Texas-Ohio State Cotton Bowl playoff game in doubt as winter storm heads for Dallas area
One of the biggest games of the college football season is now in doubt over a winter storm that is about to descend on the Dallas area, as Texas and Ohio State brace for any changes.
The Dallas Metroplex is expected to receive several inches of snow beginning on Thursday with the Cotton Bowl currently slated to be played at Arlington's AT&T Stadium at 6:30 p.m. local time on Friday.
The game doubles as a College Football Playoff Semifinal in the first year of the 12-team playoff. And while AT&T Stadium is an inside venue, the roads surrounding Jerry World may be unsafe to travel on.
'We continue to monitor weather reports, and over the last 24 hours, the forecast for later this week has improved according to the National Weather Service,' a statement from Cotton Bowl representatives said.
'We have been meeting routinely with city officials, the Director of Transportation for North Texas and the College Football Playoff. Should the forecast shift, we are prepared for contingencies.'
'North Texas highways are already being brined and plans are in place to ensure a safe environment for everyone in and around AT&T Stadium on game day.'
The Cotton Bowl between Texas and Ohio State is still slated to be played on Friday evening
The Dallas area is preparing for a winter storm that could end with several inches of snow
The game will likely be attended of up to 80,000, creating quite the traffic jam for a post-winter storm crowd, even if roads and cleared and treated properly.
The entire state of Texas has struggled for decades to deal with winter storms, with Dallas being one of the biggest hubs in the Lone Star State.
The 2021 power crisis underlines challenges that could be ahead for those Buckeyes and Longhorns in town, where 4.3million Texans were without power for days, while millions of others did not have drinking water due to frozen pipes.
That is the same winter storm where US Senator Ted Cruz fled his home state for Mexico and stayed in a luxury hotel, while leaving the family's dog at home in the cold.
After being universally panned for leaving and having many requests for him to resign, Cruz returned to the United States to help with the recovery efforts..
Making sure a sporting event goes on as scheduled would not take precedent over Texas' recovery efforts to take care of its own residents.
There is some wiggle room for the game to take place, as the national championship is not until January 20.
