Good Morning Longhorn Fans!
Welcome to the 133rd Season of Texas Longhorns Football!
And welcome to the first of two editions of the Austin Horns Fan Dispatch this week, this season preview and kickoff issue and the Buckeye game issue which will publish Friday morning. Both are included in your premium subscription.
Traditions
I have included some of these videos for as long as I can remember. The great What Starts Here Changes the World campaign, the brainchild of Roy Spence and the brilliant folks at GSD&M, and the WSHCW videos narrated by the legendary Walter Cronkite, remain my favorites. By a long shot. This is how we start.
“Texas Lives Within You, Forever”
Let’s Ride
Some more videos to get you in the right frame of mind.
I love this video from Texas Football.
https://x.com/TexasFootball/status/1938310660523253852
From my friend Nash Talks Texas:
From 4th and 5 Videos:
Got an hour to spare? 63 minutes of 2024 season highlights from ESPN.
The 2025 Texas Season
Texas is coming off back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinal appearances and an exceptional 2024 season. There was a lot of talent lost to the NFL, but this team is loaded.
The Arch Manning Era kicks off with an epic rematch with the Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus this Saturday. The pregame edition of the Austin Horns Fan Dispatch will cover that game in detail. Here is a quick look at the rest of an interesting schedule, one that has three home games in September, no home games in October, and three home games in November.
Before looking at the schedule, some interesting information.
From Front Office Sports: “The popularity of the Texas Longhorns is at an all-time high. Texas drew 8 million TV viewers per game last season, averaged home attendance of 102,000 fans, and just sold out season tickets for the fourth straight year.” Media analysts are projecting Texas to be the most watched team in college football in 2025.
On August 12, Paul Finebaum said “They’re the best team in the country. I like them so much better than Ohio State… I think they have a complete team.”
And Arch Manning, on August 25: “I think we kind of try to shift the narrative – we’re going for everyone else. The target’s not on our back. We have a red dot on everyone else.”
San Jose State Spartans, September 6, 11:00 a.m. On ABC or ESPN; Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. W. I was kind of surprised when I realized that it was 8 years ago when the Spartans visited Austin. 56-0 beating. Expect the same this year. Although San Jose State won 7 games last year, including wins over Air Force, Oregon State, and Stanford. Probably was not 128 degrees on the field for those games.
University of Texas El Paso Miners, September 13, 3:15 p.m. SEC Network. Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. W. UTEP was 3-9 last year. They played two Power 4 teams and got whipped – 40-7 loss to Nebraska, and 56-0 beatdown by Tennessee. Texas is 6-0 against the cousins from El Paso.
Sam Houston State Bearkats, September 20, 7:00 p.m. ESPN+/SEC+. Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. W. Gordon, that “+” means you won’t find it by changing the channel on your TV. This will be an interesting game. Our second matchup ever (56-3 in 2006), and this is Sam’s second year in the FBS. They acquitted themselves quite well in 2024, finishing 10-3 with a bowl win over Georgia Southern. Will be fun briefing this game, but I know the verdict will be a big Texas win.
Of note, the ESPN Matchup Predictor for each these 3 game gives Texas a 99% chance of winning.
No. 15 Florida Gators, October 4, TBD (flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7). W. Ben Hill Griffin Stadium – the Swamp – in Gainesville. Texas is 3-0-1 against the Gators. Billy Napier is in his fourth year at Florida, and the Gators are much improved. The ESPN Matchup Predictor has the Horns at 70.3%. Wouldn’t go load up on that just yet.
No. 18 Oklahoma Land Thieves in the 121st edition of the Red River Shootout, October 11, 2:30 p.m., The Cotton Bowl. ABC or ESPN. W. Texas leads the series 64-5-51. The Land Thieves were 6-7 last year, capping a mediocre season with a 1 point loss to Navy in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Brent Venables may be on the hottest coaching seat in the FBS. He picked a good year to seem to have a better team. John Mateer is betting on it. I am betting on another Texas win and Arch putting on the Golden Hat. The ESPN Matchup Predictor has the Horns at 84.5%. Texas is a 9.5 point favorite.
