It will be the 106th time OU and Texas meet for the Red River Rivalry this Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.

And for the 25th time, both programs have undefeated records. It sets up what is sure to be another electric and intense shootout between the Sooners and Longhorns.

For the Longhorns, a win means it continues on its rebound path after last year’s dismal season. For the Sooners, a win means it solidifies itself as a national championship contender.

“I could sense it in the locker room right after the [Ball State] game, our players were already anxious about [OU-Texas] and anticipating it,” Stoops said. “Now, it’s down to doing the work during the week to prepare for it.”

The players have said as much this week, as well.

“I’m real pumped. It’s an exciting game and always is,” junior defensive end Ronnell Lewis said. “We just been practicing real hard and looking forward to it. There’s a lot of excitement with the team, coaches and fans.”

Texas comes in with some new faces but familiar names to go against the Sooners.

The resurrection of the McCoy-Shipley connection has given the Longhorns new life and helped them to the undefeated record they now posses.

Stoops said Texas has new schemes offensively and defensively. The Longhorns are currently rolling up 206 yards rushing per game, ranked 25th in the country, compared to OU’s 177 yards rushing per game — 44th in the nation.

The undefeated records of the two teams bring augmented national attention.

Not that the Red River Rivalry doesn’t get national attention every year, but the game gets significantly more when both teams are unblemished and high in the polls — like the opportunity to host ESPN’s “College GameDay.”

And with OU’s recent slips in the AP poll, Texas coach Mack Brown said more pressure is on Oklahoma.

“If there is pressure on us, I welcome it,” Stoops said when asked about Brown’s comments. “We are more than capable of handling it. There’s pressure on them, too. But coming into this game, that’s what you want. We both complement each other really well.”

Stoops reflects

Despite it being Texas week with all the added pressure and hype, Stoops was relaxed and loose when he met with reporters for his weekly press conference Tuesday.

He recalled his favorite memories of past OU-Texas games and joked with sportswriters about the rivalry’s atmosphere.

Stoops said he has many fond memories from past Red River Rivalry games — like Roy Williams’ play in 2001 and Brandon Everage’s sack of Vince Young in 2004.

“It goes on and on,” Stoops said. “There’s a bunch of [memories] when you’ve been in 12 of them.”

When asked if he ever pays attention to jeers or gestures from Texas fans, Stoops said he gets all kinds of things pointed at him when he is on the bus going to the stadium. Despite all ill will from Longhorn fans, Stoops said he plays ignorant.

“I don’t pay attention. It goes right past me,” Stoops said. “I can’t say that I remember anything.”

Though he hasn’t been mooned — he said he would have remembered that. He also laughed about the fans who feel the need to yell at the team bus.

“I truly marvel at people,” Stoops said. “I’m on a bus — it’s not like I can hear you.”

But Stoops said the bad blood and animosity are exciting parts of the rivalry.

“Without it, it would not have the same intensity year in and year out,” he said.

The Coaches

When OU coach Bob Stoops and Texas coach Mack Brown face off Saturday, it will be their 13th year to play. Stoops has the advantage over Brown with a 7-5 lead.