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Quintrevion Wisner, Texas Offensive Line Power Second-Half Comeback vs. Oklahoma

by: Evan Vieth10/11/25
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Quintrevion Wisner (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

After one half in the Cotton Bowl today, it seemed fair that the term “shootout” had been removed from this rivalry’s name.

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The Oklahoma Sooners led the Texas Longhorns 6-3 after a nauseating first half of offense that resulted in under 300 combined yards, nine total points, a missed field goal, and two turnovers.

Texas’ offense looked to be the worst of the two, with head coach Steve Sarkisian calling one of his most conservative halves in recent memory, resorting mostly to screens and unsuccessful runs in two-tight-end sets.

Coming out of halftime, it seemed like the team that scored the first touchdown would win this game. It might have ended up being the only touchdown of the game with how these two teams were operating.

Thankfully for Longhorns fans, Texas’ offense came to play in the second half, and spearheaded a 23-6 victory in one of the most important Red River’s in recent memory.

The offensive line in particular looked like it had received a heavy dosage of “Michael’s Secret Stuff,” helping Texas rush for 36 yards on seven attempts on the way to a 14-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to begin the half.

The story of Texas’ past six quarters had been that offensive line, and yet that’s exactly what they leaned on to drive down the field. It was off the back of running back Quintrevion Wisner to get them into scoring position, earning six of the first eight touches in the drive and marching 42 yards downfield into Oklahoma territory.

What was most impressive from the Longhorns in their downfield pursuit was efficiency on third down. Facing third and eight at their own 38, Arch Manning bought himself time and found Wisner in the flat, who made multiple men miss and followed a block from DeAndre Moore to gain 13 yards and keep the drive alive.

Then, Manning made another heroic play, dodging around ensuing blitzers and looking right to find Ryan Wingo, who hauled in the pass with a defender all over him.

Two plays later, Manning found himself in another third-and-eight, this time in the red zone. With Oklahoma sending pressure, Manning sat back and found a wide-open Moore in the end zone for six.

Texas took a seven-point lead while chewing a quarter off the second-half clock, putting Oklahoma in a tough position. With an injured quarterback, a struggling line, and a lack of individual playmakers, Texas’ defense had been the dominant force on that side of the ball for most of the game, and momentum was on its side.

The Longhorns would end up with 13 minutes of possession in the third quarter, dismantling the Oklahoma defense and keeping the game ball away from the Sooners as they tacked on a field goal to take a seven-point lead.

With Oklahoma on the back foot, quarterback John Mateer could only do so much, and the special teams did him no favors. A 75-yard punt return from Ryan Niblett gave the Longhorns a 14-point lead, carrying the ball, the crowd, and the Golden Hat into the awaiting arms of the Longhorn faithful.

It didn’t matter what had happened a week prior. It didn’t matter that Oklahoma was a top-10 team in the nation. And it didn’t matter what had been said about this offense.

Texas entered the shared tunnel damaged and exited it with something new. The Longhorns will be driving back to Austin with the Golden Hat and a signature win — their first of the season — at the perfect time.

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