Kentucky Wildcats, October 18. (Night game, 5 or 7). W. Kroger Field, Lexington. Texas is 2-0 against the Wildcats, 7-6 in 1951 and 31-14 last season, both in Austin. Coached by our old friend Mark Stoops, brother of Bob. The Longhorns’ first trip to Lexington. Kentucky was 4-8 last year, with one decent win – the upset of No. 6 Ole Miss in Oxford. The ESPN Matchup Predictor has the Horns at 86.2%.
Mississippi State Bulldogs, October 25. TBD (flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7). W. Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville. Jeff Lebby, from Andrews, Texas, is in his second season. Mississippi State had a miserable 2024, going 2-10 with wins only over Eastern Kentucky and Massachusetts. Texas is 3-2 against MSU (both losses to Jackie Sherrill). The ESPN Matchup Predictor has the Horns at 91.3%.
Vanderbilt Commodores, November 1, 11:00 a.m. On ABC or ESPN; Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. W. Diego & the Dores gave the Horns a game last year in Nashville, and Vandy finished a 7-6 season with a 35-27 win over Georgia Tech in the Birmingham Bowl. They also had that incredible 40-35 win over No. 1 Alabama. You may recall, Vanderbilt actually sports a winning record against Texas, now at 4-1-8. The first win was in the 19th century, the last in 1926. Times have changed. The ESPN Matchup Predictor has the Horns at 94.4%.
No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs, November 15. TBD (flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7). W. Sanford Stadium, Athens. Georgia was 11-2 and 6-2 in the regular season; lost to Notre Dame 23-10 in the CFP quarterfinals in the Sugar Bowl. Time for Texas to get a win over the Dawgs. Like last year, probably not the only time Texas and Georgia will play this season. The ESPN Matchup Predictor has the Horns at 54.3%. Georgia favored by 1.5.
Arkansas Razorbacks, November 22. TBD (flex 2:30-3:30 or 5-7). W. Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas leads the series 57-23. This century, it is 3-3. Arkansas was 7-6 last year (3-5 SEC) and finished the season with a 39-26 win over the Texas Tech Sand Aggies in the Autozone Liberty Bowl. The ESPN Matchup Predictor has the Horns at 89.6%.
No. 19 Texas Agricultural & Mechanical, November 28. 6:30 p.m. on ABC. W. Darrell K Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas leads the series 77-5-37. This century, it is 10-3 Horns. The Aggies were 8-4 and 5-3 last season, ending it with a 35-31 loss to Southern Cal in the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl. Texas Agricultural & Mechanical is going to be fired up after getting spanked at Kyle Field last year to renew the rivalry. Cheapest ticket right now is around $540. The ESPN Matchup Predictor has the Horns at 79.3%. Texas is a 9.5 point favorite.
Texas will win the SEC regular season and championship game and play for a national title. Book it Danno.
My Best Recommendation
My single best recommendation for you is to get Paul Wadlington’s 2025 Longhorn Football Prospectus: Thinking Texas Football. You can buy it on Smashwords or Amazon.
2025 Longhorn Football Prospectus: Thinking Texas Football
The Austin Horns Fan Dispatch: Online @ AustinHornsFan.com
You can read this online on my website. This version will be posted sometime on Tuesday.
Blog – Austin Horns Fan Dispatch
The 2025 Texas Longhorns
Here is the summary for those with a short attention span:
- Arch Manning. Very Good
- Texas Defense. Should be one of the best in the last 50 years. 1977 or 1983 or 2005 good.
- Running Backs: Baxter is healthy, Quintrevion Wiser is tough, bench is deep. Prayers are still in order.
- Guys catching Arch’s passes. Probably very good, maybe great.
- Offensive line. Not a question mark as much as a not yet fully quantifiable element of the 2025 Horns.
- DBU is back.
- Coaching Staff: We have a cohesive staff that has been together for awhile now, and Duane Akina’s return is only going to kick it up another notch.
Offense
Quarterback
I like to lead with defense, but as excited as I was about Archibald Charles Manning (No. 16, 6-4, 219 pounds, Sophomore from Isadore Newman in the Big Easy) a few months ago, I am beyond hyped to watch him play. Every report, interview, post – class kid, football royalty, patient, smart, athletic, humble. Hard to imagine a more anticipated quarterback.
A couple of quotes on from Paul Wadlington’s 2025 Longhorn Football Prospectus (buy it):
That ability to flow on and off script as the game demands is unusual, key for college success, and Texas hasn’t had that trait in a starting passer since Sam Ehlinger and, before that, Colt McCoy. Manning’s on-script tools are going to be better than both of them.
