You're stuck on I-35. The sun is beating down on the hood of your truck, and the traffic moving toward Austin looks more like a parking lot than a highway. Kickoff is in twenty minutes. If you’re a Texas fan, this is a nightmare scenario, but it’s also where Texas Longhorns football radio becomes your best friend. There’s something visceral about hearing the roar of the crowd through a speaker while a commentator loses his mind over a Quinn Ewers deep ball. It’s different than TV. On the radio, you have to paint the picture yourself.
Honestly, the radio broadcast is the heartbeat of the Longhorn Nation for anyone who can’t make it to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. It isn’t just about the play-by-play; it’s about the tradition.
The Voices Behind the Mic
Craig Way is a legend. Period. If you've listened to a game in the last two decades, his voice is probably synonymous with Texas football in your head. He’s the "Voice of the Longhorns," and the guy has an encyclopedic knowledge of the game that makes most analysts look like they’re reading off a teleprompter. He doesn't just call the game; he narrates the history of the program in real-time. Alongside him, you usually get the sharp insights of Roger Wallace and the sideline perspective of Will Matthews.
They don't sugarcoat things. If the offensive line is getting pushed around like a high school JV squad, they’ll say it. That’s the beauty of local radio. You get a level of honesty and "homer" passion that the national guys at ESPN or FOX just can't replicate. They know what a win over Oklahoma feels like for the city of Austin.
Finding the Signal: KVET and Beyond
The flagship station has long been 98.1 KVET-FM in Austin. If you’re in the city limits, it’s crystal clear. But Texas is huge. Like, incomprehensibly big.
📖 Related: Bethany Hamilton and the Shark: What Really Happened That Morning
If you're driving from El Paso to Texarkana, you're going to be hopping through a massive network of affiliates. The Longhorn Radio Network is one of the most extensive in the country. We’re talking about over 30 stations across the state. In Dallas, you’re usually looking for KRLD; in Houston, it’s often KBME.
- Austin: 98.1 FM KVET / 1300 AM KVET
- Dallas: 1080 AM KRLD
- Houston: 790 AM KBME
- San Antonio: 1200 AM WOAI
The problem is that AM signals bounce weirdly at night. You might be listening to a nail-biter against Texas A&M and suddenly, the signal fades into static or—heaven forbid—a station out of Monterrey playing polka music. It’s frustrating.
Streaming Is the Savior
Look, it’s 2026. Most of us aren't carrying around a transistor radio with a silver antenna anymore. If the FM signal dies, you go digital. The easiest way is the Texas Longhorns app. It’s free. You download it, hit the "listen" button, and you’ve got the high-definition feed without the static.
Another big one is the Varsity Network app. It’s basically a hub for college sports audio. If the official school app is glitching (which happens when 100,000 people try to log in at once), Varsity is the backup. You can also find the broadcast on SiriusXM. Usually, the Longhorns are on one of the dedicated Big 12 or SEC channels, depending on the week's scheduling and home-team rights.
👉 See also: Simona Halep and the Reality of Tennis Player Breast Reduction
Why Radio Still Beats TV for Some Fans
Television is great for the replays, but the delay is killer. Have you ever been watching a game on a streaming service like YouTube TV or Hulu, only to have your phone blow up with "TOUCHDOWN!" texts from your friends thirty seconds before you see the play? It ruins the soul of the game.
Radio is almost always faster. It’s closer to real-time.
Plus, there is the nostalgia factor. There are fans who will literally turn the sound down on their $2,000 4K OLED TV just so they can sync up Craig Way’s radio call with the visual. It’s a process. You have to pause the TV, wait for the radio to catch up, and hit play exactly when the ball is snapped. It’s a science. But for those who grew up listening to the legendary Bill Schoening or Wally Pryor, it’s the only way to consume Texas football.
The SEC Shift and Radio Rights
With Texas moving into the SEC, things have gotten a bit more "corporate," but the local radio rights have stayed remarkably stable. The university knows that the connection to the local Austin airwaves is sacred. However, the national reach has expanded. You’ll notice that during the big SEC matchups, the radio broadcast is often picked up by national syndicates, but the "Home" feed—the one with our guys—is always the one you want.
✨ Don't miss: NFL Pick 'em Predictions: Why You're Probably Overthinking the Divisional Round
The pre-game show is also a massive part of the experience. It usually starts two hours before kickoff. You get the weather reports, the injury updates that the coaches try to hide all week, and the "Longhorn GameDay" atmosphere that makes you feel like you’re tailgating even if you’re just cleaning your garage.
Troubleshooting Your Listen
Sometimes the stream cuts out. It sucks. If you're using a web browser, clear your cache. If you're on the app and it's buffering, try switching from 5G to Wi-Fi (or vice versa).
Actually, the most reliable way to get the radio feed if you're out of state is through the official TexasSports.com website. They have a "Listen Live" feature that is usually the most stable. It doesn't have the "bloat" that some of the third-party apps have.
Pro tip: If you are actually at the stadium and want to listen to the call, don't use a digital stream. The 30-second delay will drive you insane. You need an actual FM tuner. Some phones still have them built into the headphone jack, but they're becoming rare. Small, pocket-sized FM radios are still a common sight in the stands at DKR for this exact reason.
Actionable Steps for the Next Game
If you want to ensure you never miss a snap of Texas Longhorns football radio, do these three things right now:
- Download the Texas Longhorns Official App: Don't wait until five minutes before kickoff when the servers are slammed. Get it now and authorize the notifications so you get an alert when the pre-game show starts.
- Bookmark the Affiliate List: Go to the Texas Sports website and find the "Longhorn Radio Network" affiliate page. Take a screenshot of the stations in your region. If your internet fails, you'll want to know exactly where to turn that dial.
- Check your SiriusXM Subscription: If you’re a traveler, make sure your package includes the "Sports" tier. The channel assignments change weekly (usually between 190 and 200), so check the schedule on Friday nights.
The roar of the stadium is great, but the play-by-play in your ear is what tells the story. Hook 'em.