2026 Schedule Watch: Texas Gets Two ABC Prime-Time Games While Red River Kickoff Remains TBA
The first wave of 2026 college football TV windows has clarified part of Texas’ national schedule, but it has not answered the question Red River fans care about most: when exactly will Texas and Oklahoma kick off at the Cotton Bowl?
As of May 20, 2026, the verified answer is simple: the 2026 Red River Rivalry is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026, at Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas, but the kickoff time and TV network remain TBA.
What Changed on May 12
Texas announced on May 12 that two 2026 football games had been selected for ABC prime time: the Longhorns’ matchup with Ohio State and the road game at Texas A&M. Both were listed for 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC.
That matters for Red River because it confirms broadcasters have started placing marquee 2026 games into national windows. It also confirms that Red River was not part of that specific announcement. Until the SEC, ESPN/ABC, Texas, or Oklahoma releases the October 10 window, the site should treat all kickoff-time claims as unconfirmed.
What Is Confirmed for Red River 2026
The core facts are stable across official and independent sources:
- Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026
- Venue: Cotton Bowl Stadium, Dallas
- Fair window: State Fair of Texas runs September 25 through October 18, 2026
- Conference context: Texas and Oklahoma meet as SEC opponents
- Kickoff time: TBA
- TV network: TBA
That last pair is important. The Red River Rivalry has often landed in a major national TV window, but past patterns are not a substitute for a 2026 announcement.
Why the Window Matters
For fans, kickoff time changes almost everything: DART timing, hotel checkout plans, State Fair strategy, pregame food, sun exposure, and ticket-market behavior. A morning kick creates a very different day than an afternoon or prime-time game.
For the teams, the window also shapes the national stage. Texas already has two ABC prime-time dates on the board. Oklahoma’s schedule contains multiple national-brand opponents. A Red River window announcement will say a lot about how television partners view the 2026 version of the rivalry after both teams finished 10-3 in 2025.
2025 Context Still Matters
Texas won the 2025 Red River Rivalry 23-6, then finished 10-3 and No. 12 in the final AP poll. Oklahoma also finished 10-3, reached the College Football Playoff first round, and closed No. 13 in the final AP poll.
That gives the 2026 matchup a clean national hook: two top-15 finishers, both in the SEC, both with playoff-level expectations, meeting at a neutral site during the State Fair.
Source check
This update was checked against multiple sources before publication:
The next meaningful update will come when the SEC/ESPN television window or the schools announce the official kickoff time. Until then, October 10 is confirmed; the hour is not.
