FanHouse Red River Rivalry

Whether or not Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford returns to the Sooners this season, or if he has indeed played his last college game, seems to be anybody's guess.

DALLAS -- Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford's emotions were sprawled all over the place on the night of Sept. 5 as uncertainty about his injured shoulder weighed on him, when a text message of inspiration popped onto his cell phone.

"I'm praying for you and I hope you can get back as soon as possible."

---

---

It's not like Texas and Oklahoma ever needed a reason to make their annual Red River Rivalry game in Dallas any more intense.

The tradition of the two programs, the bordering states and the fight for superiority in fertile recruiting ground of Texas use to be enough. Who knew this early season game would take on so much more meaning when both teams joined the Big 12 in 1996?

This game has become about so much more than school pride and bragging rights, as one of these two teams has won the South each of the last 10 years, and it has sometimes set the stage for the national championship picture.

Oklahoma has beaten Texas 28-21 in an evenly played Red River Rivalry. Both teams clearly had their moments but Oklahoma's offense and defense were both a little more consistent.

As has been the case all year, Colt McCoy tossed another ill-timed interception in an otherwise solid, sometimes explosive effort. This loss means Texas is in the Big 12 cellar. Who saw that one coming?

The 'Horns have also lost four consecutive conference games.

Is there any doubt now just how important that Vince Young guy was to the national reputation of this program? Texas' two-game win streak over Oklahoma is now over.