Why isn't the Cotton Bowl Classic played at the Cotton Bowl? All you need to know

The Cotton Bowl Classic will pit coach Steve Sarkisian's Texas Longhorns against embattled coach Ryan Day's Ohio State Buckeyes. The Longhorns survived a double overtime scare to get past the Arizona State Sun Devils 39-31 in the Peach Bowl, while the Buckeyes blew out coach Dan Lanning's No. 1 Oregon Ducks 41-21 in the Rose Bowl to reach the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.

The clash that will see Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers face his former team will be held at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, but why is it not being held at the original Cotton Bowl stadium in Dallas?

Why is the Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium?

The Cotton Bowl moved from the stadium in Dallas, Texas, with the same name to the AT&T Stadium in Arlington in 2010 when the Ole Miss Rebels beat the Oklahoma State Cowboys 21-7. The bowl game has been held at the stadium since then.

The weather could also have played a part in moving the bowl game, which was perceived as a cold-weather bowl, to Arlington. Per reports, Dallas' dipping temperatures in January had been a concern, and AT&T Stadium's retractable roof gave more protection.

Why is the Cotton Bowl called the Cotton Bowl?

The Cotton Bowl Classic is a play on the "cotton boll," which is the protective covering of the cotton plant of which Texas is the biggest producer in the country.

What happens if you win the Cotton Bowl?

The winner of the Cotton Bowl Classic in 2018, 2021 and 2024 would proceed to the College Football Playoff championship game. The expanded 12-team playoff has moved the prestigious bowl game to a permanent annual feature alongside the rest of the New Year's Six bowls. The team that wins the Cotton Bowl Classic gets awarded the Field Scovell Trophy.

Ohio State Cotton Bowl history

The Ohio State Buckeyes have featured in the prestigious Cotton Bowl four times in their history and for the second consecutive year.

The Longhorns have the most appearances in the bowl. They have appeared 22 times in the classic and have an 11-10-1 record in that sequence, although the last time they did was on Jan. 1, 2003.

Who sponsored the Cotton Bowl?

Texas businessman J. Curtis Sanford was the first sponsor of the Cotton Bowl in 1936, investing $6,000 of his own money while aiming to recreate the appeal of the Rose Bowl. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company secured sponsorship of the bowl classic in 2014 which was renewed in 2021.

The winner of the clash between the Texas Longhorns and the Ohio State Buckeyes will face the winner of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Penn State Nittany Lions in the national championship game.