A passer able to scramble for a clutch 13 yards on a big 3rd down is a college cheat code.
Arch stays healthy, we are playing in January. No doubt. Arch gets hurt, then we have some great other young men in the QB room – and the rest of the team is going to have to adjust quickly. Trey Owens (No. 15, 6-5, 219 lbs, RSF from Cy-Fair) is probably the next man up. Matthew Caldwell is the insurance policy transfer from Troy. He has been playing college football for several years, and he is a nice piece to have in place if we need it.
Running Back
CJ Baxter (No. 4, 6-1, 227 lbs, Sophomore from Clearwater FL) is back stronger and sooner than expected. For a man that missed all of last season, reports are very good. He and Quintrevion Wisner (6 foot, 194 lbs, Junior from DeSoto) lead a stout RB Room. Jerrick Gibson (No. 9. 5-10, 206 lbs, Sophomore from IMG Academy) is back to grind out tough yards, and hopefully Christian Campbell (No. 6, 6 foot, 212 lbs, RS Freshman, Phoenix) is healed (Achilles).
Tight End
My favorite position on offense. I have been a proponent of great tight end play in an integrated offensive scheme for 20+ years. The guys who have played at Texas have been among my favorites. Gunnar Helm was the single most pleasant surprise of 2024. This year, we look to Cal transfer Jack Endries (No. 88, 6-4, 236 lbs, Junior) to step up and be that man. Not expecting him to be Gunnar, but sure hope Jack and the other main guys at this position combine to give Arch the outlets and options and blocking he needs to convert third downs and get in the end zone. Especially from two yards out. Jordan Washington (No. 84, 6-4, 264 lbs, Sophomore from Langham Creek) and Emaree Winston (No. 85, 6-1, 237 lbs, Freshman from Calhoun, GA) are the other two men to watch. The good news is, Sark likes to incorporate the tight end, but it can vary with the offense. The different skill sets in the TE room will make this offense exceptionally good at adjustments and moving the sticks.
Wide Receivers
DeAndre Moore Jr. (No. 0, 6 foot, 192 lbs Junior from St. John Bosco in Anaheim CA) leads the wide receiver room. I expect big things. He is bigger, stronger, and probably faster. He should be good, and I have little doubt that if Arch thinks DeAndre is open or might be open, the deep ball is flying. Ryan Wingo (No. 1, 6-2, 214 lbs, Sophomore from St. Louis) is fast. Jet sweeps. Love them. He and Moore are so good, that defenses will probably always double one of them. One guy I was not familiar with before working on this – Parker Livingstone (No. 13, 6-4, 191 lbs, RS Freshman from Lovejoy HS in Lucas) Wadlington is very high on him. Six foot four and very fast. Saith Paul:
[Livingstone] is the kind of wideout that Arch Manning will be more than happy to throw a 50/50 ball to and let #13make it into a 70/30 for the good guys. Don’t underestimate Livingstone’s potential for impact.
Others to watch: Emmett Mosley V (No. 3, 6-2, 210 lbs Sophomore transfer from Chicago) and Aaron Butler (No. 14, 6 foot, 170 lbs, RSF from Calabasas), plus the freshmen – Jaime Ffrench (really), Kaliq Lockett, Michael Terry, and Daylan McCutcheon.
Offensive Line
The key to winning championships. We were blessed last year. Most guys I hear talked about this team say the offensive line is our biggest concern. What, me worry? We have a lot of new starters, and losing Cojoe was a blow, but I am counting on Trevor Goolsby (No. 74, 6-7, 312 lbs, Sophomore from Melissa), DJ Campbell (No. 52, 6-3, 321 lbs, Senior from Arlington Bowie, and Cole Hutson (No. 54, 6-5, 308 lbs, Senior from Frisco) to lead this unit to greatness in 2025.
Defense
One of my lifelong heroes is General George S. Patton. One of his more famous quotes (the real one, not the movie version) is “Compared to war, all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance. God help me, I do love it so.” Change “war” to “great defensive football”, and that is me. I have written many times of my nostalgia for the days when most of the standing ovations in Texas Memorial Stadium were for three and outs. When we had defenses that simply shut down opposing teams. Texas only scored 16 points? No problem, they probably covered.
