“The best rivalry game in college football”
One of the best traditions in sports returns on Saturday as crimson and burnt orange clash in the AT&T Red River Showdown.
The 115th meeting between Oklahoma and Texas’ football teams is set for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff inside the historic Cotton Bowl in Dallas, and fans can tune in on FOX. Both teams enter Saturday’s matchup ranked for the second year in a row, with the No. 6/5 Sooners undefeated at 5-0 and the No. 11/11 Longhorns holding a 4-1 record.
“We’re certainly excited to get down to Dallas and play this one like we always are,” third-year OU head coach Lincoln Riley said. “This is the best rivalry game in college football and one of the best sporting events, period, anywhere. I’m very excited to be a part of it and certainly can’t wait to get down there Saturday and play.”
The matchup takes its name from the Red River, which creates part of the boundary between the southern part of Oklahoma and the northern side of Texas. The two teams first played in 1900, and each contest since 1929 has been held in Dallas, which was chosen as the neutral site location since it is about halfway between the two campuses in Norman and Austin.
Additionally, the rivalry game takes place in a unique setting as the Cotton Bowl is located in the center of the State Fair of Texas. Each year, Oklahoma and Texas fans alike enjoy corny dogs, funnel cakes, and almost any other fried food you can imagine before and after the game.
An Oklahoma native, redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Creed Humphrey commented on the special environment of the Red River Showdown.
“It’s a great atmosphere,” Humphrey shared. “I used to go to this game all the time growing up. It’s something I always dreamed of playing in, and it’s a huge game for us. I can’t wait to play.”
The Cotton Bowl is split down the middle at the 50-yard line with Sooner fans on one half and Longhorn fans on the other.
Junior linebacker and team captain Kenneth Murray recalled his first experience playing in the Red River Rivalry: “It’s third down and that place is going crazy. Looking around, it was like, ‘Wow, this is really amazing.’ You really just see exactly why OU-Texas is such an amazing rivalry.
“You make a (big) play in this game, you’re going to be remembered forever,” Murray continued. “It’s definitely a special tradition and definitely a special game.”
