Red River: Top 10 Moments
Detailing the Top 10 moments for the Texas Longhorns in the Red River Rivalry over the last 25 years.
Jordan Shipley is a Longhorn legend - cemented by his famous kickoff return in the 2008 Red River Shootout - “End zone ahead, folks!” Photo: Ronald Martinez, Getty Images
10. Aaron Ross’ Scoop and Score (2006)
Late into Colt McCoy’s first start vs OU, Oklahoma quarterback Paul Thompson threw a lazy lateral back to star running back Adrian Peterson. The ball bounced off Peterson’s hands and onto the ground, where an awaiting Aaron Ross picked it up and took it into the OU end zone, sealing the first of 3 wins in the Rivalry for Colt McCoy.
9. Colt McCoy’s Game-Saving Tackle (2009)
Following a classic shootout in 2008, the 2009 RRS was a sloppy affair with a whopping 8 total turnovers. One of those turnovers took place midway through the 4th quarter when McCoy threw a red zone interception to an OU cornerback, who seemed poised to take the pick to the house for 6. However, Colt was able to make a touchdown-saving tackle that prevented OU from taking a 4-point lead late into a game where scoring was hard to come by.
8. Bijan Robinson’s Career Highlight (2021)
The only moment on this list from a game Texas lost, Bijan Robinson pulled off the ultimate play of his highlight-filled career in the 2021 game. With 8 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, Robinson took that ball and, after slithering through the OU front, hit a physics-defying cut that left no fewer than 4 OU players stunned on the ground. While he wasn’t able to get into the end zone, this play will forever remain in the hearts of UT fans.
7. Major Applewhite Goes the Distance (1998)
At the start of the 2nd half of Mack Brown’s first game of the rivalry, Texas and quarterback Major Applewhite found themselves precariously backed up in their own end zone. Texas quickly found itself in the opposite end zone as Applewhite uncorked an epic 97-yard touchdown to Wane McGarity that remains the longest play from scrimmage in UT’s recent history.
6. D’Onta Foreman Leads a Stunning Upset (2015)
2015 Texas is, in my opinion, the worst Texas team of the past 50 years. Texas was 1-4 coming into the game and had no expectations to win. However, a strong run game, capped by D’Onta Foreman’s 81-yard rush in the 3rd Quarter, let Texas control the pace of the game and led the otherwise dreadful 2015 squad to their lone bright spot of the season.
5. Chris Whaley Rumbles into the End Zone (2013)
In Texas’s other big upset of the 2010s, Mack Brown brought the fantastically weird (and debatably good) 2013 team to Dallas for his final showdown of the storied rivalry. In a wild game that featured Texas completely changing the narrative about their passing game and run defense, the most spectacular moment came when Defensive Tackle Chris Whaley slipped back into coverage and picked off Blake Bell before rumbling his way to the end zone for an emphatic big guy touchdown.
4. Jamaal Charles Sparks a Rout (2005)
After a 5-year losing streak that saw Texas suffer some of its most humiliating losses to OU, the #2 Longhorns arrived in Dallas determined to stake their claim as a true national contender. With the game essentially even towards the end of the first quarter, Jamaal Charles broke through the OU secondary and galloped for an 80-yard touchdown run, fueling a 45-12 rout that propelled Texas towards a national championship.
3. Dicker the Kicker (2018)
After exceptional play by the offense through 3 quarters, Oklahoma and future Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray scored 21 unanswered points to tie the game at 45 with 2 and a half minutes left. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger led the Longhorns back down the field with a chance to win the game for the Horns. A calm and confident Cameron Dicker took to the field and drilled a 40-yard field goal that sent Texas fans (and announcer Gus Johnson) into raptures, forever cementing the legacy of Dicker the Kicker.
2. 49-0 (2022)
No one single play does this game justice. After back-to-back heartbreaking losses in 2020 and 2021, Texas arrived at the Cotton Bowl hoping to exorcize its demons. In his first game returning after a shoulder injury, Quinn Ewers and the Texas offense could do no wrong, while the defense thoroughly dominated the OU offense, ending the game with 6 consecutive 3-and-outs, handing Oklahoma their worst shutout in program history.
1. Shipley Returns Texas to #1 (2008)
The 2008 RRS was one of the most anticipated in history with Oklahoma coming into the game ranked #1 and Texas ranked #5. After falling behind 14-3 after two Sam Bradford touchdown passes, Texas needed a spark to stay in the game. And on the ensuing kickoff, Jordan Shipley brought that spark. His kickoff return at the end of the 1st kickstarted a wild back-and-forth game that ended with Texas earning a pivotal 45-35 victory - and a #1 ranking.
Hook ‘em. OU still sucks.