Longhorn Nation,
Oh, WHAT A DAY IT WAS ON THE FORTY ACRES — after eight months without football, we were together again, and how sweet it was! Good golly, it was a scorcher, but y’all weathered the heat and brought the juice for our Longhorns. The sun was beamin’, the stands were rockin’ and the Horns were rollin’! All through the pregame festivities and from The Eyes to The Eyes, the Texas Fight was in full force, and we are so incredibly grateful for each and every one of you who were here with us and tuned in worldwide. The Eyes of Texas were certainly upon us — with nearly 103,000 in the stands — and Coach Sark and our Horns put on a show!
And that was just the opening act!! HERE WE GO AGAIN this week with the GameDay crew firing up the day bright and early on the LBJ Lawn, pregame experiences commencing at 11 a.m., and then it’s on to S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y night under the lights (and stay tuned for all the fun that will come with that!) and a prime-time top-three matchup with No. 1 Ohio State (6:30 p.m. CT/ABC). Big stage. Bright lights. Two college football heavyweights. Let’s do this.
Under the Lights🤘
Texas vs. Ohio State
Sat 9.12 | 6:30 PM CT | ABC
Presented by Huntington Bank pic.twitter.com/gRolPNeZBL
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 7, 2026
Back to that game and the SENSATIONAL PERFORMANCE FROM OUR NO. 3-RANKED LONGHORNS in an emphatic 59-7 triumph over Texas State. Sark and the offense were all gas, no brakes! Arch was throwin’ darts and droppin’ dimes with 300-plus yards and four TD passes. The three musketeers of Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V combined for more than 200 yards receiving and three TDs. The defense forced three turnovers and had two fourth-down stops that we turned into 35 points, led by the heat seeking missile that is Rasheem Biles (call him Raheem — the “s” is silent but his game isn’t!) with an interception and forced fumble that was returned by Graceson Littleton 59 yards for a score. Coach Muschamp — or Coach Boom, as he’s affectionally known — has got the guys playing with their hair on fire, and wow, is that fun to watch. Boom, indeed! Now it’s on to Week Two and Ohio State — an epic early-season showdown (shoot, it’s the sixth meeting between the two programs, and they’ve all been top-10 matchups, four of them top-5 matchups). I-I-I..I just can’t wait! We’ve got a date for Saturday, and there’s no place we’d rather be. We’ll see you on the Forty all the livelong day!
Saturday Scenes 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/6xSyX62X4c
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 5, 2026
Before we get too far into this week, I’ve got to give a huge shoutout to our incredible campus leaders, the Denius Family, and all those amazing donors who paved the way for us to build our phenomenal new indoor facility — the FRANK AND WOFFORD DENIUS TEXAS FOOTBALL TRAINING COMPLEX. Teamwork makes the dream work, and we are beyond grateful for the leadership and support of our Chairman of the UT System Board of Regents Kevin Eltife and President Jim Davis. With them right there by our side, we had our ribbon-cutting ceremony and unveiling last Friday, and what a joy it was to show off our new digs. And boy, are those some digs! It truly is a game changer for our football program and all our student-athletes who will enjoy the convenient parking garage constructed for them right below. What starts here changes the world, my friends, and with facilities like these, we’re providing the resources for our student-athletes to do just that. So, thank you, thank you, thank you, Longhorn Nation, for your endless support. Y’all continue to make the extraordinary possible.
The Frank and Wofford Denius Texas Football Training Complex is officially open, and it is breathtaking. It’s the kind of world-class training environment our student-athletes deserve.
