Texas Reportedly Interested in Playing Football Game in Mexico City

Texas athletic director Steve Patterson is eyeing potential neutral-site games outside the United States, including a logical trip south of the border to Mexico City, according to Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman (subscription required).

Zach Barnett of Football Scoop tweeted news of Bohls' report:

So as not to be misleading, Bohls quickly clarified that Patterson is interested not just in Mexico City, but other options beyond it as well:

If it comes to pass, this would be the latest in a trend of globalization for the sport of college football, which has previously been held as a unique and distinctly American entity.

Already Penn State and Central Florida are slated to open the 2014 season in Dublin, Ireland—a game that is suddenly intriguing for both its location and the teams involved.

UCF will be starting the post-Blake Bortles era and playing its first game since winning the Fiesta Bowl, while Penn State will be starting the James Franklin era in style.

Notre Dame played Navy in Dublin two years ago.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

The Pac-12 has also expressed a desire to move the game to the East, starting a globalization initiative to play games far away from the States. Commissioner Larry Scott has targeted China as a potential option and thinks his league will play a game there "at some stage," per Chris Johnson of SI.com.

Still, seeking to play college football outside of the U.S. is considered an out-of-the-box move, especially for an AD who's just three months into his job. Patterson and new head coach Charlie Strong are trying to move this program in a new direction, which makes sense after the stench of the last few seasons.

That being said, Texas already plays the best neutral-field game in football, the Red River Rivalry, against Oklahoma every year. Fortunately, Patterson made it clear that the OU game would not be relocated from the State Fair of Texas.

"No. We're gonna keep playing OU where we are," the athletic director told Bohl, according to Louis Ojeda Jr. of Fox Sports. "Another game? Maybe."

If the Longhorns actually do head to Mexico City, regardless of who they play, it would certainly be cool. No one is denying that.

Let's just hope the city hosts football better than basketball.

Follow Brian Leigh on Twitter: @BLeighDAT