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| University of Texas at Austin Longhorns football | |
|---|---|
| Name | Texas Longhorns football |
| University | University of Texas at Austin |
| Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Stadium | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium |
| Location | Austin, Texas |
| First year | 1893 |
| Athletic director | Chris Del Conte |
| Head coach | Steve Sarkisian |
| Conference titles | 32 |
| Outfitter | Adidas |
University of Texas at Austin Longhorns football is the intercollegiate American football program representing the University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas. The program competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference with a storied history of conference championships, bowl appearances, and Heisman Trophy winners. Texas has produced numerous professional players who advanced to the National Football League and has longstanding rivalries and traditions that are central to the identity of the university and the city of Austin, Texas.
The program began play in 1893 under coaches like John B. Randolph and developed through eras led by figures such as Dana X. Bible, Darrell K Royal, and Mack Brown, intertwining with wider collegiate football changes including the rise of the Southwest Conference, the formation of the Big 12 Conference, and the evolution of postseason play like the Bowl Championship Series and the College Football Playoff. During the Great Depression and World War II periods, Texas navigated roster and resource challenges similar to other programs such as Notre Dame and USC Trojans, later achieving national prominence in the 1960s under Royal with national championships and landmark seasons opposing teams like the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Oklahoma Sooners. The 2000s brought resurgence under Mack Brown culminating in a national championship season that featured matchups against programs like the USC Trojans and the Michigan Wolverines in major bowls.
The nickname "Longhorns" derives from the Texas Longhorn cattle and was popularized in the early 20th century, joining other animal-based nicknames such as the Oklahoma Sooners and the Florida Gators. Official colors burnt orange and white align with campus iconography at the University of Texas at Austin and are featured on uniforms produced by Adidas, with alternate and throwback sets evoking eras under coaches like Darrell K Royal and Mack Brown. The program's live mascot Bevo and costumed mascot appearances reflect traditions comparable to mascots at Texas A&M University and University of Oklahoma, while audiovisual branding and fight songs like "Texas Fight" link to marching ensembles such as the University of Texas Longhorn Band.
Home games are played at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on the University of Texas at Austin campus, a venue that has hosted major opponents including the Oklahoma Sooners, the USC Trojans, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. The stadium complex sits adjacent to practice facilities and support centers often compared with installations at Alabama Crimson Tide and Ohio State Buckeyes, while renovation campaigns have matched trends in collegiate facility upgrades seen at LSU Tigers and Clemson Tigers. Ancillary facilities include weight rooms, sports medicine centers, and recruiting amenities that align with standards set by programs like Georgia Bulldogs and Oregon Ducks.
Primary rivalries include the annual showdown with the Oklahoma Sooners in the Red River Rivalry held at the Cotton Bowl, the historic state rivalry with Texas A&M Aggies—whose hiatus ignited debates involving the Big 12 Conference and the SEC—and matchup histories with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Traditions such as running down the hill, the "Hook 'em" hand sign, and the presentation of Bevo resonate with collegiate pageantry seen at rival institutions like USC Trojans and Michigan Wolverines, while alumni engagement and booster groups mirror organizations linked to schools such as Notre Dame and Alabama Crimson Tide.
Texas claims multiple national championships recognized in seasons led by coaches including Darrell K Royal and Mack Brown, sharing historical title recognition with programs like USC Trojans and Alabama Crimson Tide in various polls and selectors. The Longhorns have won numerous conference titles in the Southwest Conference and the Big 12 Conference, compiling winning seasons that produced bowl victories in fixtures such as the Rose Bowl, the Cotton Bowl Classic, and the Sugar Bowl, and featuring high-ranking final polls in the AP Poll and the Coaches Poll. Statistical leaders and record holders have placed among national leaders alongside athletes from programs such as Oklahoma Sooners and Texas A&M Aggies.
Coaching lineage includes influential figures like Darrell K Royal, whose tenure set strategic precedents, John Mackovic, Mack Brown, and current head coach Steve Sarkisian, with assistants and coordinators often recruited from coaching trees connected to programs such as Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas Tech Red Raiders, and USC Trojans. Athletic directors including DeLoss Dodds and Chris Del Conte have overseen hires, facility projects, and conference negotiations involving entities like the Big 12 Conference and the NCAA, while scouting and recruiting pipelines tapped regions with talent from high school football hotbeds such as Southlake Carroll High School and Katy High School.
The program has produced Heisman Trophy winners like Earl Campbell and Ricky Williams, College Football Hall of Fame inductees such as Bobby Layne and Colt McCoy, and NFL standouts including Vince Young, Earl Campbell, Mike Singletary and Ricky Williams, whose professional careers intersected with franchises like the Houston Oilers, the New York Giants, and the San Francisco 49ers. Individual honors include All-American selections comparable to recipients from Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Alabama Crimson Tide, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees, and academic and athletic awards recognized by organizations like the College Football Hall of Fame and the Heisman Trophy Trust. The roster historically featured players who impacted key games against opponents such as the Oklahoma Sooners, USC Trojans, and Nebraska Cornhuskers.