Thank you to Chairman Eltife and our Board of Regents, our Texas Athletics leaders, the… pic.twitter.com/bZL489fyAF
— Jim Davis (@JimDavis_UT) September 4, 2026
You can read about all the happenings on this football Saturday in the rest of the notes, but we’ve got lots more Longhorn action on the Forty and beyond this week. Soccer, who entered the national rankings at No. 19 earlier today, earned its first ranked win under Coach Bates with Sunday’s 1-0 victory at No. 19/14 TCU and will take a 5-1-1 record on the road to Fayetteville for its SEC opener on Thursday (8 p.m. CT/SEC Network). Volleyball heads to Big D to take on SMU on Wednesday (8 p.m. CT/ACC Network) before returning to the ATX for a big-time matchup of perennial powers with Wisconsin in a special match at Moody Center on Sunday (2 p.m. CT/ESPN). Cross Country and Golf are in action, too, and don’t forget to get your tickets today for next week’s Class of 2026 Hall of Honor induction ceremony (Friday, Sept. 18 at 7 p.m. CT). So, wherever you turn, there are Horns in action! IT’S ALL LONGHORNS, ALL THE TIME, so let’s get those Horns Up!
a look at the week ahead 🤘#HookEm | @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/MuTlgXj9sG
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 7, 2026
Nike Partners (again) with Longhorn Student-Athletes through Blue Ribbon Elite NIL Program
We had some big-time news to share yesterday in the NIL space! Nike and The University of Texas announced the addition of 13 top Longhorn student-athletes to Nike’s Blue Ribbon Elite NIL program, marking our second class — we’re proudly calling this group “Volume 2” — of Texas athletes joining Nike Blue Ribbon Elite. A first-of-its-kind initiative that focuses on the future of sport and athlete branding, Blue Ribbon Elite reimagines the NIL space by providing leading athletes an unmatched level of collaboration and engagement with Nike. Joining Nike’s growing roster of over 60 elite NIL athletes are our group of 13 student-athletes that represents eight different sports and includes Sam Cozart (Baseball), Lily Davis (Beach Volleyball), Linkin Garcia (Baseball), Elizabeth Ionescu (Women’s Tennis), Rex Maurer (Men’s Swimming), Mariah Maxwell (Women’s Track and Field), Mia Maxwell (Women’s Track and Field), Oliver Ojakaar (Men’s Tennis), Anthony Pack Jr. (Baseball), Adrian Rodriguez (Baseball), Katie Stewart (Softball), Isa Torres (Softball), and Phoebe Wise (Rowing). I’m so thrilled for our student-athletes involved, and we’re beyond thankful to Nike for extending this great opportunity to us and for our longstanding relationship with them.
the next chapter starts here. Introducing Nike Blue Ribbon Elite, Vol. 2 🤘#HookEm | #TeamNike pic.twitter.com/y2UGHr4oNR
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 7, 2026
Download your tickets and parking passes NOW and know your entry gate
With a packed house expected Saturday night, a little preparation will go a long way toward getting everyone into DKR quickly and smoothly. Please download your mobile ticket(s) and parking permits to your phone before you head to campus and be sure to check the designated entry gate listed on your ticket. Entering through that gate provides the most direct route to your seat and will help us keep lines moving throughout the stadium. As a reminder, only fans whose tickets list Gate 4 or Gate 5 will be able to enter through those gates on the west side of DKR. Have everything downloaded and ready to scan before you reach the gates, then get inside early and help us build an incredible atmosphere well before kickoff!
Make your plan to get to AND from the Forty Acres!
We’re expecting a tremendous crowd on campus throughout the day Saturday, so now is the time to make your gameday travel plan. Whether you’re joining us bright and early for College GameDay or arriving later in the afternoon, give yourself plenty of time and know your route to and from the Forty Acres before leaving home. With ongoing construction along I-35 and increased traffic surrounding this huge gameday, visit TexasLonghorns.com/Parking in advance for individualized parking and traffic-flow maps and the latest updates. Plan ahead, arrive early and leave the driving stress behind — there’s way too much happening on the Forty Acres to miss a minute of it!
Finding your way around football gamedays just got a whole lot easier!
