by Jeffrey Martin, FOXSports.com

"What gets you most is probably the importance of the game in our league and having a step toward the Big 12 Championship and that sort of thing," Stoops said. "We see a bunch of people yelling at us on the buses as we pull in, but after that, you're on the field and we don't pay much attention to it."

Oh, he's being modest.

The winner of this annual brawl usually represents the South in the Big 12 title game. And lately, the winner of that game has advanced to the national championship as well.

"Saturday is a huge game," Texas quarterback Colt McCoy said. "... It's a conference game, and I think if you ask both teams, it's crucial. For us, we can't look at their record and the things that have gone on in the first five games of the season."

There is the perception is that the Sooners, 3-2 and ranked 20th in the country, are out of the running for the national title, their goal every season and, consequently, that this meeting has lost some of its luster. Tickets are easier to come by, interview requests aren't as voluminous, and the buzz — at least nationally — isn't as elevated as it might have been if both teams were undefeated.

And that perception, according to OU running back DeMarco Murray, would be incorrect.

"We don't mind being the underdog," he said. "No matter what, I think it's going to be a great game. It's OU-Texas... I'm looking forward to the challenge... We have all of our goals in front us.

"It's an important game for both teams."

See, beating Texas salvages a season teetering on the brink of failure. Heck, it might even make up for two losses — by a combined two points, by the way, and with reigning Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford healthy and available for roughly two quarters.

Texas QB Colt McCoy figures to be facing several kinds of pressure when his 'Horns meet Oklahoma. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images)

The Longhorns, who have won three of the last four of these showdowns, understand this, which might be why a cynic would suggest there is some gamesmanship occurring in the days leading up to the Rivalry. There's an awful lot of love emanating out of Austin, most of it directed at Bradford, who is back and one of two reasons — the other being OU's defense — why anyone is giving the Sooners a shot Saturday.

Consider:

"I'm very glad Bradford is back. You look at him and what he has done for college football — he's a Heisman Trophy winner, a great player, and you never want to see guys like that go down."

That came out of the mouth of Texas defensive end Sam Acho, whose prime objective Saturday will be to drive Bradford into the Cotton Bowl turf. Not to be outdone, Acho's brother, linebacker Emmanuel, added, "Being able to play against the best is always a great thing to do."

But there was more.

"I think he's like a young Peyton Manning in the way he runs his offense at the line," Texas defensive tackle Lamarr Houston. "... He's a good quarterback (and) the atmosphere of the game rises to another level when you play someone that good."

With such gushing praise for the opposition, we have to wonder... has the Red River Rivalry gone soft?

Not likely. A more reasonable explanation is a desire to not rehash what happened last year — when the Longhorns defeated the Sooners, 45-35, but still lost out on the opportunity to compete for the BCS Championship because of convoluted conference tiebreaker rules.

"All OU did was win all of their games after they played us," Texas coach Mack Brown said. "They didn't do anything to us. It wasn't about them. Our problem was we lost to (Texas) Tech, and we put the decision-making process back in the BCS computer ranking's hands and the Big 12 tiebreaker's hands.

"It had nothing to do with OU. We had a great game. It was a classic."

And Saturday, even with OU already saddled with a couple of losses, might be another. It has all of the makings — the top two defenses in the country, two quarterbacks in McCoy and Bradford who are not only Heisman candidates but also might be the top two prospects at their position in the NFL's 2010 Draft, and, of course, the two most successful programs — by far — in the Big 12.

The Sooners have little margin for error. And after last year, the Longhorns probably feel the same way this season.

"You never know how the season will go," Oklahoma offensive lineman Trent Williams said. "But it has a big bearing on our season to win. And a loss could break us if Texas goes on to win all of their games. But you know how the season goes — nothing's promised."

Jeffrey Martin is a frequent contributor to foxsports.com. He also writes for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at reyheath@gmail.com.