DALLAS — The Red River Rivalry has been an October spectacle since these two teams started playing each other over a century ago.
This year's meeting will be the 120th time the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the University of Texas Longhorns have faced off. So there's a lot of old hat in store when these two face off.
But there could a new wrinkle when the two take on one another this Saturday, October 12. It could see the game played in hotter-than-ever-seen-before temperatures for the contest.
No, heat like this isn't unheard of in North Texas -- obviously.
On the other hand, it is very late in the season for numbers like these.
The normal high Saturday is 80 degrees. The record for Saturday is 97 degrees set back in 1979.
But how does this stack up to previous high temps when these two teams come together?
The Stats:
Saturday's game kicks off at 2:30 p.m. CT, with our forecast of 93 degrees at that point beating the previous kickoff high of 92 set back in 2017.
As for the hottest it will get at any point during Saturday's game? Our forecast has the high hitting 96 degrees at around 4 p.m. -- which would be a record of its own, topping the previous any-point game-time high of 95 set almost 50 years ago in 1975.
Bottom line
State Fair of Texas officials, for their part, tell us they're keeping close tabs on the situation.
"The State Fair of Texas team has been constantly monitoring the weather outlook leading up to the Red River Rivalry," State Fair of Texas Director of Security Jeff Cotner tells WFAA in a statement. "Safety is our number one priority at the State Fair, so we’ve worked with Dallas Fire Rescue (DFR) to add enhancements out of precaution for tomorrow’s anticipated heat, like increased staffing and additional cooling stations. DFR will have more than 60 paramedics on site accompanied by 10 nurses. DFR will actively monitor and respond if the need to escalate resources even further arises."
If you are headed to the game Saturday, please find ways to stay cool, shaded and hydrated.
Have fun, sure. But, above all, stay safe.