We’re always looking for ways to make your gameday experience even better, and I’m excited for y’all to check out our brand-new interactive 3D gameday map that launched last week! Whether you’re trying to find your seats, track down a specific concession item, locate the nearest restroom or water station, or figure out where to find your next stop on Bevo Blvd, Longhorn City Limits, Smokey’s Midway, Big Bertha’s Bazaar or Hook ‘Em Hangout, it’s all right there at your fingertips. The map also connects directly with our new Fan Journeys program, making it easier than ever to find all the experiences on your Families, Explorers or Essentials track. Be sure to have it ready before Saturday by downloading the Texas Longhorns app presented by Huntington Bank or visiting TexasLonghorns.com/DKRmap. We’re just getting started with this new tool, and I think it’s going to be a terrific resource for Longhorn Nation all season long!
explore DKR like never before 🗺️📍
access our new interactive 3D map on the Texas Longhorns App or at https://t.co/aFoLSPZdJ9! pic.twitter.com/u7nZLlrFwE
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 5, 2026
Hydration starts NOW, so plan ahead for Saturday!
We felt the Texas heat last Saturday, and with another full schedule of activities ahead of us this week, don’t wait until you arrive on gameday to start hydrating! Drink plenty of water in the days leading up to the game and continue hydrating before, during AND after Saturday’s festivities. Once inside DKR, we’ll have 19 FREE “water monsters” located throughout the stadium. And remember, every fan is permitted to bring one factory-sealed plastic bottle of water up to one liter into the stadium. Take care of yourselves and your fellow Longhorns, use the resources we have available throughout DKR, and let’s stay cool, hydrated and ready to bring that Texas Fight all night long!
Longhorn Nation!
Game day is going to be a hot one! Please make sure that you begin hydrating before, during, and after the game!
Here are all the locations you can find our free water stations on gameday! pic.twitter.com/MB7qZPcjin
— Texas Fan First (@TexasFanFirst) September 3, 2026
ESPN College GameDay is BACK on the Forty Acres!
Longhorn Nation, ESPN College GameDay is coming back to the Forty Acres for the first time since 2024, and we need y’all out in full force! College football’s premier pregame show will broadcast LIVE from the LBJ Lawn from 8-11 a.m., and admission is b. Break out your Burnt Orange, bring your best signs and come ready to show the entire country what makes the Burnt Orange and White so special! Want to get right in the middle of the action? The College GameDay Fan Pit opens at 5:30 a.m., and we’ll have FREE Whataburger Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits and Celsius energy drinks for our earliest-arriving fans while supplies last. Fans with gameday parking permits can begin parking at 5 a.m., so set those alarms, grab your crew and get here early.
All of our pregame experiences open at 11 a.m. following ESPN College GameDay
What a day we have ahead of us, Longhorn Nation! Once ESPN College GameDay wraps up on the LBJ Lawn, we’re throwing open the doors to the nation’s best pregame experience with Bevo Blvd pres. by H-E-B, Smokey’s Midway pres. by Conecuh Sausage, Hook ‘Em Hangout and Big Bertha’s Bazaar at Moody Center all opening at 11 a.m. That gives y’all more time than ever to soak up everything that makes a Texas Football gameday so special! Shop exclusive Longhorns gear, grab some great food and drinks, bring the Little Longhorns out for all the family fun, catch photo ops with Big Bertha and Smokey the Cannon, and then stick around as the energy builds throughout the afternoon. And one activity I can’t wait to see is the new Smokey’s Cannonball Derby that will be located at the top of the hill on the Midway. It’s going to be an all-day celebration on the Forty Acres, so get here early and enjoy every minute of it!
Line Bevo Blvd and bring the energy for the Bevo Parade and Stadium Stampede!
There are few sights better than a packed Bevo Blvd, and we need Longhorn Nation out in full force Saturday afternoon! The Big Guy will make his grand entrance alongside Texas Cheer, Texas Pom, the Longhorn Band and Hook ‘Em during the Bevo Parade pres. by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance at 3:30 p.m. Then, it’s time to turn that energy up another notch as Coach Sark and the Horns arrive for the Stadium Stampede at approximately 4:15 p.m. Wear that Burnt Orange and White, get loud and let’s give Bevo and our team one heck of a Texas welcome before they head into DKR!