That is the height of my hopes for 2025. A PPG allowed under 11.
Linebacker
On this side of the ball, linebackers are my tight ends. The key to success on defense, like great middie play in lacrosse (they play offense and defense, linebackers have to play great run defense and great pass defense). Anthony Hill Jr. (No. 0, 6-3, 238 lbs Junior from Denton Ryan) is wearing number zero, but if he plays like he did last year, he should get to wear the hallowed number 60. He is a supreme talent, the Arch of the Defense. Trey Moore (No. 8, 6-3, 249 lbs, Senior from Smithson Valley), the Edge transfer from UTSA last year, has moved to LB. But Edge and outside linebacker smell a lot alike, especially in certain situations. Liona Lefau (No. 18, 6-1, 227 lbs, Junior from Laie, Hawaii) is back. He had a solid season in 2024. Watch for Ty’Anthony Smith (No. 26, 6-1, 216 lbs sophomore from Jasper) too.
Defensive Line
We are so stacked. At tackle, Alex January returns, but Sark & Co. went to the portal to load up. Cole Brevard (No. 99, 6-3, 346 lbs Senior transfer from Purdue), Maraad Watson (No. 98, 6-3, 327 lbs Sophomore transfer from Syracuse), and Hero Kano (No. 93, 6-5, 299 lbs, Senior transfer from Ohio State). Big men. And I bet we see Justus Terry (No. 15, 6-5, 268 lbs freshman from Manchester, Georgia – sorry Kirby) playing. I appreciated Wadlington’s comments on the DT position:
There are roughly 30 total snaps per game to allocate at defensive tackle. Unlike many positions, there is no real penalty for crowdsourcing. There’s little chemistry required to play together. Asking big men to rotate in hockey shifts and give 15-30 maniacal snaps of effort in 3-5 play bursts over four quarters is not too ambitious.
At Edge, we have extraordinary talent and experience. Colin Simmons (No. 1, 6-3, 240 lbs Sophomore, Duncanville) is one of the best football players on a loaded roster. PFF ranks Simmons as the best returning edge player in the country. He is that good. Speaking of lacrosse, Ethan Burke (No. 91, 6-6, 259 lbs, Senior from Austin Westlake) is in his fourth season on the Forty Acres, and he’s a big man that moves like a cat. Colton Vasek (No. 92, 6-2, 250 lbs, Sophomore from Austin Westlake) is a bad ass.
Defensive Back
My hands get sweaty thinking about how good this unit might be. Michael Taaffe (No. 16, 6 foot, 189 lbs, Senior from Austin Westlake) back as a fifth year senior, a leader with Arch. A serious and moral man. Malik Muhammad (No. 5, 6 foot, 188 lbs, Junior from South Oak Cliff) is back, and don’t let last year’s somewhat less than impressive statistics steer you wrong. He was lining up opposite Jahdae Barron, one of the best we’ve ever had. Teams didn’t throw against Barron; they threw against Muhammad. He will be great. Derek Williams (No. 2, 6-2, 201 lbs, Sophomore from New Iberia LA), Jaylon Guilbeau (No. 3, 6 foot, 183 lobs, Senior from Port Arthur Memorial), and Jelani McDonald (No. 4, 6-2, 199 lbs, Junior from Waco Connally) are back with excellent talent and experience. Kobe Black (No. 6, 6-2, 199 lbs, Sophomore from Waco Connally) and Warren Roberson (No. 24, 5-10, 188 lbs, Sophomore from Red Oak). Love all those guys, but hoping to see Jonah Williams (No. 9, 6-3, 213 lbs, Freshman from Galveston Ball). Five star two-sport beast who electrified Disch-Falk Field this spring. If he can do anything on the gridiron like he did on the diamond, he will be amazing. And worth every dollar, of which there were a lot.
Special Teams
I don’t like to call out players, but let’s face it, we were handicapped last year by the redhead. Sark & Co. went to San Marcos and got a kid named Mason Shipley (No. 49, 6 foot, 187 lbs, Senior from Liberty Hill). Let’s hope he plays football as well as the Shipleys who have come before. Did you know that Colt McCoy’s and Jordan Shipley’s fathers were college roommates? We got an Aussie (Bendigo) punter from the Utes (and Michigan State before that) named Jack Bouwmeester (No. 19, 6-3, 209 lbs, Senior, born May 7, 1999). I hope in a few years I am watching some Australian footy in the wee hours and see Jack Bouwmeester and have great memories of him pinning the Land Thieves deep that results in a Mateer interception or fumble and a Big Man rumblin’ bumblin’ touchdown. Why do I love reading Paul Wadlington?
