You’re stuck in traffic on I-10, or maybe you’re living in a tiny apartment in New York City, and the Longhorns are kicking off in fifteen minutes. You can feel that specific Saturday itch. It’s the one where you need to hear the roar of the crowd at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, but more importantly, you need the voice of the Longhorn Radio Network to tell you exactly how the defensive line is holding up. Finding Texas Longhorn football radio isn't just about catching the score anymore; it’s about that specific, grainy, emotional connection to a team that basically defines the culture of the entire state.
Most people think you need a heavy-duty AM/FM dial to catch the game. That’s old school. While nothing beats the crackle of a local station while you're tailgating near San Jacinto Boulevard, the reality is that the network has expanded into a digital beast. If you're looking for Craig Way—the undisputed "Voice of the Longhorns"—you have more options than ever, but they can be a bit confusing if you don't know which app is actually reliable or which frequency carries the signal in your specific corner of Texas.
The Heart of the Broadcast: Who You’re Actually Hearing
Let’s be real: the broadcast is only as good as the person behind the mic. Craig Way has been the play-by-play guy for what feels like forever, and he’s earned that "legend" status for a reason. He doesn't just call the play; he paints the picture of the burnt orange jersey against the green turf. Alongside him, you usually get expert analysis that dives into the "nitty-gritty" of SEC play. Since Texas officially moved to the SEC in 2024, the stakes for these broadcasts have skyrocketed. The competition is faster, the stadiums are louder, and the radio broadcast has to keep up with that intensity.
It’s not just a one-man show. The Longhorn Radio Network is a massive operation produced by Learfield. They coordinate a web of affiliates that spans from Amarillo down to McAllen. If you are listening on a traditional radio, the flagship stations in Austin are KVET-AM 1300 (The Zone) and KVET-FM 98.1. These are the pillars. If you’re within a 50-mile radius of the Capitol, these are your go-to spots. But the signal doesn't stop at the Travis County line.
Finding Texas Longhorn Football Radio on the Dial
If you’re driving across the state, you’re going to be hopping frequencies. It’s a rite of passage for any Texas fan. You start with 98.1 in Austin, then maybe you try to pick up the San Antonio feed on WOAI 1200 AM. If you're heading north toward Dallas, you’re looking for KRLD 1080 AM. It’s a patchwork quilt of signals.
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Honestly, the range on some of these AM stations is incredible at night. You can sometimes catch the Longhorns in neighboring states if the clouds are right and the atmospheric interference stays low. But during a 2:30 PM kickoff in the blistering September heat? You need a local affiliate. Here is the thing: some smaller towns might drop the broadcast for local high school sports or other programming, so it is always a gamble unless you have the digital backup ready to go.
- Austin: KVET 98.1 FM / 1300 AM
- Dallas: KRLD 1080 AM
- Houston: KPRC 950 AM
- San Antonio: WOAI 1200 AM
- Corpus Christi: KSIX 1230 AM / 95.1 FM / 96.1 FM
The network covers basically every major metro area in the state. However, the shift toward streaming has changed the game for alumni living in places like California or Florida. You don't have to rely on a weak AM signal anymore.
The Digital Shift: Apps and Streaming Secrets
If you aren't near a radio, your best bet is the Texas Longhorns App. It’s free. That’s the most important part. You don't need a fancy subscription to hear the game-day broadcast. You just download it, hit the "Audio" tab, and you’ve got Craig Way in your pocket.
Then there’s the Longhorn All-Access through the official athletic website (TexasSports.com). This is the gold standard for high-quality audio. If you have a decent internet connection, the lag is usually minimal. That matters. There is nothing worse than seeing a "TOUCHDOWN" notification on your phone from an ESPN alert thirty seconds before you hear it on the radio. It ruins the magic.
