It's early October, which means Texas and Oklahoma are about to play football at the Cotton Bowl. But the rivalry matchup isn't the only big event going down in Dallas this weekend.
It's also time for the State Fair of Texas.
Of all the hallowed traditions in college football, the intrinsic mingling of Texas-Oklahoma and the 24-day-long fair ranks near the top. Tailgating is the fabric of the sport, but how often can one say they've tailgated in the company of a Ferris wheel, gondolas, an auto show and a 55-foot-tall cowboy?
Of course, football comes first for the thousands making the trek for the Red River Rivalry. But it's simply narrow-minded to not go and get a sampling of the State Fair of Texas' mélange as well.
Not familiar with the state fair bonanza and heading to Dallas for the big game? Fear not. ESPN's college football staff has multiple veterans of the event on hand, whom we polled for their best tips on making the most of one of the sport's most distinctive backdrops.
You've just arrived at the fairgrounds. What's your first stop?
If I'm working ... it's a Fletcher's Original Corny Dog. If not, a light beer might never taste better than out of one of the traditional wax cups during a stroll through the fairgrounds before kickoff. There's crimson and burnt orange in every direction; anxiety, tension, anticipation and the crushing smell of fried food hovering in the air. And in your cup, there's an overpriced, questionably poured light beer that tastes like fall and hope. -- Eli Lederman
We can't all answer a Corny Dog on all of them, whether it's the right answer or not. But it's also important to strategize on when to get your Big Tex selfie -- or better yet, to find a friendly stranger to grab one of you and your group for the full frame. You have to get the right angle, find a spot where 12 people don't walk between the camera and the subjects before you take it, and then nail it. It's the perfect way to start your day. Howdy, folks. -- Dave Wilson
What's the one food a first-time guest needs to try before they leave?
Fletcher's Original Corny Dogs. According to legend, brothers Neil and Carl Fletcher invented the corn dog and debuted at the Texas State Fair in 1942, selling them for 15 cents apiece. Over time, the two perfected the recipe. You will never eat a better corn dog. And their stand is just a few yards from the Cotton Bowl entrance. -- Jake Trotter
Trotter is spot-on with the iconic Corny Dog. It's a classic. But, so long you're not worried about spoiling your appetite for the rest of the day, you will not go wrong with another staple, a smoked turkey leg. Struggling to find a turkey leg stand? Just look up. The clouds of smoke coming off the grills are your North Star. -- Eli Lederman
The classics are great, but the new foods list is deep this year as well. Anything catch your eye?
Out of sheer (and perverse) curiosity, it's got to be the Spicy Carbonara Ramen Korean Corn Dog. -- Eli Lederman
To balance out the spiciness of Eli's choice, I'll go with a more sweet-tooth-friendly option: the Dirty Dr Pepper Do-Si-Do Float -- J.J. Post
If you can only do one thing before heading into the stadium, it has to be ______?
How many other college football blue bloods play their most hated rival at the heart of a state fair each year? There's simply no other rivalry game like this one, so take it all in. Invariably, you will at some point find yourself standing in a sea of Oklahoma and Texas fans somewhere on the outskirts of the Cotton Bowl. Absorb in the scene before you, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment before one of the most tense rivalries in college football resumes. -- Eli Lederman
The auto show was always a big hit in our family. Buildings full of cars with kids -- and adults acting like kids -- climbing in and out of all the shiniest new models. -- Dave Wilson
If you want to take it ALL in, get in line and fork over the 20 coupons for the Texas Star and go for a ride that you won't forget. The iconic 212-foot Ferris wheel -- billed as the largest traditional Ferris wheel in North America since it opened in 1985 -- gives its passengers a bird's-eye view of the intermingling of the burnt orange and crimson masses outside the Cotton Bowl and throughout the midway. And if you stick around long enough after the game as the sun goes down, maybe go for a second pass to catch the illuminated Dallas skyline as well as the neon glow from the fairgrounds below. -- Scott Noll
Anything else a first-time attendee should know?
Pace yourself. You might want to roll out like Guy Fieri and hit all the stops, but that'll do some damage to your wallet (and your stomach). So will the adult beverages. It's a long day. This scene is overwhelming with so many fans of both teams, but it's such a unique setting that they play nice for the most part, at least before the game. Plan ahead for food stops, as lines for this year's hot items will be long and you'll need strategy to plot out each move. Then enjoy being part of the scene in one of college football's greatest rivalries in the greatest sport. -- Dave Wilson