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Second-year NFL running back and former Longhorn Bijan Robinson rushed for 1,456 yards and scored 14 rushing touchdowns, 10 more than in his rookie season with the Atlanta Falcons. He also caught 61 passes for 431 yards and a score to post one of the most productive seasons by a Longhorn in recent memory.<\/p>\n
Todd Kirkland\/Getty Images<\/p>\n
The NFL has released its full schedule for the coming 2026 season. Over the past few years, the schedule reveal has become a holiday of sorts for football fans that’s complete with team-produced videos and instant breakdowns.<\/p>\n
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But is any of that annual schedule analysis done through a burnt-orange lense? Here’s a notable game from each week of the upcoming NFL season that will feature former Longhorns:<\/p>\n
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Week 1: A Super rematch<\/p>\n
Patriots at Seahawks: In this Super Bowl LX rematch, defensive lineman Byron Murphy II and punter Michael Dickson will still be playing significant roles for the defending champs while Brenden Schooler does his thing on special teams for the Patriots.<\/p>\n
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Texas running back Jonathon Brooks was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday, breaking a 28-year drought since the Panthers last selected a Longhorn. The New York Jets have the league’s longest Texas draft drought: 44 years.<\/p>\n
Ricardo B. Brazziell\/American-Statesman<\/p>\n
Week 2: Loaded backfields of Horns<\/p>\n
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Nov 12, 2023; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) celebrates with wide receiver KhaDarel Hodge (12) after scoring a touchdown in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.<\/p>\n
Matt Kartozian\/USA Today<\/p>\n
Panthers at Falcons: If Carolina running back Jonathon Brooks is healthy, this game will feature two talented Texas running backs. Before he was a star in Atlanta, Bijan Robinson was a Doak Walker Award winner for the Longhorns. Brooks rushed for 1,139 yards at UT in 2023.<\/p>\n
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Week 3: All eyes on Jaydon Blue<\/p>\n
Ravens vs. Cowboys: As the NFL heads south to Rio de Janeiro, will former Texas running back Jaydon Blue be able to make a splash after a quiet rookie season? Ex-Texas defensive standouts DeMarvion Overshown and P.J. Locke also will try to help the Cowboys win in Brazil.<\/p>\n
Week 4: Notable feet<\/p>\n
Chargers at Seahawks: Texas fans who are also enthusiastic about special teams won’t want to miss a game that pits Dicker the Kicker (San Diego’s Cameron Dicker) against the Punter (Seattle’s Dickson).<\/p>\n
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Week 5: Red River Rivalry, NFL style<\/p>\n
Buccaneers at Cowboys: During Red River Rivalry week, it’s only appropriate that longtime Longhorns heel Baker Mayfield will be in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to face the Cowboys, Overshown and Locke.<\/p>\n
Week 6: New York Horns<\/p>\n
Jets at Patriots: The New York Jets haven’t drafted a Longhorn since 1980, but that doesn’t mean the franchise is allergic to Texas players. The Jets added defensive linemen Joseph Ossai and T’Vondre Sweat this offseason and traded for wide receiver Adonai Mitchell last November.<\/p>\n
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Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) watches his teammates warm up from the sidelines ahead of the Lone Star Showdown, the rivalry match-up between the Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal\u2013Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Nov. 28, 2025.<\/p>\n
Sara Diggins\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
Week 7: Hill and Helm<\/p>\n
Browns at Titans: This might be a good week to check in on Tennessee linebacker Anthony Hill Jr., who was the first Longhorn drafted this year. And tight end Gunnar Helm, who played at Texas from 2021-24, is also a Titan.<\/p>\n
Week 8: Bevy of Texas defenders<\/p>\n
Eagles at Commanders: Washington offensive lineman Sam Cosmi has recently had some bad luck when it comes to injuries. But if he’s healthy, he’ll be tasked with keeping his quarterback upright against an Eagles defense that employs ex-Longhorns Ta’Quon Graham, Andrew Mukuba and Moro Ojomo.<\/p>\n
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Week 9: Rookies check-in<\/p>\n
Lions at Dolphins: This spring, Miami used three draft picks on Texas products \u2014 linebacker Trey Moore, safety Michael Taaffe and guard DJ Campbell. By the season’s midway point, we’ll be able to see if those Longhorns-turned-Dolphins have found themselves some consistent playing time.<\/p>\n
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Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) runs with the ball against Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) during the first half of Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Bill Streicher\/Imagn Images<\/p>\n
Week 10: Bijan vs. Xavier<\/p>\n
Chiefs at Falcons: Before they were first-round picks, Kansas City wide receiver Xavier Worthy and Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson were a dynamic duo at Texas.\u00a0During the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Worthy led the Longhorns in receiving while Robinson was the top rusher.<\/p>\n
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Week 11: DBU convergence<\/p>\n
Steelers at Eagles: Before Mukuba caught Philadelphia’s attention while shining in the Texas secondary during the 2024 season, Pittsburgh defensive backs DeShon Elliott and D’Shawn Jamison were star pupils at DBU. Those Texas DBs will meet in this in-state NFL rivalry.<\/p>\n
Week 12: Texas quartet<\/p>\n
Saints at Bengals: Two years after New Orleans drafted Jaylan Ford and one year after the Saints drafted both offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. and defensive lineman Vernon Broughton, they signed UT kicker Mason Shipley as an undrafted free agent. Will this Texas quartet be intact for this Thanksgiving Week battle with the Bengals?<\/p>\n
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Week 13: Honorable backups<\/p>\n
Dolphins at Broncos: Neither Quinn Ewers nor Sam Ehlinger will be expected to play in this early December matchup since both are backups, But since these two future Texas Hall of Honor inductees are two of the UT program’s three quarterbacks in the NFL right now, this game is worth noting.<\/p>\n
Week 14: High-stakes matchup<\/p>\n
Rams at 49ers: This could end up being a marquee matchup on the NFL schedule. Will San Francisco defensive lineman Alfred Collins or Los Angeles Rams players Jordan Whittington and Poona Ford be factors in the final outcome?<\/p>\n
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Former Texas Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson holds up the sign of the horns ahead of the game against Florida at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025 in Gainesville, Florida.<\/p>\n
Aaron E. Martinez\/Austin American-Statesman<\/p>\n
Week 15: Manning Bowl<\/p>\n
Jets at Cardinals: An optimist may say that this matchup could be about the development of those aforementioned Jets from Texas against Arizona linemen Hayden Conner and Christian Jones. A pessimist might say this matchup is between two teams that could be positioning themselves to draft Arch Manning next spring.<\/p>\n
Week 16: Matchup with meaning<\/p>\n
Packers at Bears: Green Bay wide receiver Matthew Golden and Chicago cornerback Malik Muhammad once competed against each other in Texas practices. Now they may get to actually oppose each other for real; Golden, a first-round pick in 2025, is in his second year while Muhammad is a rookie after just being drafted by the Bears.<\/p>\n
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Week 17: Rocky Mountain Horns<\/p>\n
Broncos at Patriots: Should Denver be considered the favorite NFL team of Texas fans? After all, the Broncos currently have five Longhorns on their roster: quarterback Sam Ehlinger, cornerback Jahdae Barron, wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey, safety Brandon Jones and defensive lineman Malcolm Roach.<\/p>\n
Week 18: Keeping a promise<\/p>\n
Browns at Bengals: A seventh-round pick, former Texas tight end Jack Endries promised that he’d make all the teams that passed on him in this year’s NFL draft pay. By January, we should be able to judge if he’s a fit in the Bengals’ high-octane offense.<\/p>\n
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