You’re stuck in Austin traffic on a Saturday. It’s 102 degrees. The MoPac is a parking lot, and the kickoff at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium is exactly twelve minutes away. You aren't going to make it to your couch in time. This is exactly why Texas Longhorns football radio still matters in an era where everyone assumes you can just stream everything on a 5G connection that inevitably fails the second 100,000 people congregate in the same zip code.
Honestly, there is something visceral about the radio call. It’s different. You’ve got the roar of the crowd bleeding through the broadcaster's mic, that specific crackle of a long-distance AM signal, and the voice of Craig Way painting a picture that a 4K television somehow misses.
Radio isn't just a backup plan. For a lot of us, it’s the primary way we consume the Longhorns because it captures the soul of the South's most iconic program. Whether you are driving through the Hill Country or sitting in a deer stand in West Texas, the Longhorn Radio Network is the tether back to the Forty Acres.
Finding the Longhorn Radio Network Frequency
The flagship station has been the heartbeat of the operation for years. In Austin, you’re looking for KVET-FM 98.1 or KVET-AM 1300. These are the "home" stations. They carry the pre-game hype, the four hours of grueling gridiron action, and the post-game wrap-ups where fans call in to either celebrate a blowout or demand the defensive coordinator gets left on the tarmac.
But Texas is a massive state. Huge. You can drive ten hours and still be in Texas. Because of that, the Longhorn Radio Network is one of the most expansive affiliate webs in the country. We’re talking about more than 30 stations across the state. In San Antonio, you’ll usually find the game on WOAI 1200 AM. If you’re up in Dallas, KRLD 1080 AM is often your best bet, though affiliate agreements can shift slightly from season to season based on corporate radio shuffling.
It’s not just about the big cities, though. The beauty of the network is that it reaches the places where the internet is a suggestion, not a guarantee. Small-town stations in places like Alpine, Carthage, or Plainview keep the burnt orange faithful connected.
The Digital Shift and Streaming Options
Look, I get it. Most people under the age of 40 don't even know how to find the "AM" button in their car. If you’re a digital native, you aren't going to go buy a transistor radio. You’re going to use your phone.
The official Texas Longhorns app is the most direct route. It’s free, and they stream the radio broadcast live. No subscription fees for the audio, which is a rare win for fans these days. You can also find the stream on TexasSports.com.
There’s also SiriusXM. If you’re traveling interstate, this is the gold standard. The Longhorns are usually featured on the dedicated Big 12 or SEC channels (depending on the conference alignment of the current era) or the specific school play-by-play channels. It’s crystal clear, it doesn't fade when you go under a bridge, and you don't have to scan for a new station every forty miles.
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Then there’s the Varsity Network app. It’s a third-party aggregator that hosts a ton of college broadcasts. It’s reliable. It works. It’s a solid backup if the school’s official app is acting buggy because of high traffic during a Top 10 matchup against Oklahoma or Texas A&M.
Why Craig Way is the Voice of a Generation
You can't talk about Texas Longhorns football radio without talking about Craig Way. The man is a legend. Period.
He took over the play-by-play duties from Bill Schoening, and since then, he has become the definitive voice of Texas Athletics. His "Touchdown, Texas!" call is iconic. It’s not just the words; it’s the gravel in his voice and the genuine, unbridled excitement he has for the game. He isn't some corporate suit reading a script. He’s a guy who knows the history of every blade of grass on that field.
Alongside him, you usually have a rotating cast of analysts who provide the "color." These are often former players—guys who have actually worn the helmet and felt the hit. They provide the nuance. They explain why a blitz package failed or why a wide receiver's route tree was slightly off. That chemistry between the play-by-play lead and the color analyst is what makes a four-hour broadcast feel like twenty minutes.
Dealing with the "Sync" Issue
Here is a pro tip for the hardcore fans. A lot of people like to mute the TV and listen to the radio broadcast while they watch the game. They want the local homers, not the national announcers who might not even know how to pronounce "Bevo" correctly.
The problem? The delay.
