DALLAS (FWAA) – The Texas Longhorns wiped out rival Oklahoma by an historic margin Saturday, rolling to their largest win in the Red River Rivalry’s 118-year history with a 49-0 domination at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. The Longhorns’ first shutout against the Sooners since 1965 that also handed Oklahoma its first shutout since 1998 earned Texas (4-2) the Cheez-It Bowl National Team of the Week honor for games of the weekend of Oct. 8, as selected by the Football Writers Association of America.
The Longhorns had 585 total yards – 296 of it on the ground – while their defense held the Sooners to just 195 toal yards with two fourth-down stops, the first early in the game that set the tone in front of the sellout crowd of 92,100. The shutout was Texas’ first against Oklahoma since a 19-0 win in 1965 and snapped a four-year losing streak in the series.
This is the fourth time for Texas to earn this honor from the FWAA and its first since 2018. It also earned the weekly award in 2015 and 2013 – all four awards have come after defeating Oklahoma. All Division I FBS and FCS schools are eligible to be selected.
Oklahoma simply could not stop Texas’ offense. Quinn Ewers was 21-of-31 for 289 yards and a career-best four touchdown passes in his return from injury. Bijan Robinson rushed for 130 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. Texas converted 10 of 15 third-down plays.
“Going down our senior year with that hat to Austin means a lot more to us,” senior linebacker DeMarvion Overshown said. “Now when people ask us about our senior year, what happened in the OU game, we can tell ‘em. I’ll say with a smile on my face: ‘Go ahead and sit down.’”
It was a statement game for the Texas defense as well, preserving the shutout by holding Oklahoma to two first downs and 24 total yards in the second half. Offensively, the Longhorns had six plays of over 20 yards, extending their streak of gaining at least four plays of 20 yards or more in all six games this season. Texas’ 28 first-half points marked the third time this season it has scored at least 28 points in a half, and the Longhorns have scored at least 34 points in five of six games this season.
Texas hosts Iowa State at 11 a.m. CT Saturday on ABC.
This is the 21st season the FWAA will select a national team of the week. Each honored team will receive a custom Cheez-It "care package" along with a hand-crafted game ball made in America by Dallas-based Big Game USA, the nation's leading manufacturer of custom footballs.
The other National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Oct. 8 were:
- Tennessee (5-0): The Volunteers jumped on LSU early, gaining a 23-7 halftime lead and then expanding it for a 40-13 win at No. 25 LSU. Tennessee snapped a five-game losing streak in the series with its first win over LSU since 2005, posting a balanced 503 total yards – 272 rushing, 239 passing – along the way. Hendon Hooker threw two touchdowns, both to Jalin Hyatt, and rushed for 56 yards. Hooker, with his 1,432 passing yards with 10 touchdowns against no interceptions, has guided the Vols to 5-0 for the first time since 2016.
- UCLA (6-0): The Bruins continued to make waves nationally and in the Pac-12 with a 42-23 win over No. 11 Utah at the Rose Bowl. Dorian Thompson-Robinson completed 18 of 23 passes for 299 yards and four touchdowns and Zach Charbonnet ran for 198 yards on 22 carries with a touchdown. It’s UCLA’s best start since 2005 when the Bruins opened 8-0. Thompson-Robinson's 70-yard touchdown pass to Logan Loya set the new school record for most career touchdown passes (76, eclipsing Brett Hundley's 75 touchdowns).
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team. For more information about the FWAA and its programs and initiatives, contact Executive Director Steve Richardson at 214-870-6516 or tiger@fwaa.com.
About the Cheez-It Bowl
The 2022 Cheez-It Bowl takes place Thursday, Dec. 29 at 5:30 p.m. ET at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla. The postseason contest is hosted by Florida Citrus Sports, a Central Florida-based nonprofit, and annually features top teams from the Atlantic Coast and Big 12 Conferences. Cheez-It®, the best-selling cracker brand in the United States, signed on as the game's title sponsor in 2020 as part of its season-long support of college football. Last bowl season, No. 19 Clemson beat Iowa State 20-13 in front of an announced crowd of 39,051, with cornerback Mario Goodrich taking home the Cheez-It Bowl MVP belt.