In last year’s Oklahoma-Texas showdown, the only things their fans couldn’t stomach other than the fried Twinkies were their teams’ defenses. On Sept. 29 a year ago, Oklahoma stumbled at Colorado, Texas gagged against Kansas State and both were out of the national title picture before the leaves changed.
The Red River Rivalry the following week was reduced to just another carny act at the Texas State Fair.
It’s one year later, and Saturday’s colossal matchup is one of the biggest in this 103-year-old rivalry. You’ll hear analysis and platitudes and charts comparing quarterbacks Sam Bradford of Oklahoma and Texas’ Colt McCoy. Win this game and one may have the inside track for the Heisman Trophy, with a possible detour to Miami for the BCS championship game.
But the reason Oklahoma is No. 1 and Texas is No. 5 and both are 5-0 isn’t so much to do with the quarterbacks as the guys assigned to stop them. Oklahoma and Texas are in national title contention again because of vastly improved defenses.
Texas was a disaster last year after five starters left and defensive coordinator Gene Chizik took the Iowa State head coaching job. The Longhorns were only 52nd nationally in total defense (371.2 yards per game), 45th in scoring defense (25.3 points per game) and 70th in pass-efficiency defense (127.5).
“We weren’t as good a team to start the year, and then we had a bunch of injuries,” Texas coach Mack Brown said Monday. “We weren’t a confident team.”
After Texas lost to Texas A&M 38-30, and then had to outscore Arizona State 52-34 in the Holiday Bowl, Brown made a huge change. He moved co-defensive coordinator Duane Akina back to secondary coach; the other co-coordinator, Larry Mac Duff, resigned; and Brown brought in defensive wizard Will Muschamp from Auburn.
With only four starters returning, but one being a healthy Brian Orakpo at end, Texas has dropped its total defense average from 371.2 to 295.8, its scoring defense from 25.3 to 11.4 and its rush defense from 93.4 to 51.8, good for third-best in the country. No surprise here. In Muschamp’s five years at Auburn and Louisiana State, his teams finished in the top 10 in total defense all five years and in scoring defense three times.
Through five games, Texas has given up only six touchdowns, one on a fumble return.
“It’s his personality,” Brown said of Muschamp. “He’s very intense. It’s obvious to anyone who watches us play. He’s fun. Kids really like him. They buy into him. They aren’t going to buy in unless he knows what he’s doing.”
If Texas is improved, Oklahoma is transformed. The Sooners are 6 1/2-point favorites due to a defense so much better than in 2007. They’re third in sacks (3.4 per game), third in tackles for loss (8.6) and 11th in total defense (256.2, down from 338.4).
What could be a key to coach Bob Stoops’ second national title is a pass-efficiency defense that went from a sieve at 43rd last year (118.9 rating) to leading the country (85.57).
“We’re playing with more discipline and consistency,” Stoops said. “Our front four was good a year ago, but they’re more active and better this year. Guys returning are playing better and are more consistent.”
Only four starters returned and another, tackle DeMarcus Granger, is still recovering from a foot injury against Washington. But the biggest pluses are new cornerbacks, sophomore Dominique Franks and junior Brian Jackson, backups a year ago who haven’t been beaten deep all year.
“They’re playing great,” Stoops said. “They’ve been playing as consistent and well for five games as anybody we’ve ever had.”
