One of college football’s most iconic rivalries returns to Dallas as the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners prepare to collide in the Allstate Red River Rivalry, a game where records, rankings and expectations often take a back seat to more than a century of history.
Texas and Oklahoma will meet on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m. ET at the legendary Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas.
The game will be televised nationally on ABC, putting one of the sport’s most recognizable rivalries back in a major national television window.
And once again, the setting could hardly be more spectacular.
The Cotton Bowl will be split between burnt orange and crimson. The State Fair of Texas will surround the stadium. The Golden Hat will be waiting.
For Texas and Oklahoma, this is much more than another SEC game.
Game Information
Matchup: Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT / 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
TV Channel: ABC
Streaming: ABC through supported live-TV providers and ESPN digital platforms where eligible
Conference: SEC
Event: Allstate Red River Rivalry
The 2026 matchup will mark the 123rd meeting between the two historic programs.
Texas entered the season holding a 65-51-5 all-time series advantage, but history rarely tells the full story when these two teams meet in Dallas.
Texas Arrives With Serious Momentum
The Longhorns could hardly have asked for a stronger opening month.
Texas enters its bye week at 4-0, having defeated Texas State, Ohio State, UTSA and Tennessee.
The biggest result came against No. 1 Ohio State.
Playing at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 12, Texas survived a thriller and defeated the Buckeyes 24-23, immediately giving the Longhorns one of the most significant victories of the young season.
Texas followed that performance with a 30-6 victory over UTSA before traveling to Knoxville and beating nationally ranked Tennessee 20-17.
Now the Longhorns have a week off before traveling to Dallas.
That extra preparation time could be extremely valuable considering what is waiting for them.
Arch Manning Takes Center Stage
Few players will receive more attention entering the Red River Rivalry than Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
Through Texas’ opening four games, Manning has thrown for 862 yards, establishing himself as the central figure in the Longhorns’ passing attack.
Running back Hollywood Smothers leads Texas with 198 rushing yards, while wide receiver Ryan Wingo has emerged as the team’s leading receiver with 239 yards.
But Red River is different.
Quarterbacks are remembered for what they do in games like this.
The atmosphere is unusual. The crowd is divided almost perfectly down the middle. Every touchdown produces an explosion from one half of the stadium and silence from the other.
Manning will need to remain composed regardless of momentum.
If Texas can establish its running game and create manageable situations on third down, the Longhorns could prevent Oklahoma’s defense from consistently attacking the quarterback.
Oklahoma Has Revenge on Its Mind
The Sooners do not need much additional motivation for this rivalry.
But recent history provides plenty.
Texas has won the previous two Red River meetings, including a dominant 34-3 victory in 2024 followed by a 23-6 win in 2025.
That means Oklahoma will arrive in Dallas attempting to end a two-game losing streak against its biggest rival.
The Sooners also enter the matchup after an open date on October 3, giving Oklahoma additional time to prepare.
For Oklahoma, the challenge is obvious: prevent Texas from controlling the game early.
When the Longhorns have dictated tempo in recent Red River meetings, the Sooners have struggled to generate enough offensive response.
Oklahoma will therefore want to create pressure, force turnovers and turn the matchup into the unpredictable rivalry battle that has defined this series for generations.
What Makes the Red River Rivalry Different?
There are rivalry games across college football.
Then there is Texas-Oklahoma.
The game is played at a neutral site almost exactly between the two campuses, inside the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas.
The stadium itself becomes part of the spectacle.
One half belongs to Oklahoma.
The other belongs to Texas.
There is no traditional home crowd dominating the building. Every major play creates two completely different reactions simultaneously.
And in 2026, Oklahoma will technically serve as the designated home team, continuing the alternating arrangement between the programs.
That unique environment can create enormous momentum
