Dallas Football Classic receives NCAA approval

Today Tom Starr met with Dallas civic leader Pete Schenkel.

The city was searching for college football games to be played in Fair Park with the impending exit of the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic. And Starr had four decades of bowl experience and an idea.

Everything finally came together when the Dallas Football Classic took the last official step Friday toward a Jan. 1 debut. The startup bowl received official certification from the NCAA's football issues committee.

The debut game will feature a Big Ten team facing a representative from the Big 12, which will alternate with Conference USA.

"It was a great relief," said Starr, the game's executive director. "For the first time, I don't have to go bed wondering if this will be done and that will be done. Now I go back to the comfort zone of running a bowl game."

A Friday news conference drew Mayor Tom Leppert, several city council members and other officials.

The addition of the Dallas Football Classic means five college games next season at the Cotton Bowl, which underwent a $57 million upgrade a few years ago. The schedule includes Texas-Oklahoma and Baylor-Texas Tech.

"Just getting a bowl game back in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1 is something thrilling to have," Schenkel said. "Drawing large crowds back to the city for New Year's is such an economic impact. It's a win-win for all."

Starr's to-do list includes hiring staff, securing office space and planning the bowl experience for participating teams. He'll also pursue a title sponsor.

"We've talked to some companies," Starr said. "We don't have anybody ready to sign on the dotted line. We feel our chances are good of securing one."