Embattled Texas coach Charlie Strong got the signature win his program desperately needed Saturday, a shocking 24-17 upset over rival Oklahoma in the annual Red River Showdown in Dallas.
Just days after a rift between the Longhorns' older and younger players surfaced on social media, and Sports Illustrated reported that the team's upperclassmen were lacking motivation due to weak NFL draft status, the Longhorns knocked off the 10th-ranked team in the nation behind 313 rushing yards.
"All week they heard so much that they didn't have any pride," Strong told ESPN. " ... I've been saying it, I truly believe it, we have a good football team."
Texas is now 6-2 since 1989 in Red River games in which it was unranked and the Sooners were ranked.
NFL scouts from the San Diego Chargers, St. Louis Rams and Indianapolis Colts were on hand for the annual rivalry game. In a losing effort, they saw OU receiver Sterling Shepard, who NFL Media's Lance Zierlein expects to be drafted in the first three rounds in 2016, catch a game-high six passes for 95 yards.
Texas (2-4) never trailed and its defense played its most impressive game of the season, limiting OU star running back Samaje Perine to 36 yards on 10 carries and holding quarterback Baker Mayfield to 211 yards on 20 completions.
UT freshman quarterback Jerrod Heard completed just 8 of 10 passes for 53 yards, but was a big factor in the Longhorns ground attack with 115 yards on 21 carries.
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