle Florida State next week.
4. Florida: The Gators are California Dreamin'.
5. Nebraska: The Cornhuskers are getting ready to welcome Oklahoma to Lincoln on Oct. 27.
Heisman ballot
1. Florida QB Rex Grossman: 15-2. That's 15 touchdowns and two interceptions with a completion percentage over 66. This kid is becoming the next Danny Wuerffel.
2. Miami QB Ken Dorsey: This junior is averaging 10.32 yards per pass attempt. He has the 'Canes right on schedule for a shot at a national title.
3. Fresno State QB David Carr: Great story, great arm, but starting to be hurt by the schedule maker.
Time to get on the Big Bird and head to Big D. I can't wait to get to the fairgrounds and get me a Fletcher's Corny Dog and settle down for the Red River Shootout. The only job better than mine this week would be as a ticket broker. I mean, this ticket is tough to get. Some guy offered me 10 Dallas Cowboys season tickets for one ticket to this one.
Brent Musburger is a play-by-play announcer for ABC's coverage of college football. He writes a column every week for ABC Sports Online.
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