Texas football is just different. You feel it the second you walk toward DKR or when the state fair smell of fried everything hits your nose in Dallas. But looking back at the longhorn football 2025 schedule, it wasn't just another year of gridiron basics. It was a gauntlet. Honestly, the way things shook out from Columbus to Athens, this season felt more like a professional tour than a college slate.
Steve Sarkisian had to deal with a schedule that looked like a "Who’s Who" of perennial playoff threats. We knew the jump to the SEC would be a transition, but year two in the conference really turned up the heat. People kept talking about the "SEC grind," but for Texas, it started way before they even saw a conference patch on the jersey.
The August 30 Shock in Columbus
Everything kicked off with a massive target on the back. August 30. Columbus, Ohio. The Longhorns walked into the "Horseshoe" as the top-ranked team in the country, but they left with a 14-7 reality check. It was a defensive slugfest that left everyone in Austin a bit quiet. Ohio State’s defense was just stifling.
Texas only managed 11 first downs. That's it. It’s kinda wild to think a Sarkisian offense could be held to 203 total yards, but that’s exactly what happened under those Big Ten lights. Quinn Ewers and the boys just couldn't find the rhythm. It wasn't the explosive start fans wanted, but in hindsight, it might have been the wake-up call the locker room needed to realize 2025 wasn't going to be a cakewalk.
Cleaning Up at Home
After the Ohio State loss, the Longhorns came back to Austin to lick their wounds and, basically, beat up on some overmatched opponents. They needed to find their identity again.
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- September 6: They handled San Jose State 38-7.
- September 13: A 27-10 win over UTEP that was a bit closer than the betting lines suggested.
- September 20: The Sam Houston game was a 55-0 blowout.
These three weeks were crucial for getting the depth chart settled. You saw a lot of younger guys getting reps, which proved to be huge later in the year when the injury bug started biting. By the time the calendar turned to October, Texas was 3-1 and ranked 9th, heading into the real meat of the SEC schedule.
The October Rollercoaster
If you survived October as a Texas fan, your heart is probably in good shape. It started with a frustrating trip to Gainesville on October 4. Florida isn't what they used to be, but "The Swamp" is still a nightmare to play in. Texas dropped that one 29-21. It felt like the season was teetering.
Then came the Red River Rivalry on October 11.
Look, Oklahoma always plays Texas tough, regardless of records. But the Longhorns showed up in Dallas and absolutely suffocated the Sooners. A 23-6 win in the Cotton Bowl is exactly the medicine the doctor ordered. It wasn't flashy, but it was dominant.
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The rest of the month was a grind of road trips.
- October 18: An ugly, gritty 16-13 overtime win at Kentucky.
- October 25: Another overtime thriller, this time a 45-38 win at Mississippi State.
Winning on the road in the SEC is hard. Winning back-to-back overtime games on the road is nearly impossible. It showed a level of "toughness" that some critics said this program lacked in years past.
The Georgia Reality Check and the Final Push
November started with a scare. Vanderbilt came to Austin on November 1, and they weren't the "Vandy" of old. Texas escaped with a 34-31 win. Then came the big one. November 15 in Athens.
Georgia is the standard for a reason. The 35-10 loss to the Bulldogs was a reminder that while Texas is elite, they still have a rung or two to climb to reach that "dynasty" level of consistency. The Dawgs' defensive front just lived in the Texas backfield all night.
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But the way the longhorn football 2025 schedule ended is what people will remember.
The Arkansas game on November 22 was a classic shootout. 52-37. It felt like the old Southwest Conference days. And then, the Lone Star Showdown. Texas vs. Texas A&M on Black Friday. Hosting the Aggies at DKR for the first time in forever? The energy was electric. A 27-17 win over A&M secured a 10-win season and sent the fans home happy.
Final Insights and Next Steps
The 2025 season proved that Texas can handle the SEC, but the margin for error is razor-thin. Finishing 10-3 (including the Citrus Bowl win over Michigan) is a massive success, especially considering the strength of schedule.
If you're looking forward to next season, here are a few things to keep an eye on based on how this schedule played out:
- Watch the Trench Development: The losses to Ohio State and Georgia happened because Texas got pushed around at the line of scrimmage. Recruiting on the offensive and defensive lines remains the #1 priority.
- Road Composure: The overtime wins at Kentucky and Mississippi State showed growth. Texas is learning how to win "ugly" games, which is the hallmark of a championship program.
- The Rivalry Rotation: With the SEC schedule format constantly being debated, the fact that Texas gets to keep both Oklahoma and A&M on the schedule annually is a huge win for the fans and the bottom line.
To get ready for the next cycle, keep an eye on the spring portal window. Texas will likely look for a veteran interior defensive lineman to help bridge the gap against those power-run teams that caused trouble in 2025.