A time-honored tradition at the State Fair of Texas, the Allstate® Red River Rivalry between the University of Texas Longhorns and University of Oklahoma Sooners has been played at the Fair since 1929, making 2026 the 97th consecutive neutral-site showdown. With a 2:30 p.m. Central Time kickoff, fans are encouraged to arrive early and allow plenty of time to enter both the State Fair of Texas and Cotton Bowl® Stadium, as each location has its own security screening process. Fans are also encouraged to familiarize themselves with safety and security measures in place at the State Fair and Cotton Bowl Stadium before arriving by visiting BigTex.com/KnowBeforeYouGo.
Know Before You Go
Below are a few important reminders for those attending the Allstate® Red River Rivalry and State Fair of Texas on Saturday, October 10, 2026. All times are Central Time.
- Plan to arrive early. With a 2:30 p.m. kickoff, large crowds are expected at the State Fair throughout the day. Plan to arrive early and allow extra time for traffic, parking, and security screening.
- The State Fair of Texas will open early. Parking lots and admission gates will open at 7:00 a.m. on game day, giving fans plenty of time to enjoy the Fair before heading to the Cotton Bowl® Stadium.
- Your game ticket includes admission to the State Fair of Texas. Your game ticket will be used to enter both the Fair and Cotton Bowl Stadium. Download your game tickets and save them to your phone before arriving in case of connectivity issues due to large crowds.
Opening at 7:00 a.m.:
- State Fair Will Call opens at 7:00 a.m. The Will Call booth is located just outside of the fairgrounds at 816 S. Second Ave., across from the Music Hall at Fair Park.
- Official State Fair parking lots are located at Gates 2, 5, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15. All gates will open at 7:00 a.m.
- The Fair encourages fans to take exit 48A towards Haskell Avenue off I-30 for quicker parking lot access.
- Rideshare (taxi, Uber, Lyft, Alto, etc.) drop-off and pick-up will be located at Gate 1, which is located at Gurley Ave & S. Haskell Ave. (4200 block of Gurley Avenue).
- Admission Gates will open at 7:00 a.m.
- Coupon Booths and Online Coupon Pick-up Centers will open at 7:00 a.m.
- Hospitality Centers and Information Booths will open at 7:00 a.m.
Opening at 8:00 a.m.:
- Outdoor concessions, in addition to concessions inside the Tower Building Food Court, will open at 8:00 a.m.
- The State Fair of Texas Midway will open at 8:00 a.m.
Opening at 9:00 a.m.:
- All exhibit buildings, outdoor exhibits, and indoor concessions (except the Tower Building, which opens earlier) will open at 9:00 a.m.
Opening at 11:30 a.m.
- Gates to the Cotton Bowl will open at 11:30 a.m. Beat the crowds and enter the stadium early for pre-game excitement. Concession stands inside the stadium will be open.
- Cotton Bowl Stadium has completed phase one of renovations to improve the overall fan experience. Please pay close attention to directional, section, and seat signage to help you quickly find your way to your seats. While not all renovations are complete, the work done so far marks the first phase of enhancements, with additional updates planned for the future.
- Please note that all tickets are accepted at any gate, so you may enter through whichever gate is most convenient.
- If your seats are in the newly renovated west tower (formerly press box), you should go to the elevators on the sides of Gate A to have your tickets scanned and enter.
- We remind all fans and fairgoers to stay hydrated and apply sunscreen throughout the day. e.l.f., the official Beauty, Hair, and Sunscreen Partner of the State Fair of Texas, joins us in encouraging fairgoers to prioritize sun protection while enjoying the Fair.
- For the safety of all game attendees, a clear bag policy is in effect for all events at Cotton Bowl Stadium within Fair Park. Visit BigTex.com/Sports for more details.
- DART trains and buses will become more crowded as game-time approaches and at locations closer to Fair Park. For DART schedules, visit DART.org/StateFair.
- All guests will be screened for weapons as they enter the State Fair. Bags, purses, coolers, and similar containers are also screened and subject to search. Please read any signage and listen to gate attendants for directions upon entry.
- A Clear Bag Policy is still in effect for football games inside Cotton Bowl Stadium.
- We encourage all guests to read the Fair’s Guest Code of Conduct before entering the grounds, visit BigTex.com/CodeofConduct.
- For a list of items allowed and not allowed at the Fair, visit BigTex.com/FAQ.
- For a list of prohibited items inside the Cotton Bowl, visit BigTex.com/Sports.
- For a map of the fairgrounds, visit BigTex.com/Map.
- For a full schedule of events, visit BigTex.com/Schedule.
