Just One of OU's Greatest Sports Traditions
The annual pilgrimage to the Cotton Bowl in Dallas for the Oklahoma vs. Texas football game is an experience unlike any other in sports. With a crowd of half crimson (the good guys!) and half burnt orange split at the 50-yard line, the contest provides a unique college football atmosphere.
Walk through the gates of the Texas State Fair, passing Big Tex, who greets you with a “Howdy, folks!” Catch a whiff of the scents of corny dogs, funnel cakes, and almost any other fried food you can imagine wafting through the air (even fried Oreos!).
Make your way through the fair to the historic Cotton Bowl and claim your seat for the latest edition of the annual Red River Showdown. Feel the anticipation build during pregame as both bands take turns performing on the field. Clap and sing along when the Pride of Oklahoma blasts “Boomer Sooner.”
When the two teams line up for opening kickoff, hold your right index finger in the air and yell “Oooooooo-U!” as the kicker’s foot makes contact with the ball, officially signaling the start of one of the greatest rivalries in all of sports.
The 2017 Red River Showdown, the 112th meeting between the two programs, is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CST on Saturday, and fans can catch the action on ESPN. This year’s rendition also features a rarity for the rivalry as both teams are being led by first-year head coaches for the first time since 1947, with Lincoln Riley coaching the Sooners and Tom Herman leading the Longhorns.
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.
Whether you watch from the crimson-clad side of the Cotton Bowl or from your couch, with both bragging rights and the Golden Hat trophy on the line, this game is a can’t miss each season for Sooner fans!
We want for you to be a part of the great traditions at OU, including the Red River Showdown and so many others, so apply today!
