Cotton Bowl Update: Game still set for 6:30 p.m. after winter weather threats
Despite a fresh round of bitter cold, snow, freezing rain and ice, Cotton Bowl officials plan to proceed with kickoff at 6:30 p.m. tonight at AT&T Stadium.
Barring a dramatic turn of the weather, the national semifinal game between Ohio State and Texas will start on time, according to the Cotton Bowl.
Officials have nervously watched the weather forecast all week, and were hopeful that the worst of a cold front that has effectively closed most of DFW would be gone in time to allow the roads in the area to be safe.
Officials from the Cotton Bowl, ESPN, the city of Arlington, AT&T Stadium, fire and police departments had discussed a variety of Plan B options, which included moving the start of the game to Saturday afternoon, or evening. All parties involved wanted to avoid Plan B, if at all possible.
Pushing back, by a full day, the start time of a major event like this Cotton Bowl creates multiple levels of hassle for everybody involved.
However, Cotton Bowl officials have been assured that “the precipitation is moving out by morning, the temperature will be above freezing and that roads will be in good shape by early afternoon as fans start making their way to AT&T Stadium,” a Cotton Bowl official said early Friday morning.
“We encourage everyone driving to take their time, arrive early and enjoy an amazing CFP Semifinal matchup where it will be 73-degrees and sunny inside AT&T Stadium.”
For fans who plan to attend the game, give yourself plenty of time to drive, and park. This region is not equipped for cold weather, and certainly not “the elements.”
The weather has impacted the price of tickets for a game between two of the biggest blue bloods in the sport. Prices for tickets on the secondary market have dropped all week, with Ohio State fans unable to fly in to DFW because of flight cancellations.
The winner of tonight’s game advances to the national title game, to play Notre Dame, which defeated Penn State in the Orange Bowl on Thursday night. The national title game is Monday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 p.m. in Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
This story was originally published January 10, 2025 at 7:54 AM.