Robert Earl Keen and Shinyribs take over Longhorn City Limits this Saturday!
What a day we have in store at Longhorn City Limits presented by Hollister! We’re thrilled to welcome a true Texas music treasure in Robert Earl Keen to the LBJ Lawn, along with one of Austin’s absolute favorites, Shinyribs, as we get Longhorn Nation ready for our primetime showdown. The lawn opens at 2 p.m., Shinyribs gets things rolling at 3 p.m., and Robert Earl Keen takes the stage at approximately 4:30 p.m., and as always, admission is FREE! Be sure to check out the Tito’s Tailgate, a special Bulleit 87 experience at the Bulleit Frontier Lounge, Pinkerton’s BBQ and happy hour pricing while you’re there. And the fun doesn’t stop at kickoff! Fans without game tickets can stick around for our official Texas-Ohio State fan watch party on the giant LED screen, and after the game, we’ll keep it rolling with our fan-favorite Silent Disco featuring three live DJs. It’s going to be one heck of a day on the LBJ Lawn, so come early, stay late and enjoy it all with us!
a legend takes the LCL stage this Saturday 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/lRbPnbqEie
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 7, 2026
Fresh product drops and gameday exclusives await at Big Bertha’s Bazaar!
Once ESPN College GameDay wraps up on the LBJ Lawn, head on over to Big Bertha’s Bazaar at Moody Center, where the doors open at 11 a.m. with another incredible lineup of limited-edition Longhorns gear! This week’s drops include new looks from Nike, Stewart Simmons, lululemon and True Brvnd, along with so many more. While you’re shopping, grab this week’s Peach Margarita or Cherry Limeade from the Bazaar Bar and try the Smoked Sausage Dog on a pretzel roll. From College GameDay straight to the Bazaar, we’ve got plenty to keep the party rolling all afternoon before we head to DKR!
A reminder of all the great food, value and convenience waiting for you at DKR!
As you make your plans for Saturday, don’t forget we’ve got plenty of great options waiting for you inside DKR! Our Fan First Menu is back for a ninth season with the same prices we’ve had since the program began, including $3 bottled water, candy and popcorn, $4 hot dogs and peanuts, and $5 nachos and bottled Coca-Cola products. And if you haven’t tried some of this season’s new additions yet, be sure to check out the Footlong Brisket Nacho Dog, Big Tex Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dog, Cake Cups and Dirty Sodas, along with specialty cocktails featuring Verdadero Tequila, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Bulleit Bourbon.
And remember, we’re continuing to make it easier to find what you’re craving and get back to the action. Use our new interactive map to locate your favorite food and beverage items, and look for one of our 105 self-checkout units, the most of any college stadium in the country! Don’t forget to snag your new gameday YETI designs before they’re gone. Come hungry, enjoy all DKR has to offer and get yourselves fueled up to bring that Texas Fight all night long!
View the full list of concessions locations here.
Here’s your complete Saturday schedule
• 5 a.m. – Parking Lots open
• 5 a.m. – FREE Whataburger Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits and Celsius energy drinks for fans waiting in line for ESPN College GameDay
• 5:30 a.m. – Fan Pit opens for ESPN College GameDay from the LBJ Lawn.
• 8 a.m. – ESPN College GameDay LIVE broadcast from the LBJ Lawn. FREE admission!
• 8 a.m. – Tito’s Tailgate and Bulleit Frontier Lounge open at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister
• 11 a.m. – Bevo Blvd pres. by H-E-B, Smokey’s Midway pres. by Conecuh Sausage, and Hook ‘Em Hangout open
• 11 a.m. – Big Bertha’s Bazaar opens on Moody Center Plaza. Get there early for exclusive drops from Nike, Stewart Simmons, True Brvnd, lululemon, and more!
