OU, Texas ROTC Programs Begin Runs To Dallas

The Reserve Officer Training Corps programs from the University of Oklahoma and the University of Texas began their runs to Dallas carrying game balls for the Sooners-Longhorns matchup on Saturday.

OU head football coach Brent Venables met with the runners before they departed to sign the game ball, and cheer them on as they start the run across the Red River.

The two groups left their respective campuses in Norman and Austin at around 8 a.m. on Wednesday.

The tradition, going on for 26 years now, involves the groups running nearly 200 miles all the way to Dallas.

15 students will run at a time, game ball in hand, before trading off with the next leg of the journey and will continue to trade off back and forth until they reach the Cotton Bowl.

New to this year's run, local law enforcement and first responders will join the runners for the first leg of the journey.