Halftime for Red River Rivalry traffic

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Red River Rivalry weekend has already started Friday afternoon - with a mass exodus of people expected to fill up northbound I-35 all the way to the home of the Cotton Bowl in Dallas .

The game between the University of Texas Longhorns and University of Oklahoma Sooners this weekend has many people anxious, including law enforcement officials who have increased their highway patrol and those on high-alert watch for drinking and driving.

In an effort to promote sober driving, the UT spirit group Texas Wranglers has set up what it's calling a midway "pit stop" in Waco, Texas , and the group thinks of it as sort of a pregame tailgating event.

"I would like to see 1,000 people come out," said Jason Combs, Texas Wranglers' public relations chairman. "We got a lot of food and a lot of drinks, and it's going to be a shame if we have a lot left over."

The drinks, you ask? Well, they're alcohol-free - among the few are Red Bull energy drinks and water.

"It's a recharge point for those stuck in traffic," said Combs. "As long as everybody's being safe, that's all that we're looking for."

Combs said the pit stop welcomes everyone and will provide music and games, in addition to the alcohol-free beverages.

"Everybody is welcome. It's a good way to come out and show your school spirits," said Combs.

The Wranglers will also be raffling off some 25 Red Bull Soundclash concert tickets for the event in Dallas that will feature an Austin band battling a band from Oklahoma.

You can find the halfway point between Austin and Dallas right off I-35 where the exit ramp deviates from the interstate in the grassy median in Waco, Texas. The setup will be broken down once the sun starts to go down around 8:30 p.m.