#19 Texas (4-1) vs. #10 Oklahoma (4-1)
Time: 2:30 pm, Saturday, Oct. 6
Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
TV: KVUE (ABC)
Radio: KVET (98.1 FM, 1300 AM)

One of the realities of college football is that a single loss, particularly at the wrong time, effectively ends your season. Teams that begin the season with a hope of winning the national championship can see those hopes vanish in the span of four hours on a given Saturday.

Last weekend focused the harsh spotlight on just such a situation, as half of the teams ranked in the Top 10 lost. Both Texas and Oklahoma were caught in that storm, with the Longhorns losing at home to Kansas State and the Sooners falling in the final seconds at Colorado.

Those losses knocked each team from the national title picture, and reduced what could have been a matchup of Top 5 teams this weekend at the Cotton Bowl in the annual Red River Rivalry to a battle to avoid going 0-2 to open Big 12 Conference play. Although the winner of the Texas-OU game still has hopes of going to a major post-season bowl, the loser is likely eliminated from contention in the Big 12 South division midway through the season.

Photo by aecela on flickr

Both teams lost in disappointing fashion last week. Oklahoma blew a 24-7 lead and committed crucial mistakes late in the game, while Texas suffered its biggest home loss under Mack Brown and gave up the most points at home in 10 years.

Texas has lost three straight conference games dating back to last season. In their last eight games, the Longhorns are 5-3, and have lost their home-field advantage. After losing only one home game in six years (from 2000-2005), the Longhorns have lost three home games in 2006-2007, including two of their last five.

In his press conference on Monday, Brown stressed that his team has to do a better job protecting quarterback Colt McCoy, who left the game with signs of a concussion. Team doctors have cleared McCoy to play on Saturday.

Brown said the Longhorns also will have to improve on special teams after giving up touchdowns to Kansas State on a punt return and kickoff return. In recent seasons, Texas has been able to change the momentum of games with blocked kicks and turnovers on special teams, but through five games this season, the Longhorns have not blocked a single kick or punt attempt.

Game Notes

Getting There: The Texas Department of Transportation has warned fans that a four-mile-long construction zone just north of Hillsboro will delay fans headed to Dallas on I-35. However, Statesman sports editor John Bridges discovered a way to loop around the lane closure by taking FM 308. The exit for that two-lane road is just north of Waco and it rejoins I-35 between Hillsboro and Waxahachie.

Longhorn Injuries:
The Longhorns will be at full strength for the first time this season. Junior defensive end Brian Orakpo returns after being injured in the season opener against Arkansas State, and one of his backups, Eddie Jones, also returns. Linebacker Sergio Kindle has bounced back from a knee injury and is also ready to play.

Opponents to Watch:
Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford has stepped in and taken control of the Sooners' offense in his first season, reminding some of the job Colt McCoy did in his initial season last year with the Longhorns. Bradford has completed 72 percent of his passes this season (83-for-115) for 1,179 yards and 15 touchdowns. Oklahoma also features standout wide receiver Malcolm Kelly, with seven touchdown receptions so far, and running backs Allen Patrick and DeMarco Murray, who have combined for more than 700 yards rushing.

Long History: Texas and Oklahoma have played each other more than 100 times since 1900. Texas holds a 57-39-5 advantage in the series. OU won five straight games from 2000-2004, but Texas has won the last two meetings.

State Fair Activities: If you're in Dallas today or tomorrow, there are plenty of events for fans around town. From the Texas Exes' Bash Before the Clash to the OU Club of Dallas' Beat Texas Dance, there's plenty of opportunities to get your fan on. For the latest information go to the Dallas Texas Exes site or the OU Club of Dallas site.