Per Google Maps, Bendigo is two hours from Melbourne, just north of Kangaroo Flat, but still a good bit from the Jirrahlinga Dingo Conservation Center in Chewton.
Will Stone (No. 15, 6 foot, 195, Senior from Austin Regents) returns for kick-offs. I love touchbacks.
Summary
One word Ben, Defense.
The Longhorns have three pre-season All-Americans on Defense: Anthony Hill, Jr., Michael Taaffe, and Colin Simmons. All three are also pre-season All-SEC, plus Trey Moore. Pete Kwiatkowski and his staff and squad really clicked last year (see stats in the next edition), and with the Dean Emeritus of DBU, Sir Duane Akina, back on campus, I have unreasonably high expectations for the Texas Longhorns.
Offense will be so much fun to watch. Sark’s play calling and Arch’s athleticism and skill and ability to execute those plays will be simply exquisite. I draw your attention to the best play of 2024:
Buckle up kiddos. LFG.
The 2024 Texas Season
Last season was the most glorious year of Texas football since 2010. That’s a long time. I enjoyed every minute. And when I walked out of Jerry World after the bitter loss to the Buckeyes, I reminded myself of my commitment to live every day with an attitude of gratitude. I am grateful for that team and that season and all the joy it brought. And the good times with family and friends.
Since I usually predict Texas will basically go undefeated and win the national championship, it is helpful when the Longhorns make me look smart.
Texas 52, Colorado State 0 W. “This won’t be close.” Check.
No. 10 Michigan 12, Texas 31. W. One of the best road game trips ever. Horns beat defending national champions in the Big House. Check.
Texas 56, UTSA 7. W. I said “Horns will win, but this won’t be a lay-up.” Well, I was sort of right. It was a posterizing slam dunk. Arch Manning in.
Texas 51. Louisiana Monroe 3. W. Arch Manning starts! Texas wins. Check.
Texas 35, Mississippi State 13. W. Big game for Arch in his second start. Closer than expected. Texas won. Check.
Texas 34, No. 18 Land Thieves 3. W. First RRS I have watched on TV in over 20 years. Talley Elizabeth Fleming is perfect. Wouldn’t have missed Talley’s arrival for the world.
Texas 15, No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs 30. No prediction, and I was right. Dammit.
Vanderbilt 24, Texas 27. W. Just about every great team having a great season has a close call, a tough game. Diego Pavia and the Commodores delivered that scare to the Horns in Nashville. I won’t be talking smack this year.
Texas 49, Florida 17. W. I will remember this game mostly for the fake reverse/handoff masterpiece and having my grandchildren at Juan Heisman and the game. It was a blessed day.
Arkansas 10, Texas 20,. W. My level of dislike of the pigs is unequaled. So glad we won.
Texas 31, Kentucky 14. W. Wisner ran for 158 yards. That was nice.
Texas Agricultural & Mechanical 7, Texas 17. W. It was great to be back on the utilitarian campus of Texas Agricultural & Mechanical College. It was even better to sit in Kyle Field and watch the 12th man wither.
Texas 19, Georgia 22, OT. 2024 SEC Championship, December 7. Oh so close.
11-1 regular season, a spot in the SEC CG in our first season, and dang near won it!
Of course, I had no preseason predictions for the CFP, but:
Texas 38, Clemson 24. The first ever FBS college football playoff game in Texas, and it was wonderful.
Texas 39, Arizona State and Skattebo 31, Double OT. Peach Bowl, CFP quarterfinals. The most stressful game, probably since the national championship game against Bama.
Texas 14, Ohio State 28. The Cotton Bowl, CFP Semifinals. We were a couple of plays away. We will see if that bitter loss is the springboard to a championship.
Big University of Texas News
In the last 10 days, Chairman Kevin Eltife and the Board of Regents have announced some critically important leadership decisions. They got it right.
