PUEBLO, Colo. – As the Texas Rattlers prepare to defend its home turf in Fort Worth, Texas, this weekend in celebration of Rattler Days Oct. 7-9, the home squad has a pair of regional rivals on the docket for the three-day weekend of explosive bull riding action.

While most fans would jump ahead to Sunday’s in-state showdown between the Rattlers (10-12) and Jose Vitor Leme-led Austin Gamblers (11-11) as the weekend’s potential premier matchup, it’s a Friday night battle with the Oklahoma Freedom (13-9) that’s sure to bring some extra excitement to the already entertaining weekend of action.

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Other than operating in close proximity of its neighbors to the north, why would Rattlers fans want a piece of the Freedom this weekend?

Well, the Freedom happens to hold a perfect 3-0 record over the Gamblers, having picked up wins over Austin on Aug. 12 (174.75-86), Aug. 26 (253-166.50) and most recently on Sept. 17 (90.25-83.25), yet Oklahoma has only posted two more qualified rides than Texas in the teams’ three meetings this season.

Always seeming to get up for his team's matchups this season against the Rattlers, Derek Kolbaba posted the 90.25-point ride at Freedom Fest aboard Schott in the Dark which secured the win for Texas.

Recently coining themselves as the “Hot Boys,” the Freedom arguably also represent the league’s hottest team, as Oklahoma has won 8 of its last 10 games en route to catapulting to the No. 2 rank in the PBR Team Series standings.

Having racked up victories in its last four games and in six of its last seven overall, the Rattlers are riding a bit of a hot streak themselves, looking to continue the fun before an electric Dickies Arena crowd this weekend.

Despite the close matchups, recent successes and star power that each squad brings into Friday night’s matchup, it’s a different, perhaps, more historical, rivalry between the territories that has the clubs, their fans, and everyone throughout the BIG 12 amped.

Enter the Red River Showdown, one of college football’s, and arguably the sporting world’s, biggest, most intense rivalries. Named after the Red River itself, which serves as part of the state line between Northern Texas and Southern Oklahoma, the two territories have long battled over boundary and territorial rights surrounding the river. Increasing concerns arose between the known rivalrous entities when plans for a new bridge were proposed, eventually resulting in the Red River War in 1931.

Originally started in the year 1900, the now-yearly meeting between two of the conference’s historical power houses in the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners continues to attract hundreds of thousands of college football fans to witness one of the season’s most anticipated games in.

Hosted at the Cotton Bowl in the greater Dallas-Fort Worth area, the “neutral” site is located almost exactly halfway between the universities, though still residing in Northern Texas.

Game number 118 is slated to take place Saturday, Oct. 8 just 40 or so miles east of Rattlers Days at Dickies Arena.

A majority of the university-based madness will come after Friday’s PBR Teams matchup between the Rattlers and Freedom, but given this region does it enjoy its football scene, Rattler Days attendees can expect its home team (and perhaps a few others) to show support as the entire circuit leans into the extra attention, crowds and competitiveness coursing through the veins of Texas of this weekend.

While fans will of course be encouraged to support their favorite teams by rocking Rattlers swag, Freedom signs and Gamblers cheers, we wouldn’t be surprised to see some red and orange NCAA-wear scattered throughout Dickies arena this weekend as Rattler Days invades Fort Worth Oct. 7-9.

Back on the football field, the matchup also marks the first time since 1998 where neither Texas nor Oklahoma is ranked heading into the match.

With 117 historical meetings between the schools in the books, the Longhorns hold a slight series advantage over the Sooners, as Texas is 62-50-5 all-time against its BIG 12 rival and enters this weekend’s game favored by a touchdown. Oklahoma, however, has exited the last four heated contests victoriously.

Sooner or later, the Longhorns will get one back, right?

Photo courtesy of Todd Brewer/Bull Stock Media