How They Match Up

Here's a position-by-position breakdown of this year's Red River Shootout.

Quarterback
Since replacing injured Oklahoma starter Jason White five weeks ago, Nate Hybl has been better than expected. Chris Simms has ranged from good to great. Edge: Texas.

Running back
The Sooners' 5'7" tailback, Quentin Griffin (who scored six touchdowns in this game two years ago), has pluck and grit, but the Long-horns' Cedric Benson (6 feet, 205 pounds) is bigger and better. Edge: Texas.

Offensive line
Texas, which lost three starters from last year's unit, is still getting things sorted out here. That said, the Longhorns' hogs have played better than the Sooners'. This area has been Oklahoma's biggest problem. Edge: Texas.

Tight end
The Sooners' Trent Smith is a serviceable blocker and a terrific receiver, one of the best in the country. So was Texas starter Bo Scaife before he blew out his knee in August. Edge: Oklahoma.

Wide receivers
This wouldn't be close if Roy Williams weren't recovering from a strained hammy and if the other Longhorns wideouts—Sloan Thomas, B.J. Johnson and Tony Jeffery—had not suffered a rash of dropped balls of late. Edge: Texas.

Defensive line
With SI cover boy Tommie Harris and end Jimmy Wilkerson leading the way, this is a Sooners strength—although you'd expect more than seven sacks from the unit through five games. At the same time, the D line is not exactly a Longhorns weakness. End Cory Redding, the undisputed leader of the defense, is playing very well. Tackle Marcus Tubbs is drawing comparisons to former Longhorns Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers. He'll soon join them in the NFL. Edge: Even.

Linebackers
Teddy Lehman, who scored the game-clinching touchdown on an interception in this game last year, has been all over the field for the Sooners, but junior college transfers Lance Mitchell and Pasha Jackson are still learning the ropes. Texas's linebacking corps, viewed as a weakness before the season, is anything but. Edge: Texas.

Secondary While the Longhorns have a strong secondary anchored by veteran corners Rod Babers and Nathan Vasher, Oklahoma's is swarming with stars, including Derrick Strait, Brandon Everage, Antonio Perkins. Edge: Oklahoma.

Kicking
So dreadful was Sooners kicker Trey DiCarlo last Saturday against Missouri—he muffed field goals of 34 and 43 yards and an extra point—that coach Bob Stoops figured he had nothing to lose by attempting a fake field goal (which went for the game-winning touchdown). At Texas, slumping Dusty Mangum missed three field goals against Oklahoma State. As for punting, OU's Blake Ferguson is more consistent than Texas's Brian Bradford. Edge: Oklahoma.