Starting at the Flagship, James E. Davis was named the 31st President of The University of Texas at Austin. Jim is an Austin High Maroon (Loyal Forever), Phi Beta Kappa at Texas (History with highest honors), and Harvard Law School. I think (and hope) Jim Davis will be President on The Forty Acres for a long time. He is a great Texan and Longhorn.
At U.T. System, John M. Zerwas, M.D., was chosen to succeed my good friend James B. Milliken. Dr. Zerwas is in many ways a modern day Renaissance Man. A forty year distinguished career as a physician (including a stint as Chief Medical Officer of the Memorial Hermann Hospital System); seven terms in the Texas House of Representatives, including 11 years on Appropriations (3 as chair, the 2nd most powerful position in the House), and then joining U.T. System in 2019 as EVC for Health Affairs.
In San Antonio, Taylor Eighmy will be president of the combined UTSA and UTHSCSA, overseeing the new and improved University of Texas at San Antonio. Great stuff happening in San Antonio, and we may see in my lifetime a recognized Austin-San Antonio metropolitan area that today has over 5 million people and is continuing to grow. The combined economic engines of UT Austin and UTSA, with Texas State in between, will fuel growth in the mega-region. President Davis, Dr. Eighmy, and the might of The University of Texas System will underpin an era of innovation and expansion that will change the State of Texas.
The Preseason Polls
Other Rankings
Ohio State, Penn State, Texas, Notre Dame, Georgia, Oregon, Alabama, Ole Miss, Clemson, and Louisiana State. Texas Agricultural & Mechanical at 18, Southern Cal at 22, and the Land Thieves at 23.
Bill Connelly’s Post-Spring SP+ Rankings:
ESPN College Football Power Index
The ESPN analytics team does a good job with this. Texas number 1!
2025 College Football Power Index – ESPN
ESPN FPI gives Texas a 37.4% chance to win the SEC, an 87% chance to make the CFP, a 38.7% chance to make the national championship game, and 24.5% chance to win it all. Next closest is Georgia at 13.6%. I think Clemson is too low, and where are those Texas Tech Sand Aggies?
PFF
Pro Football Focus is an excellent statistical and analytical resource. I subscribed this year, as they provide solid and accessible information and a reliable and accurate grading system. Here is PFF’s preseason rankings:
The Ed & Ced College Football Preview
One of my favorite events each August is the College Football Preview lunch hosted by Mr. Radio, Ed Clements, with Cedric Golden and the Dean of Texas sportswriters, Kirk Bohls. Traditionally held at my beloved Headliners Club, last week we gathered at Westwood Country Club. Headliners is undergoing its first major renovation in 50 years. Something for another newsletter – going to be great. Anyway, Ed and Ced and Kirk once again delivered a highly entertaining program and meaningful insight into this year’s Texas Longhorns team and the highly anticipated 2025 season.
There will be a whole new defensive playbook with Arch Manning as QB1. His skills, especially running the ball, will allow Sark’s genius at play calling and design to go to a whole new level. This is going to be fun football.
The defense led by Burke, Simmons, Hill, Taaffe, and Muhammad will be outstanding, particularly with the continuity of Coach Kwiatkowski as DC. We have extraordinary depth. Kirk reported that Coach Sark said we are 15 to 16 starters deep on defense.
Kirk and Cedric both have Texas as 11-1 with a loss at Florida. Clements has Texas at 10-2 with losses at Florida and at Georgia.
Ed and Kirk both pick Texas to win the national championship, and I can’t tell from my notes whether Ced has Texas beating Penn State or Penn State beating Texas and there is an ink mark that might be Clemson. I will go with Texas winning it, and my apologies to my brother Golden for not getting his stuff right.
With the eyes of the nation on Arch Manning, Heisman Trophy talk is already rampant. Ed Clements and Cedric Golden both pick Clemson’s Cade Klubnik, but Kirk Bohls is sticking to his guns on an historical season for the Longhorns and picks Arch Manning to be holding the trophy in New York City in December.
Following the Longhorns
When I started penning these missives over two decades ago, neither Twitter nor Instagram existed, there were maybe three or four good fan websites (I don’t recall for sure, but my vague recollection is Inside Texas [Robert Heard] and Orangebloods [Geoff Ketchum]), Chip Brown was writing for the Dallas Morning News, and Kirk Bohls and the sportswriters at the Austin American Statesman were my best source of information, because I had a real newspaper in my driveway every morning. I listened to sports radio when I could during the day (Ed Clements, Jeff Ward, Craig Way) and watched the local TV sports every night to see clips of practice and then games, to hear interviews with players and coaches. And I watched ESPN’s SportsCenter every night.
