DALLAS — Under a hot, gray October sky, the south end of the Cotton Bowl was in a state of hysteria. Not the heat and humidity that turned the eight-decade old stadium into a Turkish bath house nor the thunderstorms that loomed overhead could curtail Oklahoma’s party.

There was celebrating to do and it was going to be done after the 10th-ranked Sooners’ 28-21 victory over No. 19 Texas.

The season that went into critical condition after an upset loss to Colorado was back in good condition.

The Red River Rivalry grew into more than a heated matchup between two of college football’s most historic programs. Bragging rights puts the hostility into the fans. The teams play for bigger stakes.

Seasons were on the line in Saturday’s 102nd meeting between the schools. Both were coming off conference losses. Another pounded a death nail into the loser’s Big 12 title hopes.

“We knew what we had to do,” OU defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said.

What the Sooners had to do was return to the form that put them into national championship consideration the first four weeks of the season. In other words, OU’s stars had to come out. Even with the cloudy skies, they shinned brightly.

Sam Bradford, who became OU’s first freshman quarterback to win his OU-Texas debut since Justin Fuente in 1997, regained his star status and freshman running back DeMarco Murray joined him.

Murray rushed for a game-high 128 yards and put a jolt into the Sooners with a 65-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

Bradford was nearly flawless, throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns to push the Sooners to the victory that they had to have.

“His demeanor never changes,” OU wide receiver Malcolm Kelly said of Bradford. “He has the right attitude and says, ‘Let’s get this … let’s get it done.’ No matter how bad it gets, his demeanor never changes. He knows we always have a chance.”

OU (5-1, 1-1 Big 12) gave itself a chance by returning to an old recipe that always works against the Longhorns. Play clean and don’t make the critical mistakes.

The Sooners had nine penalties for 87 yards, but didn’t commit a turnover. The Longhorns (4-2, 0-2) gave two up and that was the difference.

With the game tied 14-14, Texas’ Jamaal Charles had a chance to put the Longhorns back on top. He’d already broken through OU’s line and had the end zone in sight when OU linebacker Curtis Lofton ripped the ball from his arm. Texas never threatened to take the lead again.

“I thought that was probably the play of the game,” OU coach Bob Stoops said.