So, you’re looking for the Cotton Bowl. Honestly, it’s a bit confusing these days. If you just type the name into a GPS and head toward the giant "Cotton Bowl" sign in South Dallas, you’re going to end up at a very historic, very empty stadium.
Unless it's the second Saturday in October for the Red River Rivalry, that old-school landmark isn't where the big trophy is handed out anymore.
For the 2025-2026 season, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic is played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This isn't exactly "new" news—the game moved there back in 2010—but with the way the College Football Playoff (CFP) keeps shifting its schedule, people get turned around every single year. This year was especially wild because the "2025" Cotton Bowl actually happened twice in the same calendar year. We had the 89th Classic on January 10, 2025, and then the 90th Classic just wrapped up on December 31, 2025.
If you're asking about the game happening right now or the one coming up next in the 2026 cycle, you're looking at the same high-tech "Jerry World" dome in Arlington.
The AT&T Stadium Reality
Let’s get the logistics out of the way. AT&T Stadium is located at 1 AT&T Way, Arlington, TX 76011.
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It’s about 20 miles west of downtown Dallas. If you’re flying in for a game, you’re actually closer if you land at DFW International than if you go to Love Field. The stadium is a beast. We’re talking about a retractable roof, climate control, and that terrifyingly large video board that hangs over the 20-yard lines.
Why does this matter? Because the original Cotton Bowl Stadium in Fair Park is an open-air, natural grass field. AT&T Stadium is a billion-dollar spaceship.
Why the location matters for the 2026 bracket
This year, the Cotton Bowl held a massive amount of weight. It served as a CFP Quarterfinal. On December 31, 2025, the Miami Hurricanes took on the Ohio State Buckeyes right there in Arlington. Miami walked away with a 24-14 win, punching their ticket to the semifinals.
Here is the thing about the Cotton Bowl’s spot in the playoff rotation:
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- It rotates between being a Quarterfinal and a Semifinal.
- In the 2024-25 season, it was a Semifinal (played Jan 2025).
- In this current 2025-26 season, it was a Quarterfinal (played Dec 2025).
- For the upcoming 2026-27 season, it will return to a high-stakes role within the 12-team bracket.
The venue stays the same—Arlington—but the "when" and "why" change based on how the selection committee feeling that year.
The Two-Stadium Confusion
You’ve probably heard people talk about "The Cotton Bowl" and mean the building, not the game. It’s a mess.
The Cotton Bowl Stadium is the one with the Art Deco vibes in Fair Park. It’s where Boomer Sooner and Hook 'Em Horns fans split the stadium 50/50 every October. It’s legendary. It’s also where the 1994 World Cup matches happened and where the 2026 World Cup will see some peripheral action, though the main FIFA matches are headed to... you guessed it, Arlington.
Basically, if it’s a postseason college game with "Cotton Bowl" in the title, go to Arlington. If it’s Texas vs. Oklahoma, go to Dallas.
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What to expect at AT&T Stadium in 2026
If you’re planning a trip for the next iteration of the Classic or any major CFP game there in 2026, keep a few things in mind.
Parking is expensive. Like, "I could have bought a nice steak dinner for this" expensive. Most fans end up parking in satellite lots or using shuttles from nearby hotels. The stadium itself holds about 80,000 for football, but they can jam in 100,000 if they open up the standing-room-only "Party Pass" sections.
The food is also... unique. You’ll find everything from standard nachos to "Cowboys Cheesesteaks" and sometimes even local Texas BBQ that actually tastes like BBQ.
Key Dates for your 2026 Calendar
- Late December 2026: The next Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic will likely fall in the window between Christmas and New Year's Day.
- October 10, 2026: The Red River Rivalry (Texas vs. OU) will be at the old Cotton Bowl Stadium in Dallas.
- Summer 2026: FIFA World Cup matches will take over AT&T Stadium (which FIFA calls "Dallas Stadium" due to sponsorship rules).
Actionable Next Steps for Fans
If you are trying to catch a game at the home of the Cotton Bowl this year, don't wait until the week of the game.
Check the official Cotton Bowl Classic website or the CFP site for ticket releases, which usually happen in tiers. If you’re traveling from out of state, book your hotel in North Arlington or the Las Colinas area of Irving. Staying in downtown Dallas is great for nightlife, but you'll be fighting an hour of traffic on I-30 just to get to the kickoff.
Double-check your ticket's venue name. If it says "AT&T Stadium," you’re heading to the right place for the trophy game. If it says "Cotton Bowl Stadium," grab your burnt orange or crimson gear and get ready for Fair Park.