Fan Field Guide
College Football event guide

Red River Showdown

The game is at the Cotton Bowl inside the Texas State Fair. Buy fair admission plus a game ticket, and book Dallas hotels as soon as the date is confirmed.

Fan Field Guide Editorial Team / Editorial · Updated August 2026

Fan Field Guide content is researched, written and edited in-house. Named author profiles will be published as the masthead grows. Questions or corrections go to the editorial team through the contact page.

Editorial policy / How we review

Bundle tickets, hotel and flights with BookSeatsAll event guides

Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. Recommendations are made independently of any partnership.

The basics

What this event actually is

When

Second Saturday in October

Where

Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas, Texas

Coverage

National afternoon window at the Texas State Fair

Planning

How to plan the trip

The order that saves the most money and the most stress.

  • Lock the date first. Kickoff windows move, dates rarely do.
  • Book refundable lodging before buying tickets, because rooms sell out faster than seats.
  • Compare seat locations, not just price. Shade, wind and aisle access matter more than a few rows.
  • Confirm the venue bag policy and payment rules before you leave the hotel.
  • Plan the exit. Rideshare pickup zones are usually several blocks from the gates.
BookSeats: Your Seat Is Waiting. Fan travel experiences.
The venue

Cotton Bowl Stadium

Capacity 92,100Opened 1930Dallas, Texas

The historic fairgrounds bowl that hosts the Texas vs Oklahoma rivalry inside the Texas State Fair each October.

  • Fair admission is required in addition to a game ticket; plan the full day.
  • DART rail is the most reliable way to reach Fair Park on game day.
  • Covered seating is limited; afternoon kickoffs can be hot and sunny.
Teams

Programs involved

Watching

If you are staying home

National afternoon window at the Texas State Fair. Our conference viewing guide breaks down which package carries which window, including the streaming options that cover games not on national television.

How to watch guide