Running to the Rivalry

The southbound journey to the Cotton Bowl is officially underway.

The University of Oklahoma’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) this morning began the annual tradition of delivering the game ball to Dallas on foot for Saturday’s Red River Rivalry football game against the University of Texas.

This marks the 26^th year that NROTC battalions from both OU and UT physically run a game ball from each campus and, after a journey of about 200 miles, meet in the middle at the State Fair of Texas: home of the Cotton Bowl and the setting for this classic rivalry every year since 1932.

The two-day trek from Norman to Dallas began with OU head football coach Brent Venables handing off the official ball to Navy ROTC Midshipmen, Sailors and Marines. At the conclusion of the journey, over 60 members from each school will compete in various athletic competitions prior to delivering the game balls to the officials during pre-game on Saturday.

OU President Joseph Harroz Jr. participated in the first leg of the run alongside Battalion Commander Grant McCollough, starting off from Owen Field at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Joining the first leg of the run were a number of first responders from the OU and Norman Police Departments, as well as the Norman Fire Department. Norman Fire and Police also provided vehicle escorts and drone coverage for the first leg of the run.

Also on hand for Wednesday morning’s Run to Dallas event were OU Army and Air Force ROTC students, members of OU’s Spirit squads, the RUF/NEKS and the Pride of Oklahoma.

Since the Run to Dallas’ inception in 1997, the Sooners lead the series with 15 wins to 11 losses in the Red River Rivalry. The Sooners also captured the Big 12 Championship against Texas in 2018 to extend that number to 16-11.