Red River Showdown: Does Texas-Oklahoma Still Matter in Recruiting?

The AT&T Red River Showdown pitting longtime rivals the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners has become that proverbial tree in the forest.

If it happens, but no one's watching, does it truly make a sound?

As both teams prepare for Saturday morning's annual event at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, the luster of the event remains in question. Gone are the days when two nationally ranked teams are going head-to-head not only for conference supremacy and border bragging rights but also for the right to see which team will continue playing for a potential national championship.

Taking away last year's 31-26 Oklahoma win, the game hasn't been decided within seven points since 2009, when Texas won, 16-13. To some now, Texas-Oklahoma is just another football game played on Saturday.

But to others, there's still prestige and intrigue to this rivalry. Several 2016 targets have mentioned that while the oddsmakers are picking Oklahoma to beat Texas comfortably, the atmosphere and overall "what if" of the rivalry still has a place in college football.

LM Otero/Associated Press

Fortunately in recruiting, one game does not make or break how a target views a program. Texas, one win in five tries this season, still has a lot of interest from 2016 and 2017 players. Oklahoma, unbeaten in four games, is the team that starts slow in recruiting and seems to flourish late—which could be huge with the help of a big win against its hated rival Saturday.

"It's still very relevant. As long as there's a football program at UT, I believe there will always be relevance surrounding the program," said 5-star defensive back Jeffrey Okudah, the nation's top-ranked safety in the 2017 class.

"It's one of the best rivalries in college football," added 2016 receiver Audie Omotosho, who has 30 reported offers, one of them being Oklahoma. "Taking it away is taking out a part of history."

Omotosho said he wouldn't be at the Cotton Bowl, but rather he would be watching the game on television, which is what a few athletes plan on doing. Texas target Jordan Elliott, a 4-star defensive tackle, said he wanted to be at the game but is in the middle of homecoming weekend at his high school. Cornerback Eric Cuffee, a 4-star athlete and a 2016 target for both schools, added that he'll be tuned in.

One player who said he will be there is Jean Delance, a 4-star offensive tackle once committed to Oklahoma but now with Texas in his top five. For Delance, Saturday is more than just wins and losses.

"This rivalry can set the tone for the Texas Longhorns pulling off this win," he said. "Also, [for] guys looking to play on the next level, I'm sure this is a game an NFL scout will go to pull and see how well a player conducted himself in such a rivalry game or [see] the pressure on them to perform with high standards."

Records wise, there are other games with a bigger draw. From a rivalry standpoint throughout the Big 12, the current matchup of TCU playing Baylor—which will happen on Nov. 27—has more appeal from a national scale.

But when it comes to Texas and Oklahoma, records tend to take a back seat. It's still a game featuring two of college football's storied programs. It's still an event that fans are drawn to.

It's also still a game that's polarizing enough to where nonfans will watch just to talk about each team.

"It's relevant because tradition never graduates," said 4-star hybrid defensive end Marvin Terry, who considers Oklahoma one of his favorites in the recruiting process. "Even though Texas may be having a down year, it's a rivalry that could go any way, any year. Some kids go to those schools for that moment."

LM Otero/Associated Press

This game, however, may be of more importance to the 2017s than the 2016s. The juniors are still shaping their opinions on programs, and the Sooners and Longhorns both are highly respected programs on and off the field.

Okudah said he'll be in attendance. Marvin Wilson, the nation's top-ranked defensive tackle, and Anthony Hines III, the nation's No. 2 inside linebacker, are two other high-profile 2017 targets who said they'll be tuning in.

Running back Eno Benjamin and cornerback Chevin Calloway, two 4-star talents, said they'll be at the game. Wide receiver Camron Buckley, another 4-star athlete, said he will try to make the game after morning film sessions with his team. He added that if he doesn't make the Cotton Bowl, he'll watch the game on TV.

While the game may not have the big-ticket feel it once had, it's still has its followers.

And after the game, regardless of the outcome, expect nothing to change among targets.

"I just think it's gonna be a great game to watch because of the rivalry," Buckley said. "To me, [the name of the game] is just a title. Both teams are going to play hard."

Benjamin added: "It's a rivalry. Anything could happen."

Damon Sayles is a National Recruiting Analyst for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand. All player ratings are courtesy of 247Sports' composite ratings. Follow Damon via Twitter: @DamonSayles