DALLAS — Adrian Peterson leaned into position 8 or 9 yards behind the line of scrimmage, standing on the first “A” in the “OKLAHOMA” painted on the Cotton Bowl’s southeast end zone.



Because of Peterson’s speed and powerful strides, Oklahoma coaches lined him up a yard or two further back than most I-backs. Otherwise, he might get there before the offensive line had a hole opened up or — as was the case a few months earlier in preseason camp — might just blow past quarterback Jason White without the ball.



Offensive coordinator Chuck Long’s call was “28 Back.” Peterson took the handoff, immediately cut to his right and galloped past almost the entire Texas defense, right down the Longhorns’ sideline. Peterson made it to the OU 38-yard line before Texas safety Michael Huff grabbed him from behind, but Peterson pulled Huff another 10 yards before the play ended.



“I’ll never...