College football's biggest rivalry game this week pits the nation's top team against an opponent with little to lose. Texas (4-0) plays Oklahoma (2-2) on Saturday at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Sports Illustrated and the university reported.

Kickoff is 2:30 p.m. Central, or 3:30 p.m. Eastern, on ABC, and Texas lists the game as sold out.

Texas spent its bye week at No. 1 in the AP poll for a fourth straight week, with 61 of 70 first-place votes, SI said. Oklahoma also had a week off after a rough start, losing to Michigan and then 41-13 at Georgia, with its wins coming over UTEP and New Mexico.

Defense could decide this one. SI's betting writer said the two teams rank first and third in one key measure of defense, and Oklahoma has held opponents to 13.8 points a game, with only Georgia gaining 300 yards against the Sooners.

Offense is the worry for both sides. Texas quarterback Arch Manning entered the year as a top Heisman Trophy pick, but he has completed 63.5% of his passes for 862 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions, SI said. Oklahoma ranks 91st in one major measure of offense.

The betting odds favor Texas by 8.5 points, with a low total of 39.5 points, according to SI.

Some history: This is the 122nd meeting between the schools, Orangebloods noted. Texas won the last two games, 34-3 in 2024 and 23-6 in 2025, and a win Saturday would give the Longhorns three straight over Oklahoma for the first time since the 1997 to 1999 seasons.

The game also counts in the SEC standings, where Texas is 1-0 in league play.

What we know: The game is Saturday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
What we don't: Whether either offense can break through against two strong defenses.