A packed 2026 schedule
The Southeastern Conference released its 2026 football schedule this week, unveiling a slate that pits the Texas Longhorns against a mix of traditional rivals and high‑profile non‑conference opponents. The announcement sets the stage for a season that blends home‑field advantage with challenging road trips across the SEC footprint.
Texas will open the year on the road against Texas State on Sept. 5 at 2:30 p.m. CT, a game that will stream on ESPN, before hosting Ohio State two weeks later on Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC. The following weekend, the Longhorns will welcome UTSA at 7 p.m. CT, available on SEC Network+.
The first true test arrives on Sept. 26, when Texas travels to Knoxville to meet the Tennessee Volunteys in the SEC opener. The kickoff is slated for 11 a.m. CT and will be carried by either ABC or ESPN, depending on final broadcast negotiations.
A marquee highlight on the calendar is the Red River Shootout against Oklahoma on Oct. 10. The contest is set for a 2:30 p.m. CT start, again on either ABC or ESPN, promising another chapter in the storied rivalry.
Texas will then host Florida on Oct. 17, with a kickoff window between 11 a.m. and noon CT. A week later, the Longhorns will entertain Ole Miss on Oct. 24, with the game scheduled for either 2:30‑3:30 p.m. or 5‑7 p.m. CT. The following Saturday, Mississippi State visits Austin on Oct. 31, with a 5‑7 p.m. CT window.
The road stretch continues with a trip to Columbia, Mo., to face Missouri on Nov. 7, where the kickoff will fall between 11 a.m. and noon CT. Two weeks later, Texas heads to Baton Rouge to meet LSU on Nov. 14, with a start time slated for either 2:30‑3:30 p.m. or 5‑7 p.m. CT. The regular‑season home finale arrives on Nov. 21 against Arkansas, set for a 2:30‑3:30 p.m. CT kickoff.
The season culminates with the Lone Star Showdown against Texas A&M on Nov. 27. The game will be played at 6:30 p.m. CT and broadcast on ABC, capping a schedule that also features a home matchup against Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss squad and a road test at Eli Drinkwitz’s Missouri team.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian will guide the Longhorns through the campaign, while defensive mastermind Mike Elko, now at Texas A&M, will see his new team oppose Texas in the final conference showdown. The schedule also includes a clash with Lane Kiffin’s Ole Miss, adding another layer of intrigue.