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Before the 122nd edition of the Red River Rivalry could begin, an unusual problem brought a brief halt to proceedings at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. The kickoff between No. 1 Texas (4-0, 1-0 SEC) and Oklahoma (2-2, 0-1) was delayed because multiple pylons were missing from both the north and south end zones. The absence of these essential field markers prompted a hurried search inside the historic venue, with ESPN cameras capturing the empty back corners where the pylons should have been.
Texas' kickoff unit was initially called off the field and gathered in a huddle while Cotton Bowl staff scrambled to locate and install the missing pylons. The replacements were finally put in place just after 2:50 p.m. CT, resulting in a delay of more than five minutes. When play resumed, Texas kicker Gianni Spetic sent the opening kickoff out of bounds, drawing a penalty that gave Oklahoma the ball at the Longhorns' 35-yard line. The Sooners' first drive ended in a three-and-out.
Key Analysis
The incident highlighted the unique nature of the Cotton Bowl, a 96-year-old stadium that hosts football games only infrequently. ESPN play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough pointed out the venue's age and its limited football schedule. While the Red River Rivalry is an annual fixture, the Cotton Bowl Classic postseason game has not been played there since January 2009. The only other college football game on the 2026 schedule at the Cotton Bowl is Prairie View's 21-14 victory over Grambling State in September's State Fair Classic. The pylon mishap served as a reminder of the logistical challenges that can arise at such a historic but sparingly used facility.
Originally reported by yahoo.