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Speaking of lag, SiriusXM is another big player. For Texas games, you’ll usually find them on the dedicated SEC channels. The benefit here is the national reach. If you are driving through the desert in New Mexico, SiriusXM is your only hope of hearing the game without a cellular data connection. Just check the weekly listings, as the channel number changes based on who is playing. Usually, it’s somewhere in the 190s for the home broadcast.
Why Radio Still Beats TV for Many Fans
You might ask why anyone bothers with radio when the game is on ABC or ESPN. It’s simple. Bias. Local radio is unabashedly pro-Longhorn. When Texas scores, the announcers lose their minds. When a ref makes a questionable call against the Horns, the announcers voice exactly what you’re feeling on your couch.
National TV announcers have to stay neutral. They have to talk about both teams equally. But on the Texas Longhorn football radio broadcast, the "Eyes of Texas" are the only eyes that matter. Many fans actually mute their televisions and sync up the radio audio. It’s a tricky process because of the digital delay—you might have to pause your TV for a few seconds to let the radio catch up—but once you get it synced? It’s the ultimate viewing experience.
Navigating the SEC Era
The move to the SEC wasn't just about football; it was about media markets. The radio network had to beef up its infrastructure to handle the increased demand. We are talking about rivalries with Alabama, Georgia, and Florida now. These are massive games with massive audiences.
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Because of this, you’ll notice that the pre-game coverage has expanded. Usually, the Longhorn Radio Network starts its broadcast several hours before kickoff. You get "Longhorn Gameday," which features depth chart breakdowns, injury reports, and interviews with Coach Steve Sarkisian. It isn't just fluff. It’s actual, high-level football talk that gives you a better sense of the game plan than the 30-second clips you see on social media.
The post-game show is equally vital. After the game ends, the "Longhorn Locker Room" provides immediate reactions. Hearing the players talk while they’re still out of breath from the fourth quarter is a level of intimacy you just don't get from a newspaper recap the next morning.
Troubleshooting Your Connection
Nothing is perfect. Sometimes the app crashes. Sometimes the AM signal gets drowned out by a thunderstorm. If you’re struggling to find the feed, here’s a pro tip: check TuneIn Radio. While some college sports have moved behind a paywall on TuneIn, the Longhorn signals are often available through the various affiliate station streams. If 1300 The Zone is streaming their regular daily content, they will usually switch over to the game feed right at kickoff.
Also, don't forget about the power of a simple "smart speaker." If you have an Alexa or Google Home, you can just say, "Play KVET FM" or "Play 1300 The Zone." Most of the time, it’ll pull the stream right up. It’s the easiest way to have the game playing in the background while you’re grilling in the backyard.
Actionable Steps for the Ultimate Audio Experience
To make sure you never miss a snap, you need a plan. Don't wait until three minutes before kickoff to figure out how you're listening.
- Download the App Now: Get the official Texas Longhorns app on your phone today. Grant it the necessary permissions so it doesn't kill the audio when your screen locks.
- Bookmark the Affiliate List: Keep a link to the Learfield Longhorn Radio Network affiliate map. If you're traveling through East Texas or the Panhandle, you'll know exactly which FM station to scan for.
- Test Your Sync: if you plan to watch on TV but listen on the radio, practice syncing the audio during the first quarter. Use the "pause" button on your DVR or streaming service to align the sound of the referee's whistle with the visual.
- Check SiriusXM Channels: If you’re a subscriber, look up the specific channel for the Texas broadcast on the Thursday before the game. It’s rarely the same channel two weeks in a row.
- Get a Portable Radio: Honestly? If you’re going to the game, a small transistor radio with headphones is a game-changer. It allows you to hear the expert analysis and "what just happened" on that penalty flag while you're sitting in the stands.
The Longhorns are more than a team; they’re a massive, state-wide community. Whether you're listening on a dusty old radio in a barn or streaming through high-end noise-canceling headphones in a skyscraper, that "Hook 'em" energy translates through the airwaves. It's about the tradition, the voice of Craig Way, and the collective heartbeat of Texas football fans everywhere.