The Red River Rivalry pits the University of Texas against the University of Oklahoma each October at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas during the State Fair of Texas, a matchup dating to 1900 and played at the Cotton Bowl every year since the stadium opened in 1930, with the stadium's stands split evenly down the fifty-yard line between burnt orange and crimson.
Its fairground setting and national sports-culture identity make it a travel-worthy annual event.
Few college football rivalries share a single stadium split exactly down the middle, with Texas fans filling one half in burnt orange and Oklahoma fans filling the other in crimson, creating a visual and atmospheric intensity distinct from typical home-and-away rivalry formats
Playing the game inside the State Fair of Texas rather than on either campus means the rivalry unfolds surrounded by fair midway rides, corny dogs, and livestock exhibits, an unusual pairing of high-stakes college football with a state fair's carnival atmosphere
The 2023 agreement extending the game at the Cotton Bowl through 2036, alongside a roughly 140 million dollar stadium renovation, signals both programs' commitment to keeping the rivalry at its historic neutral site even after conference realignment moved both teams into the SEC
The stadium's even fifty-yard-line split between the two fan bases is the rivalry's most distinctive maintained tradition
along with playing the game inside the ongoing State Fair of Texas rather than as a standalone event
The rivalry carried the nickname Red River Shootout for decades before both programs agreed to retire that name
and it is now formally known as the Red River Rivalry or Showdown depending on branding partner
10 October 2026
Use DART to Fair Park when possible.
Team colors are essentially mandatory in spirit, burnt orange and white for Texas fans, crimson and cream for Oklahoma fans, paired with comfortable clothing for a full day at the...
Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.
Dallas
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Red River Rivalry is listed for 10 October 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.
The festival is listed in Dallas, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.
One day is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.
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Dallas, TX
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