While at the podium Monday, Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray was reminded how much he'd said he respected Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's game. Then, Murray was asked how much he respected the game of Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger. Murray looked down, chuckled and said, "I've got no comment on that."
Later Monday evening, Ehlinger, borrowing a phrase from his head coach, posted this on Twitter:
Tuesday, Ehlinger was coy about the meaning of his tweet. But the message for Saturday's Big 12 championship was clear. And the tone was set for the 114th meeting of the Red River Showdown -- the first rematch since 1903 and only the third ever -- where the venom for one of college football's most historic, yet hostile rivalries has been bubbling over.