Dallas – Texas. Oklahoma. They’re like cats and dogs. Oil and water. Mexican food and tight jeans. Some things just don’t mix well, and that couldn’t be on display in a bigger way than at the State Fair of Texas when the Longhorns take on the Sooners. When it comes to this matchup, Texas tends to let loose on being the friendly state. “Here to watch Texas beat OU’s ass,” remarked one Longhorn.
On the second Saturday of October, the State Fair can get a little crazy as nearly 100,000 football fans, and even a few celebrities, find their way to Fair Park to watch Texas take on Oklahoma. “They’re only our neighbors, right?” said Drew Martin. “But that Red River that divides us, that is the biggest dividing line.”
Drew is the Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs at the University of Texas. “This weekend is the biggest weekend in college football,” said Drew.
Known as the Red River Rivalry, these two teams first faced off back in 1900, and the matchup is usually a high scoring affair between two offensive powerhouses. While words can be sensitive, there’s no compassion when it comes to these competitors. “My favorite memory of the Allstate Red River Rivalry is the 49 to nothing win that Texas had, largest margin of victory in the history of this game, and it goes back to 1900,” said Drew. “So that is my best memory of the Allstate Red River Rivalry in 2022.”
Memories are what make this game so special. Well that, and the fact Texas and Oklahoma take this neighborhood knockaround very seriously. Whether it was Earl Campbell dodging defenders back in the 70’s, Bubba Jaques’ scoop and score in 1991, or Jamaal Charles running for daylight back in ‘05, every generation of Texas fans have fond memories and few not so fond ones. “There’s obviously a lot of pressure felt by both teams,” said Drew. “It doesn’t matter if you’re 0-fer coming in or if you’re undefeated coming in, you throw the record book out the window, and you line up, and you play football. There’s a lot of pressure coming in, but our fans love it.”
The atmosphere of this game is unlike any other as fans pack into a stadium that was built for one purpose. “That line right down the 50, when it’s Crimson on one end and Burnt Orange on the other end, it’s so unique,” said Drew. “And to hear the cheers going back and forth and just the crowd going at each other divided right down the middle, it’s just the electricity. There’s nothing like it. The place comes alive.”
College football has no shortage of rivalries, spirit and pageantry, so it takes a lot for one game in particular to stand out so far from the rest. “I don’t think there’s a bigger game in college football than this one,” said Drew. “Just the unique aspect of this game being played at Cotton Bowl Stadium in the State Fair of Texas. Consider this, they put 150,000 people in the State Fair on average on a Saturday. We add 90,000 more, 92,000 more. It’s about a quarter of a million people on a football Saturday in October. This game is the best game in the country, bar none.”
In 2024 the stakes are raised yet again as both teams are now part of the Southeastern Conference. “The best conference in the country, the conference where it just means more, this game being the biggest game in the country,” said Drew. “Bringing that to the SEC, it’s going to mean even more in 2024.”
Of course this means the Fighting Texas Aggies are back to being conference rivals, and that is a good thing. “We are so excited to have A&M back on our schedule and to put that rivalry back together,” said Drew. “It’s a tremendous game and a lot of history behind both teams and both schools there. That rivalry is different than this one, but I’ll be glad to have both of our big rivals back in the same conference.”
But on this day, it’s all about Oklahoma and Texas squaring off to see which state has a stronger football squad each and every year. “Come out and enjoy the fair, enjoy all the fun and festivities, the midway, the corny dogs, the beer in wax paper cups, Big Tex greeting you at the State Fair,” said Drew. “Come and enjoy the atmosphere in Dallas, Texas.”