Texas, Oklahoma rivalry game staying at Cotton Bowl through 2036 - ESPN

Texas and Oklahoma have agreed to extend their historic rivalry game at the Cotton Bowl through 2036, the two schools announced Wednesday.

As part of the deal, the city of Dallas has agreed to an estimated $140 renovation of the aging stadium, which opened in 1930. The Longhorns and Sooners first met at a neutral site at the State Fair of Texas in 1929 and have played every game in the Cotton Bowl since it opened the next year. The rivalry game began in 1900 and the two teams played for the 119th time this season.

In recent years, as teams around the country have played at neutral sites in modern NFL stadiums, there have been questions if Texas and Oklahoma should consider a similar arrangement. But both schools have continuously stated they hoped to remain at the Cotton Bowl in the middle of the state fair, one of the most unique settings in college football.

«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 in a statement. «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. Millions of fans throughout the years have cheered, in-person, for the Sooners or Longhorns on what's become almost sacred ground.»

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

His counterpart at Texas shared similar sentiments.

«There is absolutely nothing like the Allstate Red River