College football fans, it is time to circle the date and double-check the calendar.
The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners are preparing for another chapter of the legendary Allstate Red River Rivalry, and the latest schedule information has the showdown locked into a major Saturday afternoon television window.
The No. 1 Texas Longhorns will meet Oklahoma on Saturday, October 10, 2026, at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m.
CT. The game will be televised nationally on ABC.
Texas Athletics and the SEC have confirmed the afternoon time slot for this year’s rivalry game.
For fans who may have been watching earlier schedule listings, this is the information to use when making final plans.
The annual rivalry remains one of the defining events on the college football calendar, and this year’s matchup carries significant attention with Texas entering the weekend ranked No. 1 nationally.
🚨 TIME CHANGE NOTICE: CHECK YOUR SATURDAY PLANS
A schedule update for Texas-Oklahoma is never a minor detail.
The Red River Rivalry is played at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas, creating a unique game-day environment unlike almost anything else in college football.
An afternoon kickoff means fans will need to plan around traffic in Dallas, State Fair activities, parking, stadium security and the large crowds expected around Fair Park.
For viewers at home, the important information is equally straightforward: make sure your television or streaming schedule reflects the 2:30 p.m.
CT kickoff on ABC.
The SEC’s 2026 television structure places this matchup in the afternoon window, and Texas’ official schedule confirms the specific 2:30 p.m. start.
NO. 1 TEXAS ARRIVES WITH A PERFECT RECORD
Texas enters the rivalry game at 4-0 overall and 1-0 in SEC play, while holding the No. 1 position in the AP Top 25.
The Longhorns have already collected two notable victories this season.
Texas opened the year with a 59-7 victory over Texas State, followed by a 24-23 win over then-No. 1 Ohio State.
The Longhorns then defeated UTSA before traveling to Knoxville and beating Tennessee 20-17 on September 26.
That victory over Tennessee came immediately before Texas’ bye week, giving the Longhorns additional preparation time for the rivalry.
The extra week is particularly significant because Oklahoma also has a bye before the Red River matchup.
Texas will enter Dallas with its undefeated record intact and with quarterback Arch Manning leading an offense that has already produced several important performances this season.
Texas’ official game center lists Manning among the team’s current statistical leaders.
OKLAHOMA LOOKS TO RESET
Oklahoma enters the rivalry at 2-2 overall and 0-1 in SEC play.
The Sooners opened the season with a 51-0 victory over UTEP, then lost at Michigan before defeating New Mexico.
Oklahoma’s most recent game was a 41-13 loss at No. 2 Georgia on September 26.
That result makes the bye week especially valuable for Oklahoma as the Sooners prepare for one of the biggest games of their season.
Head coach Brent Venables and his staff will have additional time to evaluate the team following the Georgia loss and prepare for the challenge presented by the nation’s No. 1 team.
For Oklahoma, the rivalry provides an opportunity to turn the page.
The Sooners will also enter the Cotton Bowl knowing that the Red River Rivalry has historically produced unpredictable results regardless of records entering the game.
THE RED RIVER RIVALRY RETURNS TO DALLAS
The Texas-Oklahoma rivalry has been played at the Cotton Bowl for generations, with the stadium divided between Longhorns and Sooners supporters.
This year’s game will be the 122nd meeting between the programs, according to current game information.
Texas leads the overall series, while the Longhorns have won the last two meetings.
Texas defeated Oklahoma 34-3 in 2024 and followed that with a 23-6 victory in 2025.
Oklahoma’s most recent victory came in 2023, when the Sooners won 34-30.
Those recent results provide context, but the rivalry’s history has repeatedly shown why previous meetings do not determine what happens on the field.
Every Red River game creates its own atmosphere, its own momentum swings and its own story.
A BATTLE OF TWO SEC PROGRAMS
The rivalry also has a new conference dimension.
Texas and Oklahoma are now members of the Southeastern Conference, making this historic matchup an SEC conference game.
That means the stakes extend beyond rivalry bragging rights.
For Texas, the game represents another opportunity to protect an undefeated record and remain at the top of the national conversation.
For Oklahoma, it is a chance to make an immediate impact against its longtime rival and improve its SEC record.
The neutral-site setting removes the traditional home-field advantage, leaving both teams to deal with the unique pressure of playing in front of a divided Cotton Bowl crowd.
WHAT FANS NEED TO KNOW
Matchup: Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. CT
Location: Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas
Television: ABC
Event: Allstate Red River Rivalry
Conference: SEC
Texas Ranking: No. 1 AP
Texas Record: 4-0
Oklahoma Record: 2-2
Texas’ official schedule confirms the 2:30 p.m.
CT kickoff and ABC broadcast, while Oklahoma’s schedule lists the same start time for the rivalry.
THE STATE FAIR, THE COTTON BOWL AND A RIVALRY LIKE NO OTHER
There is no ordinary way to experience Texas-Oklahoma.
The State Fair of Texas surrounds the event, thousands of fans flood Fair Park, and the Cotton Bowl becomes the center of attention for two passionate fan bases.
The field itself tells the story of the rivalry: burnt orange on one side, crimson on the other.
By kickoff, the atmosphere should be unmistakable.
Texas will arrive unbeaten and ranked No. 1. Oklahoma will arrive looking to respond after its loss at Georgia.
Both teams will have a bye week to prepare.
And once the ball is kicked off, none of the buildup will matter anymore.
DON’T MISS THE UPDATED KICKOFF
The message for fans is simple: update your calendar and make sure your Saturday plans reflect the latest schedule.
The current official listing has No. 1 Texas facing Oklahoma on Saturday, October 10, at 2:30 p.m.
CT at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, with the game televised on ABC.
Whether you’re heading to the State Fair, attending the game, hosting a watch party or following the rivalry from home, make sure you’re ready before kickoff.
No. 1 Texas. Oklahoma. The Cotton Bowl. The State Fair of Texas.
The Red River Rivalry is coming back to Dallas — and the entire college football world will be watching.
