The Texas vs Oklahoma Red River Showdown is one of the most storied rivalries in American sports — a border war played annually at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas during the State Fair of Texas that has produced some of college football’s most memorable moments for over a century. Consequently, when the Longhorns and Sooners meet each October, the game commands a national audience and fills the Cotton Bowl with a perfectly split crowd of burnt orange and crimson that makes for one of the sport’s most distinctive visual atmospheres. This guide covers the complete Red River Showdown history.
The Red River Showdown — A Century of Rivalry
Texas and Oklahoma have been playing each other since 1900, with the rivalry taking its modern form at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas in the 1920s. Furthermore, the game’s neutral-site format at the midpoint between Austin and Norman means neither team has a home-field advantage — producing the unique 50-50 crowd split that is immediately recognizable to any college football fan. As a result, the Red River Showdown has produced competitive games across different eras, with both programs winning multi-year stretches that shift the series back and forth.
The Red River Showdown Moves to the SEC
When both Texas and Oklahoma joined the SEC in 2024, the Red River Showdown transformed from a Big 12 rivalry game into an SEC conference matchup. Furthermore, this conference move adds playoff seeding implications to the historical pride stakes of the game — an SEC loss now affects both programs’ paths to the College Football Playoff in ways that a Big 12 game did not. As a result, the 2024 and 2025 editions of the Red River Showdown carry greater competitive weight than any previous version of the rivalry since both schools are now competing for the same SEC championship.
The Cotton Bowl Setting
The Red River Showdown is played at the Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park, Dallas — within the grounds of the State Fair of Texas. Furthermore, the 92,000-capacity Cotton Bowl hosts the perfectly split crowd of Texas orange and Oklahoma crimson that has defined the game’s visual identity for generations. As a result, the Cotton Bowl setting — surrounded by State Fair attractions, the smell of Fletcher’s corn dogs, and the noise of 92,000 competing fan bases — creates an atmosphere unlike any other game in college football.
Series Records and Memorable Games
Oklahoma holds a narrow overall lead in the all-time series that has swung back and forth across different eras. Furthermore, memorable Red River Showdown moments include the 2000 game that clinched Oklahoma’s national championship season, multiple Heisman Trophy-winning performances from both schools, and the emotionally charged games surrounding Bob Stoops’s career and the early Mack Brown era. As a result, the series carries enough historical weight that any particular season’s result adds another chapter to a rivalry with over 120 years of accumulated stakes.
2025 Red River Showdown
The 2025 Red River Showdown will again be played in October at the Cotton Bowl during the State Fair of Texas, now as an SEC conference game. Furthermore, both programs enter each season with national championship aspirations that make the rivalry game a potential SEC West vs SEC East conference defining moment. As a result, the 2025 edition of Texas vs Oklahoma will be one of the most-watched regular season college football games of the year regardless of either program’s record heading into the matchup.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Texas vs Oklahoma game in 2025?
The Texas vs Oklahoma Red River Showdown in 2025 takes place in October during the State Fair of Texas at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. Check texassports.com for the exact date, kickoff time, and television broadcast information.
What is the series record between Texas and Oklahoma?
Texas and Oklahoma have played over 100 times in the Red River Showdown series. The overall series is competitive with both programs winning significant stretches. Oklahoma leads the all-time series by a modest margin through the 2024 season.
Why is the Texas vs Oklahoma game called the Red River Showdown?
The Red River Rivalry gets its name from the Red River that forms the border between Texas and Oklahoma. The game is played annually at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas — neutral ground midway between both schools — during the State Fair of Texas.
What conference are Texas and Oklahoma in?
Both Texas and Oklahoma now compete in the SEC (Southeastern Conference) after joining in 2024. The Red River Showdown is now an SEC conference game rather than the Big 12 rivalry it was for decades.
Who has won more Red River Showdowns — Texas or Oklahoma?
Oklahoma holds a slight overall lead in the all-time Red River Showdown series. However, the series has been highly competitive with Texas winning multiple consecutive stretches. Visit our Texas Sports section for the current series standings.
Follow the Red River Showdown and all Texas football in our Texas Sports section. You can also read our Oklahoma vs Texas companion guide and our Texas State Fair 2025 guide for the annual fair context. Additionally, check the Texas Football Schedule 2025 for the complete Longhorn season.
