Texas State Fair food we would try before the Texas-Oklahoma Red River Shootout

The Red River rivalry is back as this weekend sees No. 1 Texas take on No. 18 Oklahoma in one of the most intriguing games of the weekend in college football.

However, the real battle in Red River this week may not be on the field but at the State Fair of Texas itself, as participants will tackle some of the incredible things on this year's menu.

What would the employees here want? SB Nation Are you most excited to try it out? Let's find out.

And if anyone goes to the State Fair of Texas this weekend and tries one of these, please let us know how it goes!

Fat Bacon Pickle Fries – Mark Schofield

Look, there's a lot on this menu that scares me. As one of the older employees here SB Nation There are several items on this menu that make me worry about my survival.

For example, the Dickel's Triple Meat Big Back Snack will likely end in a visit to a disapproving cardiologist.

However, one dish that I definitely need to try at some point is the Fat Bacon Pickle Fries, courtesy of Isaac Rousso of Taste of Cuba LLC. From the description:

“These deliciously perfect dill pickle slivers are breaded and fried until golden brown. They are lightly dusted with a spicy ranch pepper seasoning. Finally, they are basted with the perfect queso mixture with a touch of heat. As if it wasn’t perfect enough, this masterpiece is topped with thick-cut maple caramelized bacon pieces, sour cream, jalapeños and chives for an explosion of flavor.”

You had me “basted with the perfect queso blend with just a hint of heat,” but you stuck me with the “thick-cut maple caramelized bacon bits.”

Sign me up.

Island Rumble – Jared Mueller

Look, there's a lot on this menu that excites me to no end. Being barely younger than Mark, I have no doubt that much of this would push me to the brink of diabetes, but you can't beat the amazingness of it.

Somehow, despite all the sweet treats, I kept coming back to Island Rumble. Why? In contrast to other bowls, the rumble has a base of mac and cheese. No rice. No noodles. Not acai. No salad of any kind.

Mac and cheese.

Over and beyond:

Juicy, perfectly grilled Jerk Chicken with a juicy flame, marinated in a special pineapple rum jerk marinade. Topped with a tangy homemade pineapple pico salsa and a tangy, spicy jerk crema, every bite is a tropical getaway for your taste buds!

It makes me feel somewhat sane that I'm choosing a high-protein option, but I also know that I'll need that energy to get through the rest of the show. Luckily, I'll be so full that I won't want to eat any of the other things I'll be missing out on if I choose the Island Rumble.

Pork Belly Ceviche Tamales – Matt Warren

If I can only choose one thing, I'd rather choose a dish than a dessert. That's just my style. I'm a big fan of a lot of the meats on the menu, but for some reason the plantains here appealed to me. The crispy pork belly and different textures of this dish really intrigue me. As a New Yorker, it also makes sense to switch to Mexican food.

Caramel Macchiato Donuts – James Dator

I'm not a big fan of sweets in general and would normally prefer something savory, but this thing is just calling my name. My absolute favorite dessert is an affogato, a surprisingly simple scoop of high-quality vanilla ice cream with a shot of espresso. You get your after-dinner coffee hit, there's the hot and cold thing going on and it's perfect.

This Texas State Fair dessert takes it to a whole other level by putting a bunch of caramel in a beignet and giving me a coffee syringe to inject espresso into balls. I'm here for every element of this interactive dessert, and I'll be honest: I have to be highly caffeinated (or drunk) to handle the crowds at a state fair.

Very Berry Coconut Parfairy – David Fucillo

Whenever I go to any trade fair, I always think about dessert. I prefer a good savory option – it's always an easy win with meat on a skewer – but a quality dessert is enough for me. When in doubt, I go for a version with fried dough. But when I looked at the Texas State Fair menu page, I found seven different desserts with whipped cream! I like a wide variety of desserts, but whipped cream is always a solid addition to any sweet treat.

In this case I skipped them because they contained caramel. I've never had as much fun with caramel as some people. Once I did that, it was easy to see the winner. This dessert started with “a delicious lemon cake,” and guys, they had me there. Lemon is by far my favorite dessert. You had me at hello.