Digital TV signals usually lag behind the radio broadcast by several seconds. Or, if you’re streaming the radio, the radio might be behind the TV. It’s maddening. You hear the crowd roar on the radio, and then five seconds later, you see the touchdown on the screen.
To fix this, you need a radio delay device or an app that allows you to pause the audio stream. Some high-end receivers have this built-in. If you’re using a computer, there are browser extensions that let you delay the audio in millisecond increments. It takes some fiddling, but once you sync Craig Way’s voice with the live action on your 75-inch screen, it’s the ultimate viewing experience.
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The Evolution of the Game Day Experience
Radio used to be the only way to get the game if you weren't there. Now, it’s a lifestyle choice.
The pre-game show is where the real value lies. Usually starting two or three hours before kickoff, the radio team dives into the weeds. They talk about injuries that the national media hasn't picked up on yet. They interview coaches on the sidelines during warmups. They talk about the weather—specifically how the wind is swirling in the south end zone and how that might affect the kicking game.
It’s granular. It’s for the folks who care about more than just the final score. They care about the why.
Common Misconceptions About Longhorn Radio
A lot of people think that because Texas moved to the SEC, the radio rights changed completely. While the television landscape got a massive overhaul with ESPN and ABC taking the lead, the local radio rights are a different beast. The university still controls much of that through its partnership with Learfield.
Another myth is that you can’t listen to the radio broadcast if you are out of state. Totally false.
In the old days, yeah, you had to hope for a clear night and a powerful AM signal from a station like WOAI to carry the sound into Oklahoma or Arkansas. Now, with the internet, you can listen to Texas Longhorns football radio from a beach in Bali if you have a decent Wi-Fi connection. The "geofencing" that happens with some TV broadcasts rarely applies to the radio side of things.
Troubleshooting Your Signal
If you are trying to listen via a traditional AM/FM tuner and you’re getting static, check your surroundings.
- LED Lights: Believe it or not, some cheap LED bulbs in your garage or house can interfere with AM radio signals.
- Power Lines: High-voltage lines are the enemy of a clear signal.
- The Stadium: If you are actually at the game and trying to listen to the radio, you might experience a "multipath" interference where the signal bounces off the stadium walls. Use headphones that act as an antenna, or stick to the digital stream if the stadium Wi-Fi can handle it.
The Future of Longhorn Radio
Is radio dying? People have been saying that since the 1950s. Yet, here we are.
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The delivery methods are changing, sure. We are moving from towers and transmitters to bits and bytes. But the concept of the "radio broadcast" is sturdier than ever. People want a curated, passionate, and expert narration of the game. They don't want a generic play-by-play; they want a Texas-centric perspective.
As long as there are fans who bleed burnt orange and spend their Saturdays obsessing over recruiting rankings and depth charts, there will be a need for this specific type of media.
Getting Started This Saturday
If you want to dive into the world of Texas Longhorns football radio for the next game, don't wait until five minutes before kickoff to figure out your setup.
First, download the official Texas Longhorns app. It’s your fail-safe.
Second, if you’re in Texas, find your local affiliate on the AM/FM dial. Keep it programmed as a preset in your car.
Third, if you’re a tech nerd, look into an audio delay app so you can sync the radio with your TV broadcast.
The experience is just better when you have the right voices in your ear. It makes the wins sweeter and the losses—well, the losses still hurt, but at least you had Craig Way to help you process the pain in real-time.
Check the current season's affiliate list on TexasSports.com before you head out on a road trip. Stations change owners or formats, and you don't want to be scanning the dial in the middle of a crucial third-down conversion. Hook 'em.
Next Steps for Longhorn Fans
- Download the Varsity Network App: This is the most stable platform for college sports audio when the official school apps are lagging.
- Check your SiriusXM Subscription: Ensure you have the "All Access" package if you want to catch every game while driving across state lines.
- Bookmark the Affiliate Map: Save a screenshot of the Longhorn Radio Network affiliate list to your phone so you have it even when you lose cell service in rural areas.