College football fans are in for a chilly night as the University of Texas Longhorns clash with the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Cotton Bowl Classic on Friday. This highly anticipated game, part of the College Football Playoff semifinal, will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The weather, however, is set to steal some of the spotlight. A recent cold snap has swept through North Texas, bringing snow, sleet, and freezing temperatures. While there were initial concerns about the impact on the game, the event is still on with extra safety measures in place.

Governor Greg Abbott has expressed confidence that the weather won’t stop fans from attending. He advised travelers to be cautious, especially with potential ice and snow on the roads. Notably, there were nearly 50% cancellations of flights in and out of DFW International and Dallas Love Field airports on Thursday.

Security is also a top priority following the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans. Nearly 600 miles away, Arlington police are increasing their presence, especially in and around the parking lots at AT&T Stadium. While there are no known credible threats, organizers are taking every precaution to ensure safety.

The stadium has seen its share of winter weather issues, like the infamous Super Bowl XLV ice storm. Since then, the Cowboys have installed ice guards and a heating system on the roof to prevent similar incidents. Whether the cold will dampen the event’s atmosphere remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: dedicated fans will brave the weather to cheer on their teams.

For North Texas fans, the game has local ties to celebrate. Thirty-one alumni from area high schools are part of the Texas roster, including star quarterback Quinn Ewers from Southlake Carroll and linebacker Anthony Hale Jr. from Denton Ryan. Texas is aiming to break through to the national championship game for the first time since 2009.

The game kicks off on Friday night at 6:30 p. m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

Gearing Up for Game Day: Weather and Safety Concerns

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