Upcoming Texas Longhorns football dates
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Texas football in brief
The Texas Longhorns play their home games at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on the University of Texas campus in Austin, with the home schedule running from late August or early September through November. Texas began playing football in 1893, spent eight decades in the Southwest Conference and 28 seasons in the Big 12, and joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 2024.
- National titles claimed: four, for 1963, 1969, 1970 and 2005. The 2005 team finished 13–0 with a Rose Bowl win over USC.
- Conference titles: 34, across the Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Southwest Conference and the Big 12.
- Heisman Trophy winners: Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams. The playing surface is named Campbell-Williams Field in their honor.
- Coaching lineage: Dana X. Bible, Darrell K Royal, who won three national titles from 1957 to 1976, and Mack Brown, who led the 2005 title team.
Texas ranks among the winningest programs in the sport, with more than 950 victories, and it has appeared in the College Football Playoff after the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Inside DKR–Texas Memorial Stadium
The stadium opened in 1924 as a memorial to Texans who served in World War I and was rededicated after World War II. It took Darrell K Royal's name in 1996. Expansions added the west upper deck in 1971, the east upper deck and its suites in 1998, a multilevel north end zone structure in 2008 and a south end zone complex completed in 2021 with club seating, suites, student seating and a large video board. The official capacity is 100,119, and the record crowd is 105,215, set against Georgia on October 19, 2024.
The layout is a bowl with the end zones to the north and south. The west side, named for former athletics director L. Theo Bellmont, holds the press box and premium areas. The east side has its own upper deck and suites.
- Best overall view: the lower bowl between the 30-yard lines on either sideline, in the middle and upper rows, high enough that the players' benches do not block the near side.
- Upper decks: steep but centered seats give a full read of the field and are usually the value play on the sidelines.
- End zones: the north end structure brought seating closer to the field in 2008, and end zone seats are the most affordable way into big games, though depth on plays at the far end is hard to judge.
Sun, shade, students and the visiting section
Austin heat is the main seating variable in September and early October. Because the sidelines face east and west, the west stands shade themselves first during afternoon kickoffs, while the east side looks into the sun. As a rule of thumb, the upper west side and covered club areas are the most comfortable for day games, and the east lower bowl is the hottest. Night kickoffs, which the stadium's LED lighting supports, largely remove the issue.
Student seating sits in the south end zone complex completed in 2021, and the south end has also been home to the Longhorn Band since 2008. Expect fans in and near those sections to stand.
The visiting team's allotment is set by the athletic department for each game and can move, so check the seating chart on the listing if you want to be with or away from the road crowd.
Texas A&M, Oklahoma and the biggest dates
Rivalries drive the calendar.
- Texas A&M: first played in 1894 and staged almost every year on or near Thanksgiving until 2011. The Lone Star Showdown resumed in 2024 once Texas joined the SEC, and a home game against the Aggies is the hardest ticket in Austin.
- Oklahoma: the Red River Rivalry, dating to 1900, is played every October at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, halfway between the campuses, with the stadium split at the 50-yard line. It is not a home game, so it is sold separately.
- Arkansas: the old Southwest Conference rival, met in the 1969 "Game of the Century," is again a conference opponent.
- Old Big 12 and SWC foes: Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU and Rice now appear only when scheduled outside the conference.
Beyond rivals, ranked SEC visitors, night kickoffs and homecoming push demand up. Early nonconference games are usually the easiest entry, and prices on the secondary market tend to move once television windows are set.
Bevo, Big Bertha and Longhorn gameday
- Bevo: the live Texas longhorn steer that serves as the mascot at home games.
- Big Bertha: the Longhorn Band's bass drum, billed as the largest in the world, with Big Bertha II introduced in 2022.
- Smokey the Cannon: fired at kickoff and after Texas scores.
- "The Eyes of Texas" and "Texas Fight": the school song and fight song, with the Hook 'em Horns hand signal that dates to a 1955 pep rally.
- The Tower: the UT Tower is lit orange after wins.
- Veterans Recognition Day: one home game each season honors the stadium's memorial purpose.
The stadium sits near downtown, so many fans walk or use transit and rideshare rather than drive. As of the 2026 season, SEC stadiums enforce clear-bag rules (bags must be transparent and within set size limits). Check Texas Athletics for the current bag, parking and tailgating rules before you go.
How Longhorn football tickets work
Most of the stadium is held by season-ticket holders, with the best sideline locations tied to donor priority through the athletics fund. Students buy their own sports packages for the student sections. That leaves a thin single-game supply for the biggest opponents.
As a result, resale is how most fans get into marquee games. Supply rises for nonconference and lower-ranked visitors and tightens sharply for Texas A&M, Georgia and other ranked SEC opponents and late-season games with conference stakes. Every order on GoodSeats is backed by a 100% guarantee. Confirm the kickoff time before you buy, since SEC game times are often set only days or weeks ahead.
Frequently asked questions
How many people does DKR–Texas Memorial Stadium hold?
The official capacity is 100,119. The record crowd is 105,215, set against Georgia on October 19, 2024.
Where is the student section at Texas football games?
Student seating is in the south end zone complex completed in 2021, near the Longhorn Band. Fans in that area stand for much of the game.
Which side of the stadium is shaded for day games?
The sidelines face east and west, so the west side generally gets shade first for afternoon kickoffs. The east lower bowl is usually the hottest area early in the season.
Is the Texas–Oklahoma game played in Austin?
No. The Red River Rivalry is played every October at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, with the stadium split between the two fan bases.
When did Texas join the SEC?
Texas moved from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference for the 2024 season, which also restored its annual rivalry with Texas A&M.