For Trace Ford, Texas is a paradox.
The school has represented both triumph and tribulation for the Edmond native.
After not getting recruited by Texas out of high school, Ford, who was at Oklahoma State for four seasons before transferring to OU in 2023, had something to prove. While with the Cowboys, Ford beat the Longhorns in 2021 and 2022. However, for the redshirt fifth-year defensive lineman, the memories from his first Red River Rivalry are what lingers.
“It was really fun,” Ford said on Monday. “That was one of the coolest things I’ve experienced. It was just how loud that stadium got, the whole atmosphere after the game, I’ve never experienced that before.”
From walking out of the tunnel and seeing Matthew McConaughey to OU’s goal line stand in the fourth quarter, the Sooners 34-30 win marked a defining moment for Ford as he was able to prove to Texas their lack of interest in him was a mistake.
Early in the 4th quarter, Oklahoma had this massive goal line stand inside the 1-yard line 💪It ended up being the difference in the game as the Sooners won by 4. Truly a game of inches...pic.twitter.com/PgGH3NUpaP
— 247Sports (@247Sports) October 7, 2023
Now, as Oklahoma heads into the matchup preparing to face the No. 1 ranked Longhorns, the memory serves as motivation for Ford and OU’s defense as it prepares to face the No. 7 ranked offense in college football.
“I think they haven’t played a defense like us yet,” Ford said. “I’m just excited to play against them, and see what we do against their high-powered offense.”
The Sooners’ defense has kept OU afloat this year as the offense has dealt with its own hurdles, including injuries to the wide receiver room, offensive line inconsistencies and a quarterback change.
Oklahoma’s defense has allowed 4.78 yards per play, 324.2 yards per game and eight offensive touchdowns this season, ranking 42nd nationally. OU has also emphasized attacking the quarterback in the pocket. During the 2023 season, the Sooners had 24 sacks. Through five games this year, they have already tallied 18 sacks.
“It has been tremendous,” Ford said of the defensive line’s improvements this season. “Last year, we had like no sacks, and this year we’re getting more and more sacks. So it’s really good to see the work (defensive tackles coach Todd Bates) and (defensive ends coach Miguel Chavis) have been putting in for us. It has been coming to show and hopefully just continue for the rest of the season.
Ford has not only played a role in the defensive line’s improvement this season, collecting eight tackles, but he also provides a level of understanding from his time at Oklahoma State. However, even after five seasons of college football, he is still learning after seeing snaps at linebacker for the first time.
“It’s great learning the back seven and learning the defense back there,” Ford said. “I’m used to being a defensive lineman where we just have to know to go fast, go that way, but as a linebacker, you have to learn coverages, drops in coverages, where you’re going and man-on-man. It’s a lot but it’s been really fun to learn.”
Heading into OU’s underdog matchup against Texas, Ford is using the memories from last season as momentum, relishing what was and preparing for what is to come.
“Texas is motivation enough,” Ford said. “But it is exciting to play the No. 1 team in the country, and being able to see where you compete and rank with those guys. I think everyone is just really excited to see what OU can do.”
This story was edited by Louis Raser and Daniel Homrok.
