It’s easy to look back at a season and just see the wins and losses on a Wikipedia page, but the ut football schedule 2023 was a total emotional rollercoaster that honestly changed the trajectory of the entire program. Most folks remember the big win in Tuscaloosa or the heartbreak in the Sugar Bowl, but the actual week-to-week grind of that final Big 12 lap was way more stressful than the final 12-2 record suggests.
If you weren't glued to the screen every Saturday, you might think it was a breeze. It wasn't.
Steve Sarkisian entered Year 3 with a massive weight on his shoulders. People were tired of the "Texas is back" memes. They wanted actual results. And looking at that 2023 slate, there were landmines everywhere. You had the non-conference monster in Alabama, the swan song against old Big 12 rivals who hated Texas for leaving, and the constant pressure of a "playoff or bust" mentality.
The September Statement
The season kicked off at home against Rice on September 2. It was a 37-10 win, but let’s be real: the Longhorns looked a little rusty. Quinn Ewers was finding his rhythm, and the defense was still settling in. But that game was basically just a dress rehearsal for what happened a week later.
September 9, 2023. Tuscaloosa.
That was the night everything changed. Texas went into Bryant-Denny Stadium as underdogs and walked out with a 34-24 win. It wasn't a fluke. Ewers threw for 349 yards and three touchdowns, including those absolute dimes to Adonai Mitchell and Xavier Worthy. That game proved the ut football schedule 2023 wasn't just about surviving; it was about dominating.
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After the high of Alabama, the team had to avoid the "hangover" game against Wyoming. They eventually won 31-10, but it was tied 10-10 going into the fourth quarter. It was a reminder that in college football, your resume can be ruined on any random Saturday night on Longhorn Network.
The Big 12 Gauntlet and the Red River Speed Bump
Once conference play hit, the intensity shifted. Texas handled Baylor 38-6 in Waco—a satisfying win considering the history there—and then thumped a ranked Kansas team 40-14. Jonathon Brooks really started to emerge here as a superstar, proving he was more than just a backup to the departed Bijan Robinson.
Then came October 7. The Red River Rivalry.
Honestly, this was the most "Texas" game of the year in the worst way. It was a back-and-forth war in the Cotton Bowl. Texas fought back to take a lead late, but Dillon Gabriel and Oklahoma marched down the field for a last-minute touchdown to win 34-30. It felt like the playoff hopes died right there in Dallas. The loss left Texas at 5-1 and with zero margin for error.
Surviving the November Chaos
The back half of the ut football schedule 2023 was a masterclass in "winning ugly." With Quinn Ewers sidelined for a bit with a shoulder injury, Maalik Murphy had to step in. It wasn't always pretty.
- Houston (Oct 21): A narrow 31-24 win that came down to a controversial spot on a late 4th down.
- BYU (Oct 28): A 35-6 blowout where the defense and special teams (shoutout to Xavier Worthy's punt return) did the heavy lifting.
- Kansas State (Nov 4): A heart-attack special. Texas blew a massive lead, and the game went to overtime. The defense stood tall on a 4th down goal-line stand to win 33-30.
- TCU (Nov 11): Another close shave, winning 29-26 after nearly blowing a 20-point lead.
By the time the Longhorns hit the final stretch, they were battered. Jonathon Brooks, who was arguably the best back in the country, went down with a season-ending ACL injury against TCU. It was devastating. But CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue stepped up in a way that showed how deep this roster actually was.
The Championship Finish
The regular season ended with a 57-7 demolition of Texas Tech on Black Friday. It was a statement. Texas didn't just want to win the Big 12; they wanted to leave the building on fire.
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They carried that momentum into Arlington for the Big 12 Championship against Oklahoma State. Quinn Ewers played the best game of his career, throwing for 452 yards. The 49-21 victory was the perfect exclamation point on their time in the conference. It also forced the College Football Playoff committee’s hand.
2023 Schedule and Results at a Glance
| Date | Opponent | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sept 2 | Rice | W | 37-10 |
| Sept 9 | at Alabama | W | 34-24 |
| Sept 16 | Wyoming | W | 31-10 |
| Sept 23 | at Baylor | W | 38-6 |
| Sept 30 | Kansas | W | 40-14 |
| Oct 7 | vs. Oklahoma | L | 30-34 |
| Oct 21 | at Houston | W | 31-24 |
| Oct 28 | BYU | W | 35-6 |
| Nov 4 | Kansas State | W | 33-30 (OT) |
| Nov 11 | at TCU | W | 29-26 |
| Nov 18 | at Iowa State | W | 26-16 |
| Nov 24 | Texas Tech | W | 57-7 |
| Dec 2 | vs. Oklahoma State | W | 49-21 |
| Jan 1 | vs. Washington | L | 31-37 |
The season eventually ended in New Orleans at the Sugar Bowl. It was a CFP Semifinal matchup against Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies. Texas came within one play of winning—literally one completion in the end zone as time expired—but fell short 31-37.
Even with that loss, the ut football schedule 2023 remains a historic run. It was the first time Texas made the playoffs. It was their last Big 12 title. It was the year they proved they could punch with the heavyweights of the SEC before even joining the conference.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking back at this season to understand the future of Texas football, keep these things in mind:
- Depth is everything: The 2023 team survived injuries to their starting QB and star RB. That kind of recruiting depth is what separates playoff teams from "almost" teams.
- The Alabama Blueprint: Sarkisian proved his system works on the road against elite competition. This is the standard for the SEC era.
- Red River Still Matters: Even in a "down" year for Oklahoma relative to Texas, that game is a coin flip. Never bet the house on it.
To really appreciate the 2023 run, you should go back and watch the 4th quarter of the Kansas State game. It’s the perfect microcosm of the season: high stress, questionable officiating, and a defense that refused to break when it mattered most.
Check the 2024 and 2025 rosters to see how many of those "clutch" players from the 2023 schedule are now making an impact in the NFL, especially guys like T'Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II who anchored that defensive front.