- For a list of locations on the fairgrounds to watch the game, visit BigTex.com/Blog.
SEC Network:
The State Fair of Texas is thrilled to welcome back SEC Network LIVE from the Red River Rivalry. Fans can join the audience in front of the Hall of State inside the State Fair of Texas on Friday afternoon for The Paul Finebaum Show starting at 2:00 p.m. and on Saturday morning for SEC Nation starting at 8:00 a.m., all Texas time. Fans are urged to arrive early.
- To kick off the weekend, on Friday, October 9, The Paul Finebaum Show presented by Johnsonville celebrates #FinebaumFriday from 2:00-6:00 p.m. CT from the SEC Nation set in front of the Hall of State inside the State Fair of Texas, as well as on SEC Network and ESPN Radio.
- SEC Nation presented by Regions Bank will be at the State Fair of Texas on Saturday, October 10 from 8:00-11:00 a.m. CT as well as on SEC Network and is available for streaming through the ESPN App.
- Following SEC Nation, Marty & McGee presented by Old Trapper will begin at 11:00 a.m. CT from the same site location at the State Fair of Texas and network, as well as on SEC Network.
- Fans may bring flags and signs that celebrate the Red River Rivalry for this live show through State Fair gates up until 9:00 a.m. No vulgar signs, .com, .net, .org, political, or religious signs are allowed. They must be discarded in a trash receptacle after the show before enjoying the Fair and/or entering Cotton Bowl Stadium. The State Fair of Texas reserves the right to confiscate and discard inappropriate signage.
- For more details on sign regulations for SEC Nation, please visit https://www.secsports.com/championships/sec-nation#faq.
Cotton Bowl Stadium Renovations
The single largest investment in Cotton Bowl Stadium’s history – an estimated $140 million renovation of the stadium – was completed as part of the project’s first phase last year, ahead of the 2025 Red River Rivalry, with additional phases and investments to come. This phase honors the Stadium’s celebrated legacy and distinctive architecture with sweeping enhancements, elevating the fan experience. While visiting the State Fair of Texas and attending the Allstate Red River Rivalry, you will notice improvements to Cotton Bowl Stadium, including widened concourses and new escalators, increasing fans’ comfort level while entering and exiting the stadium. You will also see renovations to concessions and restrooms, plus an increase in the number of hospitality areas and premium environments, enhancing the speed of service for fans during events. The city also has plans for a second phase of significant renovations to the east side of the stadium in the future.
The University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma have agreed to a contract extension with the City of Dallas and the State Fair of Texas that will keep the historic Allstate Red River Rivalry football game at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas through 2036.
Red River Rivalry Flag Tradition
We’re bringing back a fan-favorite State Fair tradition for a third year: the Red River Rivalry Flag! In addition to the lights on the Top o’ Texas Tower and decorative lighting throughout the fairgrounds – including those illuminating the Hall of State, Tower Building, and along Nimitz Dr. and First Ave. – fairgoers can once again marvel at the massive flag display on the State Fair Midway near the 500-foot-tall Top o’ Texas Tower.
This dynamic tribute celebrates the fierce competition between the University of Texas Longhorns and the University of Oklahoma Sooners. Leading up to the big game, the State of Texas flag will fly proudly in honor of the Lone Star State and its love of college football. Then, once a new winner is crowned and the Golden Hat Trophy awarded, the flag of the victorious team will be raised around 6:30 p.m. to celebrate their win.
Post-Game Festivities
After the game, stick around to enjoy the fun and attractions the State Fair of Texas has to offer.
- Catch DJ Sober on the Bud Light Stage in front of Cotton Bowl Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
- Enjoy fireworks at the Mattress Firm Illumination Sensation at 7:45 p.m. along the Esplanade
- DJ Trae Ned takes the ZiegenBock Stage at the Old Mill at 6:00 and 8:00 p.m.
- Isaac Sloane performs at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on the White Claw Spotlight Stage.
- Headliner Paul Wall performs on the Chevrolet Main Stage in the historic Fair Park Coliseum at 7:45 p.m.
- State Fair Midway rides and games will remain open after the game and throughout the evening for fairgoers to enjoy.
- Note: Buildings close at 9:00 p.m., except the Tower Building, which closes at 10:00 p.m.
- For safety reasons, due to the anticipated large crowd, the nightly Starlight Parade will not occur on Saturday, October 10.
All game tickets include admission to the State Fair of Texas. With more than 100 things to do every day, all included with admission, the State Fair of Texas is the best tailgate experience of the year. The 2026 State Fair runs through Sunday, October 18.