Texas vs OklahomaGolden Hat: The Red River Rivalry Trophy
A bronze ten-gallon hat the State Fair of Texas donated in 1941, now the prize at the Cotton Bowl every October.
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Start a pick'em contestHow the Golden Hat came to be
The State Fair of Texas donated the hat in 1941. The Texas-Oklahoma game had been tied to the fair since the two schools agreed to play in Dallas during the fair starting in 1929.
The trophy was a ten-gallon cowboy hat given a bronze finish, and it was flown to New York for its last bronze coating just days before it was unveiled.
Texas won the first one on Oct. 11, 1941, beating Oklahoma 40-7 at the Cotton Bowl.
By the 1970s the bronze had aged badly, and after a makeover the hat came back gold, which is how the 'Bronze Hat' became the Golden Hat.
The trophy itself. A ten-gallon cowboy hat cast in bronze and later finished in gold, mounted on a wooden base. It started out as the 'Bronze Hat' or 'Brass Hat' and took the name Golden Hat after it was reworked in the 1970s and came back gold.
Golden Hat history
- 1900
First meeting on Oct. 10 in Austin: Texas wins 28-2.
- 1929
The schools sign a contract to play in Dallas during the State Fair of Texas, the arrangement the Golden Hat was later created to honor.
- 1941
The State Fair introduces the bronze hat trophy, and Texas wins the first one 40-7 on Oct. 11.
- 1970
Sometime in the 1970s the tarnished bronze hat is refurbished, comes back gold, and becomes the 'Golden Hat' (exact year not documented).
- 2003
Oklahoma wins 65-13, its largest margin of victory in the series.
- 2022
Texas wins 49-0, its largest margin of victory in the series.
- 2025
Unranked Texas upsets No. 6 Oklahoma 23-6 on Oct. 11 at the Cotton Bowl, sealed by Ryan Niblett's 75-yard punt-return touchdown, and keeps the Golden Hat for a second straight year.
Recent results
| Season | Result | Where |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Texas Longhorns 23, Oklahoma Sooners 6 | Cotton Bowl |
| 2024 | Texas Longhorns 34, Oklahoma Sooners 3 | Cotton Bowl |
| 2023 | Oklahoma Sooners 34, Texas Longhorns 30 | Cotton Bowl |
| 2022 | Texas Longhorns 49, Oklahoma Sooners 0 | Cotton Bowl |
| 2021 | Oklahoma Sooners 55, Texas Longhorns 48 | Cotton Bowl |
Golden Hat facts worth knowing
The Golden Hat did not start out gold. It was the 'Bronze Hat' (also called the 'Brass Hat') until a 1970s restoration left it gold.
Just before its 1941 debut, the hat was flown to New York for a final bronze coating.
The Red River winner actually takes home three trophies: the Golden Hat, a student-exchanged Red River Rivalry trophy (since 2003), and a Governors' trophy traded between the two states' governors. The Golden Hat is the only one handed out on the field.
The game is a neutral-site showdown in Dallas during the State Fair of Texas, with the stadium split between burnt orange and crimson.
Texas entered the 2025 game unranked after losing at Florida, then held No. 6 Oklahoma without a touchdown in a 23-6 win.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Golden Hat?+
The Golden Hat is the trophy Texas and Oklahoma play for in college football, first awarded in 1941. A ten-gallon cowboy hat cast in bronze and later finished in gold, mounted on a wooden base. It started out as the 'Bronze Hat' or 'Brass Hat' and took the name Golden Hat after it was reworked in the 1970s and came back gold.
How did the Golden Hat come to be?+
The State Fair of Texas donated the hat in 1941. The Texas-Oklahoma game had been tied to the fair since the two schools agreed to play in Dallas during the fair starting in 1929.
Who has the Golden Hat right now?+
Texas holds the Golden Hat after winning the 2025 game, Texas 23, Oklahoma 6. The live block on this page updates as soon as the next meeting is played.
Who leads the Texas-Oklahoma series?+
Texas leads the all-time series 65-51-5 as of the end of the 2025 season. In games played for the Golden Hat since 1941, Texas leads 43-40-2.
When is the next Golden Hat game?+
Texas Longhorns play at Oklahoma Sooners on Saturday, Oct 10, 2026 at Cotton Bowl. Odds and the community lean post on the matchup page as the game approaches.
Where can I bet on the Golden Hat game?+
You can bet Texas vs Oklahoma on BettorEdge, a peer-to-peer marketplace where you trade with other bettors rather than a sportsbook, so the price carries no built-in house vig. You can also run a free pick'em contest for the game with your group.
More college football
Records and the current holder are as of the end of the 2025 season; the next-game block and recent results update from ESPN.Sources: en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, en.wikipedia.org, espn.com.
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