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Dave Wilson, ESPN Staff Writer
Coach Steve Sarkisian expects quarterback Quinn Ewers to be ready to start when No. 1 Texas plays No. 18 Oklahoma in the Allstate Red River Rivalry on Saturday in Dallas, but the Longhorns will continue to monitor his recovery through the week.
Ewers suffered an oblique injury while throwing across his body and was replaced by Arch Manning in Texas’ victory against UTSA on Sept. 14. Manning started the past two games — victories over UL Monroe and Mississippi State.
Sarkisian said Ewers practiced three times last week and again Monday.
“I thought he looked good coming off the bye,” Sarkisian said. “I think if anybody benefited from the time off, it was probably him. We’re going to monitor him daily just to kind of see how he continues to progress, but I feel good about how he was [Monday].
“I feel good about him going into Saturday, but that remains to be seen.”
Sarkisian said he expects the unexpected against the Sooners (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC), since they are both coming off bye weeks. The Longhorns know they’ll have to prepare for new OU starter Michael Hawkins Jr., who took over for a struggling Jackson Arnold.
Hawkins, a freshman, was 10-for-15 for 161 yards, ran for 69 yards and a score and added a 2-point conversion in his first start — a 27-21 road win at Auburn.
“He went 50 for a touchdown against Auburn, so we got to be really mindful of his ability to extend plays and then create explosive [plays] with his legs,” Sarkisian said.
Nine of the last 10 games between the rivals have been decided by a one score or less. Last year was another classic, with No. 12 Oklahoma driving 75 yards in five plays, capped by Dillon Gabriel‘s 3-yard touchdown pass to Nic Anderson with 15 seconds left to beat the No. 3 Longhorns 34-30. In that game, Ewers threw for 346 yards, but had two interceptions and was sacked five times, tied for the most in a game in his career.
This is the 44th time both teams will be ranked heading into the game, which is second only to the Ohio State–Michigan rivalry (49). It’s the fifth time Texas will enter the game ranked No. 1; Texas is 3-0-1 in the previous four.
“There’s just stuff that happens in this game that I think that’s what makes this game special,” Sarkisian said. “We’re fortunate to be part of it. And this week’s no different.”
Between the stakes and the atmosphere at the State Fair of Texas, Sarkisian said he’s not going to need any motivational ploys.
“To think I’m going to have to give some Knute Rockne speech to get ready for this game is probably not true,” Sarkisian said. “I could probably show up at kickoff and our guys will be ready to play on Saturday morning.”
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