Report: Texas, Oklahoma expected to renew contract with State Fair of Texas for Red River Rivalry site

Texas and Oklahoma will begin a new era of their programs next season, leaving the Big 12 behind and entering the SEC. A bunch of fresh faces will be on the schedule but the Red River duo will continue to serve as familiar foes for each other. The game will continue to be played in a familiar venue as well, with the Cotton Bowl reportedly not going anywhere.

According to Chip Brown of Horns247, Texas and Oklahoma are ‘expected’ to renew their contract with the State Fair of Texas. The long-time home of the Red River Showdown, the SEC will now be home to one of college football’s best traditions.

“#Longhorns and #Sooners expected to renew their contract with the State Fair of Texas, giving the #SEC two of the greatest neutral site rivalry games in college football (along with Georgia–Florida, the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party),” Brown said in a tweet.

Oklahoma athletic director Joe Castiglione revealed conversations have not begun between the two programs and the State Fari but will begin soon. There are no plans to go anywhere else despite constant talks about AT&T Stadium or possibly going home and home.

“We’ll probably start having some conversations (with the State Fair of Texas) soon,” Castiglione said via Brown.

Every year since 1932 has Texas and Oklahoma played at the Cotton Bowl. Austin, Norman, Oklahoma City, and Houston all hosted in the early days of the rivalry but Dallas was set in stone and has been the venue for over 90 years now.

Only once since then have the two not met at the Cotton Bowl, with the Big 12 Championship in 2018 taking place at AT&T Stadium.

There is only one issue when discussing the House that Doak Built — the condition is not exactly great. In order for both Texas and Oklahoma to move forward with the stadium, there are going to ask the City of Dallas to make some improvements.

“We understand playing that game at a stadium with as much history as the Cotton Bowl, that there are certain limitations with regard to fan convenience,” Castiglione said via Brown. “But we always want to try to make it the best we possibly can for the fans.”

A Big 12 logo will be on the Cotton Bowl field for the last time in 2023. Beginning in the 2024 season, there will be a fresh-looking SEC logo on the 25-yard line, signaling a new time in the Red River Showdown.