Red River Rivalry: The '40s

Texas: 8 wins, Oklahoma: 2 wins

Compiled by DallasNews.com

There was some sentiment among OU fans to end the series after "The Riot" in 1947. Fights broke out in the stands, escalating into fans throwing seat cushions and bottles onto the field during Texas' 34-14 victory. On the field, it was all UT, which won the first eight games of the decade before a quarterback named Darrell Royal helped lead the Sooners to a victory in 1948.

Hero: Back Jackie Crain scored from nine yards with three minutes to play to give the Longhorns their first win over the Sooners since 1936.

Notable: Sooners quarterback Jack Jacobs twice put the Sooners ahead and completed 16 passes for 171 yards. The Longhorns outgained the Sooners on the ground, 201-96.

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Hero: In his final season as a Longhorn, Jackie Crain continued to haunt the Sooners. The back scored on a six-yard pass from Pete Layden and again on a 10-yard lateral in the second quarter to give the Longhorns a 14-0 lead.

Notable: The Longhorns' starters played for only two quarters after building a 21-0 lead at the half. The Sooners were outgained on the ground, 298-98. UT finished No. 4 in the nation.

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Hero: Quarterback Roy Dale McKay threw for the game's only touchdown to Kenneth Matthews in the third quarter. McKay, also the punter and kicker, helped his team win the duel of field position by pinning the Sooners deep in their own end.

Notable: Punting and field position were key in the defensive struggle. McKay's precision third-quarter punt rolled out at the 2-yard line. Texas' defense held, and the Longhorns took over at the Oklahoma 32 to set up the score.

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Hero: Halfback Ralph Ellsworth, a track star, leaped high to catch a pass from quarterback Bobby Coy Lee, broke two tackles and scored the go-ahead touchdown for Texas.

Notable: Derald Lebow scored on a five-yard touchdown run to give the Sooners an early 7-6 lead. Oklahoma drove deep into Texas territory in the final quarter but was unable to convert. Attendance was only 18,500 because of rationing of gas and tires because of World War II.

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Hero: Texas quarterback Bobby Layne threw for three touchdowns and caught a pass from team manager-player-waterboy Billy Andrews for the extra point following the third touchdown.

Notable: A crowd of 23,000 showed up, which was considered fair during wartime. Texas managed only four first downs. Texas coach Dana X. Bible played every player on the 35-man roster.

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Heroes: All-American end Hubert Bechtol caught an early touchdown pass from quarterback Byron Gillory, and the pair hooked up three times to set up the winning score on the Longhorns' final drive.

Notable: Gillory completed 10 passes for 126 yards. Aubrey McCall, a 6-5 end, scored the Sooners' only touchdown on a pass from Johnny West. OU coach Dewey "Snorter" Luster ended his career 0-5 against the Longhorns.

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Hero: Bobby Layne ran for the game's first touchdown and led the Longhorns' passing attack to 240 yards.

Notable: Oklahoma bested the Longhorns' rushing game, 142 yards to 83, primarily from ex-soldier and future UT coach Darrell Royal's running. Future Dallas Cowboys legend Tom Landry, who played fullback and defensive back for UT, threw an interception. It was Oklahoma coach Jim Tatum's only matchup against the Longhorns.

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Hero: Bobby Layne completed eight of 11 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown to keep his record perfect against the Sooners and spoil OU coach Bud Wilkinson's debut against the Longhorns.

Notable: Fights broke out in the stands, escalating into fans throwing seat cushions and bottles onto the field. Play was halted and the police had to restore order. There was OU sentiment to end the series because of “The Riot.” Texas gave up 263 yards on the ground.

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Hero: Oklahoma linebacker Myrle Greathouse led a strong defensive effort to help end an eight-game losing streak against a Longhorns team that missed the magic of Bobby Layne.

Notable: The Sooners led throughout, and Oklahoma leader Darrell Royal was happy to end the losing streak. "Someone described [Bobby] Layne right last year," Royal said following the game. "He can't run. He can't block. He's not a good defensive player. He's a lousy football player. All he does is beat the hell out of you." For the first time, the game was broadcast live on local TV.

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Hero: Sooners quarterback Darrell Royal showed his mastery of the split-T formation, leading the OU running game to 216 yards and throwing for a touchdown.

Notable: Texas running back Randall Clay scored an early touchdown to give the Longhorns a 7-0 lead, but the Sooners responded with 20 unanswered points. Attendance grew to 75,504 with the completion of the Cotton Bowl's east-side upper deck.