The Red River Rivalry is one of the most intense rivalries in college football. It goes back over a century as an annual meeting between the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners. The game is traditionally played in neutral territory, as fans of both schools travel to Dallas, Texas to watch the game in the Cotton Bowl.
This rivalry already had one major change in 2024, with both schools moving to the SEC from the Big 12. Now, there has been another major change announced that will impact the Red River Rivalry experience. Read below to find out more about it.
Red River Rivalry Moving to 2:30 P.M. CST Kickoff
According to Brett McMurphy of Action Network, the Red River Rivalry will have a 2:30 p.m. CST kickoff in 2024. Why is this a big deal? Traditionally, the game has had an 11 a.m. CST kickoff time.
This means the kickoff will be moved back by 3.5 hours. So, what does this mean for the Red River Rivalry?
Well, as McMurphy adequately put it, fans attending this game will likely have more time to “prepare” for the game. You can read between the lines on that one.
On top of this, it will likely create a less tolerable weather environment in Dallas. Texas tends to be one of the hottest and most humid states in America. Now, the kickoff is being moved to the peak of the day.
Will This Deter Fans?
Considering this game takes place during the Texas State Fair, it is unlikely this will have a major impact on fan attendance. It is already one of the hardest tickets to acquire in college football. As mentioned above, fans may see this as an opportunity to have a bigger tailgating experience than they have had in years past for this game.
Texas and Oklahoma Moving Forward
A lot of eyes will be on Texas and Oklahoma in 2024. The Red River Rivalry is not the only big game both of these teams will play next season. For both teams, it will be their first season in the SEC.
Because of this, many people argue that 2024 will be the year we truly see how good of programs Texas and Oklahoma are. During the regular season, these teams will have to play powerhouses such as Georgia and Alabama. Considering Texas made the College Football Playoff last season, there will certainly be high expectations for that school in particular.
Get More College Football Content
For more news and trends in the college football world, click here or follow me on Twitter @JohnGalletley.
