Will Oklahoma thwart Texas once again?
This year’s Red River Rivalry won’t carry the significance we thought it would when Texas and Oklahoma began the season ranked Nos. 2 and 3, respectively. But it’s still got plenty of sizzle, especially for a Texas team that likely can’t afford a loss. The Longhorns have done little to impress so far this season and face this bleak reality: If they don’t beat Oklahoma, they won’t get another chance to prove themselves against a marquee opponent. Last year, the ‘Horns left their fate to the system, and we all know how that ended. But, already, things are very different now than in 2008. Injuries and subpar play have pushed the Bradford-McCoy subplot to the back burner. This game’s no longer about Heisman campaigns (though if McCoy stands a chance, he needs to start dazzling, and soon) and unlikely friendships; it’s about survival, which means defense will be key. So while this one could easily come down to a Jordan Shipley shake-and-shimmy, here’s guessing it comes down to sacks, stops and Sergio Kindle.
• Can Charlie Weis and Notre Dame finally beat USC? Who’s to say how different Charlie Weis’ Notre Dame tenure could have been if the Bush Push had never happened and the Irish had staged an upset for the ages against the epic 2005 Trojans. Revisionist history can’t do much for Weis at this point, which is why it’s refreshing to see he’s so grounded in reality and the here-and-now. This week Weis told his team, “Saturday night, fellas, you’re going to be the lead story in the country, one way or another. So which lead story do you want to be?” Weis knows this is his final chance to secure the signature victory he’s so far failed to earn, knows he won’t be able to survive a fifth lose in five tries against USC, knows that, though there’s still a long season ahead, it’s finally make-or-break time in South Bend.
SI.com
10/17/9
