Greg Sankey assists late kickoffs for Oklahoma vs. Texas | sport

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey is in favor of keeping the Red River Rivalry as an afternoon opener instead of setting an 11 a.m. start time.

“It’s the TV, but yeah,” Sankey said at halftime of OU’s 34-3 loss to Texas. “I think people liked to stay out a little longer during dinner last night, I heard that while walking around. (They would like to) sleep a little longer before heading to the Texas State Fair.”

As of Saturday, the game has been played at 11 a.m. every year since 2017.

Sankey also said it was “rewarding” for Oklahoma and Texas to face each other in the historic rivalry for the first time as members of the SEC. He mentioned that he only took positive things away from the first games that the new conference members played this season.

“It’s all positive, in my experience,” Sankey said of the Sooners and Longhorns’ first experiences in the SEC. “Seeing Oklahoma open on a Friday night felt like an SEC game and was pretty cool for me personally.”

“I’ve spoken before about it being a seamless (transition), I think it’s been smooth. The presidents worked well with their colleagues at the presidential level and also with the athletic directors.”