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There is no other game like it. Once a year the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners meet at a neutral site in the middle of a state fair, and Cotton Bowl Stadium splits fifty-fifty at the 50-yard line — burnt orange on one side, crimson on the other. The 2026 Allstate Red River Rivalry is Saturday, October 10, with a 2:30 PM CT kickoff on ABC/ESPN.
Cotton Bowl Stadium sits at 3750 The Midway inside Fair Park, roughly three miles east of downtown Dallas — and this is the part most first-timers underestimate: your game ticket is also your State Fair of Texas admission for the day, so the fairgrounds are the tailgate. That means Fair Park holds a football crowd and a fair crowd simultaneously, on one of the fair's busiest days of the year. Book your QTS gameday ride and let a chauffeur handle every part of that.
Red River Rivalry 2026 — Event Details
Texas and Oklahoma meet at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park. Here are the confirmed details for the 2026 edition.
October 10, 2026
Allstate Red River Rivalry| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Venue | Cotton Bowl Stadium, 3750 The Midway, Dallas, TX 75215 (Fair Park) |
| Gates | Typically ~11:30 AM — about three hours before kickoff |
| Kickoff | 2:30 PM CT |
| TV | ABC / ESPN |
| Your ticket also covers | State Fair of Texas admission on game day |
| Matchup | Texas Longhorns vs Oklahoma Sooners SEC Rivalry |
Texas vs Oklahoma — What Makes This One Different
🏈 A Stadium Split in Half
Tickets are divided evenly between the two schools at the 50-yard line — burnt orange on one side, crimson on the other. No home crowd, no visiting section, just two halves of a stadium going at each other for four hours.
🎡 It Happens Inside a State Fair
Cotton Bowl Stadium is in the middle of Fair Park, and the 2026 State Fair of Texas runs September 25 – October 18. The game lands mid-fair, historically one of the fair's single busiest days.
🎟️ One Ticket, Two Gates
Your game ticket is your State Fair admission for the day. Groups arrive hours early on purpose — corny dogs, the Midway, and Big Tex are the tailgate.
What to Expect on Red River Saturday
🔊 A Full, Loud, Neutral House
Around 92,000 people, evenly split and equally invested. It is the loudest afternoon on the Dallas sports calendar.
🌤️ Open-Air October Football
Cotton Bowl Stadium has no roof. Early-October afternoons in Dallas can still run warm — plan for sun in the 2:30 window and check the clear-bag policy before you leave.
🚧 An All-Day Fair Park Crowd
The fair opens in the morning and does not stop for the game. Roads into Fair Park tighten from late morning and stay that way until well after the final whistle.
Know Before You Go
Your Ticket Is a Fair Ticket Too
The same ticket gets your group through the Fair Park gates and into Cotton Bowl Stadium on game day. Food and ride coupons are bought separately once you are inside — plan for the fair, not just the game.
Fair Park Parking Sells Out Early
Fair Park lots are paid and sold per vehicle, and on Red River Saturday the fair crowd is competing for the same spaces from the morning on. If your group does drive, buying the correct pass in advance is on the guest — and is strongly recommended.
Arrive Late Morning, Not at Kickoff
Gates open roughly three hours out, around 11:30 AM. Aim to be inside Fair Park between 10:30 AM and noon — after about 11 AM the approaches slow down noticeably.
I-30, Fitzhugh & Haskell All Back Up
Fair Park is boxed in by I-30 and a grid of neighborhood streets that were never built for 92,000 people plus a state fair. A chauffeur who runs Fair Park all season knows which approach is still moving.
The 6 PM Exit Is the Worst Part
The game ends around 5:30–6 PM — exactly when the fair's evening crowd arrives. Rideshare zones queue up and surge hard. A pre-arranged chauffeur is already staged when you walk out.
Six Hours at the Fair Isn't a Drive Home
A late-morning arrival, a full afternoon in the sun, and a rivalry game is a long day. One chauffeur covers the fair, the game, and the ride back — no designated driver, no DUI risk.
Why Book QTS for the Red River Rivalry
Cotton Bowl Stadium is only a few miles from downtown Dallas — getting near Fair Park is not the problem. The problem is everything that happens once you are there on the second Saturday in October: paid lots that fill before noon, neighborhood streets that clog from late morning, a state fair running at full capacity all day, and then 92,000 people leaving at once into the fair's evening arrivals. Add a long day in the sun with drinks in hand and driving yourself becomes the worst decision of the weekend.
