Introduction to the Red River Rivalry
One of college football’s great rivalries returns to Dallas on Saturday, and the weather is likely to keep being hotter than normal for mid-October.
The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners will kick off at 2:30 p.m. in the Cotton Bowl — at which point, the National Weather Service expects the temperature in Dallas to be 86 degrees.
The high for Saturday is forecast to be 90 degrees, significantly above normal when compared to the history of Texas-OU games. The average temperature, since the teams started playing every year in Dallas in 1929, is 82 degrees.
Weather Forecast
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D-FW Weather Wise
But multiple games in recent memory have actually been hotter than Saturday is expected to be. Last year’s game day tied with 1953 and 1972 for the hottest Red River Rivalry on record, with a high of 94 degrees. The games in 2013, 2017 and 2021 were also all above 90 degrees.
Temperature Variations
There’s also hope that if you’re sitting in the Cotton Bowl Saturday afternoon, it might feel a little better than the thermometer says. Very low humidity is expected to help the air feel like it’s still in the mid-80s, even if the temperature climbs up to 90.
There’ll be no need to worry about umbrellas Saturday, with the chance of rain at 0% the entire day. A few passing clouds are possible, but most of the time, it should be full sun out on the field.
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Historical Temperature Data
October is usually a month that can experience a lot of temperature variation, but it’s been pretty quiet so far in 2025. Throughout the history of the Texas-OU games, since the matchup became a permanent fixture, 24 game days have had a high at or under 75 degrees. The lowest high on record was in 2000, when it was only 56.
Here’s hoping for a more brisk game day next year.
Update on the Story
Update:
4:18 p.m. This story has been updated with more information about temperatures.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Red River Rivalry is one of the most iconic college football games, and this year’s matchup is expected to be a hot one. With temperatures forecasted to be in the 90s, fans should be prepared for a scorching day at the Cotton Bowl. However, with low humidity and plenty of sunshine, it might not feel as hot as the thermometer suggests. Either way, it’s sure to be an exciting game, and we can’t wait to see what happens.
FAQs
Q: What time does the game start?
A: The game starts at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Q: What is the expected temperature at kickoff?
A: The expected temperature at kickoff is 86 degrees.
Q: Is there a chance of rain?
A: No, there is a 0% chance of rain on Saturday.
Q: What is the average temperature for Texas-OU games in October?
A: The average temperature for Texas-OU games in October is 82 degrees.
Q: What was the hottest Red River Rivalry on record?
A: The hottest Red River Rivalry on record was in 1953, 1972, and 2022, with a high of 94 degrees.