• 11 a.m. – Hook ‘Em Herd (pres. by Dick’s Sporting Goods) signups begin for kids ages 7-12 across from Gate 1 on Bevo Blvd (spots available on first-come, first-served basis)
• 11 a.m. – Get photo ops with Big Bertha and check out Big Bertha’s Bazaar
• 2:30 p.m. – Huntington Bank Gate Ticket Resolution opens for mobile ticket support
• 3-4 p.m. – Shinyribs LIVE at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister
• 3:30 p.m. – Texas Exes Tailgate opens at Alumni Center for Texas Exes members
• 3:30 p.m. – Sports Radio AM 1300 AM The Zone Longhorn Gameday Pregame Show LIVE at Hook `Em Hangout begins
• 3:30 p.m. – Bevo Parade pres. by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance on Bevo Blvd (fans line up at 3:15 p.m. at South Entrance on Bevo Blvd)
• 3:30 p.m. – ShopBack Gate and ShopBack Gate Ticket Resolution opens for Big Ticket holders with student tickets
• 3:30-4:30 p.m. – Track & Field autographs on Bevo Blvd across from Gate 5
• 3:45 p.m. – Photo ops with Hook `Em and friends at Hook `Em Hangout
• 4:15 p.m. – Stadium Stampede team arrival on Bevo Blvd (fans line up at 4 p.m. at North Entrance on Bevo Blvd)
• 4:30-5:30 p.m. – Robert Earl Keen LIVE at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister
• 4:30 p.m. – LLH Gate Ticket Resolution opens for mobile ticket support
• 4:30 p.m. – All stadium gates and Longhorn Foundation hospitality areas open
• 5:30 p.m. – Longhorn Band March to the stadium (starts on Robert Dedman Drive near Longhorn City Limits)
• 6 p.m. – Bevo Blvd, Smokey’s Midway, Hook ‘Em Hangout and Big Bertha’s Bazaar close
• 6:30 p.m. – Kickoff vs. Ohio State!
• 6:30 p.m. – Fan Watch Party at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister
• Halftime – Longhorn Band Halftime Show
• Postgame – Silent Disco
For a full list of activities and everything you want to know about all-things gameday, please visit our Football GameDay headquarters page.
Hook ‘Em Horns,
P.S. — Always love seeing Longhorn Legend Bijan Robinson back on the Forty!
Legend on the Forty🤘 pic.twitter.com/fGOZRFbZvH
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 5, 2026
P.S. — Congrats to our SEC weekly honorees!
.@Rasheembiles making himself at home in the SEC 😤 pic.twitter.com/ujQe13IEOU
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 7, 2026
she did it again! @baylissflynn is the SEC Defensive Player of the Week🤘🧤#HookEm pic.twitter.com/tOSJT1YCIR
— Texas Soccer (@TexasSoccer) September 7, 2026
P.S. — So great to have the support of Michael Dell!
Texas Studios Powered by @Dell is raising the game at @UTAustin powering sports broadcasting, student learning and fan experiences. #Hookem🤘 pic.twitter.com/0en9aJT8SQ
— Michael Dell 🇺🇸 (@MichaelDell) September 4, 2026
P.S. — The BEST atmosphere in college volleyball!
oh it’s a party at Greg tonight🤘🕺#HookEm pic.twitter.com/VRc4zoke7c
— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) September 3, 2026
P.S. — Talk about a pair of Longhorn Legends!
the GOAT is back on The Forty 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/An76k6UNgE
— Texas T&F/XC (@TexasTFXC) September 5, 2026
HEADLINES:
Video: Steve Sarkisian press conference (Sept. 7):
Video: Football player game week press conference (Sept. 7):
Video: Texas & Os Season 2, Episode 1 featuring Steve Sarkisian, Marcus Spears Jr., and John Meredith III:
Cross Country sweeps Floyd Farms Invitational:
Texas Lottery Veteran Recognition: Jeffrey Alford: