College Football Rivalries: Texas vs Oklahoma

The second Saturday of October brings one of college football’s most storied traditions to life in Dallas, Texas: The Red River Rivalry between the Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns.

This border battle has been played at the Cotton Bowl, located halfway between Austin, Texas and Norman, Oklahoma, for more than a century. It represents everything that makes college football special: tradition, passion and unforgettable moments that echo through generations.

You won’t want to miss a moment of college football’s biggest rival matchups. With DIRECTV, you can catch the Red River Rivalry and more college football games all season long.

When Is the 2026 Red River Rivalry?

Texas and Oklahoma meet for the 122nd time on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. ET (2:30 p.m. CT) on ABC.

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• TV: ABC
• Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas
• Series: Texas leads 65–51–5
• Last meeting: Texas won 23–6 in 2025
• Trophy: Golden Hat (held by Texas)

Texas Longhorns 2026 Outlook (as of Sept. 30)

Texas enters the game atop both major polls at 4-0, with ranked wins over Ohio State in Austin and Tennessee in Knoxville. Arch Manning is in his final season, and wide receiver Cam Coleman adds another weapon. They also boast one of the stoutest defenses in the country.

Oklahoma Sooners 2026 Outlook (as of Sept. 30)

Oklahoma is 2-2 after a 41-13 loss at No. 2 Georgia, following an earlier loss at Michigan. The Sooners went 10-3 last season and reached the College Football Playoff as the No. 8 seed. Quarterback John Mateer is back for another season.

When Did the Red River Rivalry Start?

The Red River Rivalry started on Oct. 10, 1900, when Texas beat Oklahoma 28–2. Oklahoma was still a territory at the time and wouldn’t become a state until 1907.

The teams have met every year since 1929, and the matchup has grown into one of college football’s most storied rivalries.

Through 121 meetings, Texas leads the all-time series 65–51–5. Oklahoma has had the upper hand in the modern era, though, going 17–10 against Texas since 2000.

Why Is It Called the Red River Rivalry?

The rivalry gets its name from the Red River that separates Oklahoma and Texas, creating a natural border that has defined this competition for decades. Originally called the “Red River Shootout,” the game was renamed the “Red River Rivalry” at the 100th meeting in 2005, though terms like “Red River Showdown” are also used when the schools meet in other sports.

Why Is the Red River Rivalry Played in Dallas?

The Red River Rivalry is played in Dallas because the city sits roughly halfway between the Texas campus in Austin and the Oklahoma campus in Norman. It’s also tied to the State Fair of Texas.

The game has been played every year since 1929 during the State Fair, and at the Cotton Bowl in Fair Park since 1932.

Neither team has a true home-field advantage. The home designation alternates each year – Oklahoma in even years, Texas in odd years. The crowd is split evenly down the 50-yard line, with burnt orange on one side and crimson on the other.

The State Fair turns game day into a weekend-long event, with fans from both schools filling Fair Park before and after kickoff.

What Trophies Do Texas and Oklahoma Play For?

The winner of the Red River Rivalry takes home the Golden Hat, a gold-plated 10-gallon cowboy hat mounted on a wooden base.

The trophy was created in 1941 as the bronze hat and was later reworked in gold to become the iconic trophy we know today. The Golden Hat remains with the winning school until the next year’s game, making each victory that much sweeter.

Two other trophies change hands each year:

• Red River Rivalry Trophy: Created in 2003 by the student body presidents of both schools, it features both states and miniature helmets of each team.
• Governor’s Cup: The governors of Oklahoma and Texas exchange this trophy after each game, often with friendly wagers such as sides of beef donated to charity.
• NROTC game ball relay: Each year, NROTC students from both schools relay game balls from their campuses to Dallas. They then play a flag football game for the Red River Shootout trophy.

Greatest Moments in Red River Rivalry History

The 1950s: How Texas Broke Oklahoma’s Dominance

While the first game lacked the pageantry we see today — Texas was simply called “Varsity” and neither team had established mascots — the rivalry truly found its identity in the 1950s.

