Aaron Cooke/The Daily.

Two teams will meet on the gridiron Saturday in one of the most anticipated rivalry games of the year.

Both OU and Texas are ranked in the top five in the Associated Press polls, and both are hoping to continue their respective national title hopes.

“It’s a great challenge to play a really good Texas team,” head coach Bob Stoops said. “I always think Mack Brown does an excellent job, they always have a great deal of excellent athletes and players.”

Stoops is 6-4 against the Longhorns, but this year both teams are equally matched statistically.

The Longhorn Offense

Junior quarterback Colt McCoy has Texas’ offense running smoothly with his ability to command the team and create plays through improvisation.

McCoy has put up outstanding numbers through the air, but the bigger surprise has been his success on the ground.

He leads the Longhorns with 317 yards rushing and seven yards per carry, while no other player on the team has more than 200 yards or six yards per carry.

“He’ll slice and dice on us all day, so we have to get pressure on the quarterback,” defensive coordinator Brent Venables said. “We have to use our front four because he’s really good, and we have to do that in early downs to make sure he’s feeling pressure.”

McCoy has been in the Red River Rivalry twice before and is no stranger to the pressure the game creates.

In fact, McCoy has completed 68 percent (30-of-44) of his passes against OU while tossing four touchdowns and only one interception.

Stoops said this year McCoy’s athleticism is more dangerous than it has been in years past.

“He is just more sure of himself and confident and polished in what he’s doing,” Stoops said. “I think he’s taken advantage of his opportunities and has done a good job at it; we’ve always thought of him as a great athlete.”

The Longhorn rushing attack — excluding McCoy — is powered by freshman Cody Johnson and sophomore Vondrell McGee.

Neither running back for the ‘Horns has recorded a 100-yard game this year, but they have been sharing carries.

Johnson has carried 50 times for 193 yards (3.9 avg) and six touchdowns while McGee has 50 carries for 187 yards (3.7 avg) and has found the end zone once.

The OU linebackers are up to the challenges the Longhorn offense presents, Venables said.

Junior linebacker Ryan Reynolds, who coaches said graded highest against Baylor, has been leading the team with his infectious energy and clean play.

With the departure of star wide receiver Limas Sweed to the NFL, Texas now has a duo of senior wide receivers for McCoy to target.

The duo consists of Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby. Cosby has the most receiving yards with 416, but Shipley has scored seven times on 24 receptions.

OU’s defensive backfield will have their hands full with the talented group.

However, junior cornerback Brian Jackson said he is confident in his teammates and his abilities to shut down Texas’ receivers.

“You got to be prepared for whatever they throw at you,” Jackson said. “Me and Dominique [Franks] are feeling really comfortable back there and just because they don’t have a big name guy doesn’t mean they can’t put up big numbers so you got to be prepared for each play.”

Jackson added that it will be important to continue doing what has made him successful so far this season.

“They’re a great team, but it’s just another game,” he said. “It’s another challenge, another day to compete and you have to bring your A-game.”

The Longhorn Defense

Junior linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy leads Texas in tackles with 40, while junior linebacker Sergio Kindle is No. 2 with 21 tackles.

The duo of senior defensive tackles Brian Orakpo and Roy Miller and the experienced linebacker corps leads to a very potent run defense. Consequently, Texas is only allowing 51.8 yards per game on the ground.

“It will be important, and it will be a big match up,” Stoops said. “Also, can we give Sam enough time to throw, and can we run the ball? That will be a big question.”

Besides stopping the run, the ‘Horns are getting pressure on the quarterback exceptionally well.

“They’re a real good defensive football team, especially up front,” sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford said.” They’re going to try to bring pressure on the quarterback and make me throw it quick.”

As a team Texas has 19 sacks, six of those coming from Orakpo on the defensive line.

“It’s a big matchup, they do have excellent team defense,” Stoops said. “They have had a lot of sacks, pressure and they stunt you different ways.”

In the game against TCU, the Sooners did not run the ball as effectively as they would have liked. Bradford said that will be key against the Longhorns.

“We need to establish the run game, it’s very important,” Bradford said. “I think coach gave us a stat that one of the teams, for so many years has won if they run for more, so obviously it’s very important.”

TCU has only been allowing 22.3 yards per game on the ground, and the Sooners didn’t do much better than that with 25 yards on the day.

“I’m sure [the Longhorns] have seen that game,” Bradford said. “I would expect them to do some things similar to TCU to stop our run game.”

Stoops is confident that Bradford has the maturity necessary to make the decisions necessary to win.

“I think he is really fast at recognizing things and he’s a great athlete,” Stoops said. “It’s just an example of his poise and demeanor as a young man, and his skill athletically, and mentally.”