Potential Cotton Bowl delay: Officials weigh in on weather conditions ahead of the thrilling Texas-Ohio State showdown

There's a series of uncertainty ahead of the Cotton Bowl Classic between Ohio State and Texas on Friday night. Weather conditions in Arlington are raising some concerns over the possibility of staging the playoff encounter at the AT&T Stadium at the scheduled time.

At the moment, the Cotton Bowl is still scheduled to proceed as planned, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 10 in Arlington, Texas. However, there's a possibility of a delay due to an impending arctic blast that's expected to sweep through the area.

The bowl game organizers issued a statement addressing the impending weather conditions and the potential impact on the game. They emphasized their commitment to monitoring the situation closely and ensuring the safety and comfort of players, fans and staff as they prepare for any necessary adjustments.

“We are routinely monitoring weather and we are in close contact with AT&T Stadium and local officials,” the statement said.

“We always have plans for inclement weather. Should conditions warrant it, we will communicate to everyone attending and connected with this year’s Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.”

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Forecasted weather conditions for the Cotton Bowl

The National Weather Service forecasts winter weather beginning in Arlington on Wednesday night and continuing through Friday morning. There's a 30% chance of snow showers after midnight on Wednesday, with potential accumulation of up to half an inch of snow.

The snow will intensify on Thursday as the NWS predicted three to six inches of snow for the Dallas metro area on Thursday, just a day before the game. The snowfall is forecasted in broader regions of north-central and northeast Texas, creating some logistic problems.

"Roads, and especially bridges and overpasses, will likely become slick and hazardous," the advisory states. "Travel could be very difficult to impossible. The hazardous conditions could impact the Thursday morning and evening commutes."

According to the website of the John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, at least eight flights were delayed on Tuesday. Further flight disruption is anticipated on Wednesday as the Cotton Bowl Classics draw closer, leaving many fans at risk of missing out on the high-stake College Football Playoff game.