Choose Your Ride — The QTS Fleet
Executive SUV
GMC Yukon XL or Cadillac Escalade — up to 6 passengers. The go-to for couples and small groups heading to Fair Park. Details →
Mercedes Sprinter
Executive-configured Sprinter — up to 14 passengers. Ideal for an alumni crew riding to the Cotton Bowl together. Details →
Stretch Limousine
Up to 8–10 passengers. A classic way to run Red River Saturday from the first corny dog to the final whistle. Details →
Party Bus
Up to 45 passengers — make the ride to Fair Park part of the day, there and back. Built for big rivalry groups. Details →
Executive Minibus
24–36 passengers in executive comfort. The right call for alumni chapters, corporate boxes, and family groups. Details →
56-Passenger Motorcoach
Full-size charter motorcoach for the largest groups — one vehicle, everyone arriving and leaving together. Details →
Pickup Times to Cotton Bowl Stadium from Across DFW
| City / Suburb | Distance | Normal Drive | Red River Saturday (Est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas (Downtown / Uptown) | ~3 miles | ~8 min | ~20–35 min |
| Highland Park / Preston Hollow | ~8 miles | ~15 min | ~25–45 min |
| Irving / Las Colinas | ~20 miles | ~25 min | ~40–55 min |
| Plano | ~22 miles | ~28 min | ~40 min–1 hr |
| Arlington | ~24 miles | ~30 min | ~45 min–1 hr 5 min |
| DFW Airport | ~24 miles | ~30 min | ~45 min–1 hr 10 min |
| Frisco | ~32 miles | ~38 min | ~55 min–1 hr 20 min |
| Fort Worth (Downtown) | ~35 miles | ~40 min | ~1 hr–1 hr 30 min |
| Denton | ~48 miles | ~55 min | ~1 hr 15 min–1 hr 45 min |
Verified by QTS Dispatch Team. Cotton Bowl Stadium is at 3750 The Midway inside Fair Park, just east of downtown Dallas off I-30. Game-day estimates account for combined State Fair and football traffic; the postgame exit adds significant time for self-drivers.
Book Your Red River Rivalry Ride
Tell us your pickup city, group size, and how early you want to be inside the fair. We handle the whole round trip on October 10 — pickup, gate drop-off, and a chauffeur staged to bring you home when it ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the 2026 Red River Rivalry played?
The Allstate Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma is played at Cotton Bowl Stadium, 3750 The Midway, Dallas, TX 75215 — inside Fair Park, about three miles east of downtown Dallas. It is a neutral-site game, not a home game for either school, and it is not played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. QTS Black Car & Limo provides door-to-door service to Fair Park from anywhere in DFW.
What time is kickoff for Texas vs Oklahoma on October 10, 2026?
Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on Saturday, October 10, 2026, on ABC or ESPN — the same afternoon window the game has held since Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC. Stadium gates typically open about three hours before kickoff, around 11:30 a.m. Confirm the final time on your ticket and at texaslonghorns.com or soonersports.com before you lock in your pickup.
Does a Red River Rivalry ticket include State Fair of Texas admission?
Yes. Your game ticket is also your admission to the State Fair of Texas on game day — the same ticket gets you through the Fair Park gates and into Cotton Bowl Stadium. That is why most groups arrive hours early: the fair is the tailgate. Food and ride coupons are bought separately once you are inside.
Is the State Fair of Texas going on during the game?
Yes. The 2026 State Fair of Texas runs September 25 through October 18, so the October 10 Red River Rivalry lands squarely in the middle of it — historically one of the busiest days of the entire fair. Expect Fair Park to hold a football crowd and a full fair crowd at the same time, which is exactly what makes driving and parking yourself so painful.
How much is parking at Cotton Bowl Stadium for the Red River Rivalry?
Fair Park parking is paid, is sold per vehicle, and sells out early on Red River Saturday because the fair crowd is competing for the same lots. Guests who choose to drive are responsible for buying the correct pass for their vehicle and lot in advance. With QTS you skip the pass entirely — your chauffeur drops your group at the gate and stages nearby until you are ready to leave.
How do I get to the Red River Rivalry without parking at Fair Park?
Book QTS Black Car & Limo for dedicated round-trip, hourly-as-directed service from anywhere in DFW. Your chauffeur picks your group up at home, drops you at the Fair Park gate before the fair crowd peaks, waits through the game, and drives you home afterward — no parking pass, no rideshare surge, no DUI risk. Call (945) 212-1412 or book at dfwblackcarlimo.com.
Can a limo, Sprinter, or party bus drop off at Fair Park?
Yes. Executive SUVs and most Sprinters can drop right at a Fair Park gate. Stretch limousines and party buses have no designated staging area at Fair Park, so those groups meet their chauffeur at a nearby legal pick-up point rather than at the gate itself. Your QTS dispatcher confirms the exact drop-off and meet spot when you book.
What time should my group arrive on Red River Saturday?
For a 2:30 p.m. kickoff, most groups want to be inside Fair Park between 10:30 a.m. and noon — gates open around 11:30 a.m., and the ticket already covers the fair, so the morning is part of the day. Roads into Fair Park tighten sharply after about 11 a.m. QTS times your pickup backward from that window instead of the kickoff.
Why is rideshare so bad after the Red River Rivalry?
The game ends around 5:30 to 6 p.m., which is the same moment the State Fair's evening crowd arrives. Roughly 90,000 fans leave Fair Park into an area that is already full, the rideshare zones back up, and surge pricing spikes. A pre-arranged QTS chauffeur is already staged when you walk out, so you leave on your schedule instead of the queue's.
More Fair Park & DFW Ride Guides
Headed to the State Fair on another day, or to another event on the DFW calendar? QTS runs it all season — here is where to go next:
Don't Spend Red River Saturday Looking for a Parking Spot
"Texas–OU at the Cotton Bowl is the best day on the Dallas calendar, and it should be about the fair and the game — not a paid lot you circled for forty minutes. I personally guarantee your QTS chauffeur will have your group at the gate before the crowd turns, and will be staged and waiting the second the clock hits zero, ready to drive you home."
— Michael Varrone, Owner