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Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Billy Bowman Jr. (2), Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Kip Lewis (10), Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Jaren Kanak (7) and Oklahoma Sooners linebacker Dasan McCullough (1) stop Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks (24) during the Red River Rivalry college football game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. Oklahoma won 34-30. BRYAN TERRY/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

The 'Red River Rivalry' will be a Cotton Bowl staple through 2036

By Andrew Kulha | Last updated 12/7/23

So many things are changing in college football and realignment will end up taking some of the best rivalries in sports from us.

With that said, there's one rivalry — the Red River Rivalry between Texas and Oklahoma — that's not going anywhere anytime soon. Sure, they'll no longer be in the Big 12, but even as SEC foes, the Sooners and Longhorns are expected to do battle for a long time.

And at least through 2036, the spot of their annual matchup will continue to be the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. ESPN is reporting that the two schools have agreed to extend their deal with the Cotton Bowl.

As part of the deal, the city of Dallas will provide renovations to the stadium that will cost an estimated $140M.

Texas and Oklahoma have agreed to extend their contract with the Cotton Bowl through 2036, with Dallas agreeing to $140 million in renovations, including in the 1930 stadium’s cramped concourses, with this rendering of the expected changes. pic.twitter.com/bvTYB48U9p
— Dave Wilson (@dwil) December 6, 2023

"The relationship between the storied Allstate Red River Rivalry and the venerable Cotton Bowl is one-of-kind regardless of sport," Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione said. "Our new agreement guarantees this historic legacy of the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas at the State Fair of Texas will stretch into a second century. There is absolutely nothing like the Allstate Red River Rivalry game, and with all of its history, tradition and pageantry, it needs to stay in the Cotton Bowl," Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte added. "So many memories have been made by generations of fans at the iconic stadium surrounded by the spectacle that is the State Fair of Texas, and we're excited to be continuing that long into the future."

This is a rivalry that goes all the way back to 1900 and it became a neutral field clash when the Sooners and Longhorns met at the State Fair of Texas in 1929.

The Cotton Bowl opened in 1930 and has been the site for the annual Red River Rivalry game for every contest since then.

Some of the upgrades expected for the Cotton Bowl include a widening of the concourses, renovations to concessions and restrooms.

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