The rivalry’s modern intensity took shape in the 1950s, when Bud Wilkinson’s Oklahoma dominated the series. Texas broke through in 1958 with a one-point win under Darrell Royal, a former Oklahoma quarterback. Royal beat Wilkinson in each of the next five years before Wilkinson retired in 1963.

1963: No. 2 Texas 28, No. 1 Oklahoma 7

The 1963 matchup stands as one of the rivalry’s defining moments. Oklahoma entered ranked #1 while Texas came in at #2, marking just the seventh regular season meeting between the top two teams in college football history at that point. Texas won the game, claimed the #1 ranking, and rode that momentum to their first national championship that season.

1970–1971: The Wishbone Swap

Texas offensive coordinator Emory Bellard developed the wishbone in 1968, and it powered the Longhorns to the 1969 national title. Oklahoma installed the same offense in 1970.

Texas won the first wishbone-vs.-wishbone meeting 41–9 in 1970 during a 30-game winning streak. A year later, Oklahoma had mastered it, gaining 467 yards in a 48–27 win.

1972 and 1976: Spying Allegations and a Presidential Visit

The 1970s brought controversy alongside great football. In 1972, Oklahoma was caught spying on Texas practices, allowing them to block a secret quick kick the Longhorns had been working on. The spying allegations surfaced again in 1976 and were confirmed in Oklahoma head coach Barry Switzer’s memoir.

President Gerald Ford attended the 1976 game and appeared with Royal and Switzer, who weren’t speaking to each other. The game ended in a 6–6 tie.

2001: Roy Williams’ “Superman” Play

One of the rivalry’s most iconic moments came in 2001 with Texas trailing 7-3 and just 2 minutes and 6 seconds remaining. Starting from their own 3-yard line, the Longhorns were driving for a potential game-winning score when safety Roy Williams delivered one of college football’s most memorable hits.

Williams blitzed, jumped over a blocker and collided with the Texas quarterback just as he released the ball. The pass landed directly in the hands of an Oklahoma linebacker for an easy touchdown.

Williams’ airborne, arms-out pose gave the play its nickname.

2018: Two Meetings in One Season

2018 was only the third season Texas and Oklahoma met twice, and the first since 1903.

In October, Oklahoma tied the game 45–45 late in the fourth quarter. Cameron Dicker’s field goal with nine seconds left then won it 48–45 for Texas.

In December, No. 5 Oklahoma beat Texas 39–27 in the Big 12 Championship for its fourth straight conference title. The Golden Hat wasn’t at stake in the rematch, so Texas kept it.

2020–2022: The Highest-Scoring Games in Rivalry History

• 2020: Oklahoma outlasted #22 Texas 53-45 in four overtimes, producing the third-highest scoring game in rivalry history
• 2021: #6 Oklahoma rallied from a 21-point first-quarter deficit to defeat Texas 55-48 in the highest-scoring game in rivalry history
• 2022: Texas delivered a stunning 49-0 shutout victory, marking the first shutout since 2004 and Texas’s biggest scoring margin win in the rivalry’s history

2023–2025: From the Big 12 to the SEC

The 2023 game marked the end of an era as both schools prepared to leave the Big 12 for the SEC. The first undefeated matchup since 2011 lived up to expectations, with Oklahoma edging Texas 34-30 on a last-second touchdown pass. The game drew 7.1 million viewers, the most since 2008, proving the rivalry’s enduring appeal.

The 2024 meeting represented their first as SEC opponents, though Texas’s 34-3 victory was decidedly less dramatic than recent classics. Still, the move to the SEC ensures this rivalry will continue to captivate fans for decades.

How Often Are Texas and Oklahoma Both Ranked?

At least one team has been ranked in 74 of the 121 meetings. The teams have met 11 times as top-five opponents, and Oklahoma holds a 6–4–1 edge in those games. That record includes a 15–15 tie between No. 1 Texas and No. 2 Oklahoma in 1984.

How to Watch the 2026 Red River Rivalry

Texas and Oklahoma kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Watch the game on ABC with DIRECTV.

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