Texas Longhorns 'Cupcake' Odds in Week 1 Set Championship Expectations

Texas Longhorns football has a loaded 2026 schedule, with at least two spotlight kickoff times to match.

But first things first …

Texas announced that its Week 2 showdown with Ohio State will kick off Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

ESPN’s College GameDay will also be in Austin for the matchup, giving the Longhorns an early-season national stage as they try to climb back into the College Football Playoff picture.

That’s no small storyline after Texas went 10–3 in 2025 and saw its two-year CFP appearance streak come to an end.

Texas also confirmed its regular-season finale against Texas A&M will kick off Friday, Nov. 27, at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC in College Station.

But first up comes Texas State at Texas in a Week 1 Saturday that is seen as a warm-up ahead of playing the big boys.

How much so? The Longhorns are favored by 30.5 points.

That number sets the odds. But it also sets the expectations.

The Lone Star Showdown has become a Black Friday staple since Texas joined the SEC in 2024, and the stakes have been huge.

Texas has won both SEC-era meetings with the Aggies, including last year’s 27–17 victory that knocked Texas A&M out of the SEC Championship Game race.

And that Ohio State rematch?

The Buckeyes beat the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl College Football Playoff semifinal on Jan. 10, 2025, then won again 14–7 in Columbus to open the 2025 regular season.

With Ohio State early and Texas A&M late, the Longhorns won’t have to wait long for attention. They’ll have to earn it from September through November.