22 years later, the college football world has endured cataclysmic change, and the sources of information for news on the Texas Longhorns have expanded exponentially. Dozens if not hundreds of social media accounts and groups across X, Instagram, and Facebook – and I presume TikTok (I don’t have an account and prefer that the CCP not have my browsing interests in their logarithms). And then there are the podcasts; one could start listening to Longhorn podcasts at breakfast and probably still have some to listen to at dinner. I am amazed at how many there are – and equally amazed how good many of them are.
We still have all the traditional outlets – the newspapers (Kirk is writing for the Houston Chronicle, and is a must read; Cedric Golden is the man at the Statesman), sports talk radio – locally and the national shows on satellite radio.
And then there is the enormously effective official Texas Longhorns media machine, with accounts for every sports on just about every platform, the new Longhorn Network, and specialized programming like Wheel Smith’s Wheelin’ and Dealin’ (its actually pretty good, but don’t tell Wheels I said that).
How big is the Texas machine? A small sample size:
- Texas Football on Instagram – 1.1 million followers
- Texas Longhorns on Instagram – 642K followers
- Texas Football on Facebook – 755K followers
- Texas Longhorns on Facebook – 1.5 million followers
- Texas Football on X – – 501.9K followers
- Texas Longhorns on X – 322.8K followers
- Steve Sarkisian on Instagram – 102K followers
- Coach Sark on X- 161.5K followers
- Chris Del Conte on X – 86.7K followers
Each of these accounts, and those of all the media outlets, websites, writers, podcasts, and more, generate an untold amount of content every single day. Plus all the content on YouTube. And Longhorn Network. I recommend the Tough All Day series:
So why this newsletter? Why do I still write this? For fun. For my love of the Longhorns and college football. To connect with friends and email pen pals every week. A key goal is to have a collection of information on Texas, the SEC, and national games all in one place, every week. For those who can spend 3 or 4 hours a day on the websites and social media, my musings are probably just good for a quick skim. But for a lot of y’all, I hope it is a place where in 30 or 40 minutes on Friday you can read what you want and get ready for the Texas game and the weekend slate. Hopefully, I provide a different look at the Horns, as well as my work to pull together different statistical analyses for those of you who like the geeky stuff. Plus of course some music and favorite photos.
It is hard for me to recommend just a few of the writers and reporters who cover the Horns. It is like doing an invitation list for a party – don’t know who I might leave off or offend. But, here is a good list which should keep you busy. This is in no particular order. It is not a ranking by any means. I am just banging this out late on Monday night.
A venerable heritage in the Texas Longhorns Football world, it has some great writers. Really some of the best who are not writing for a traditional media source. My favorite Paul Wadlington (who wrote for Barking Carnival under the nom de plume [or perhaps nom de guerre] Scipio Tex) has exceptional football insight and IQ. Joe Cook, Ian Boyd, and Eric Nahlin. A somewhat new man – RT Young, one of my favorite writers who is putting out great stuff (Taylor Young, and he is married to Grace Guinn Young, and for those of you from Tyler, you know what a great family she comes from!). My friend Justin Nash, who does excellent statistical analysis and breakdown. Several other excellent contributors. I am not picking favorites, but if you are going to subscribe to one paywall site, this is probably the one to invest in.
In terms of legends of non-traditional media Longhorns sports coverage, my first subscription was Jerry Scarborough’s True Orange newsletter. Probably a bit of an inspiration for this. He retired around 2014 with the message boards and fan sites, after about three decades of Texas sports writing. After Jerry, I would say Geoff Ketchum and Orangebloods came next. I don’t know for sure, but I best most of us first logged on to Orangebloods with a dial-up AOL connection. It is still a fantastic website and source, with Ketch, Jason Suchomel, and Anwar Richardson leading a very talented and well-connected team.
Led by Chip Brown, this staff does an excellent job providing coverage and insight. I like the other guys, but honestly subscribe to read Chip.
Kirk Bohls – The Houston Chronicle
Among the two most important lessons from the New Testament are gratitude and forgiveness. Anyone still mad at Kirk needs to get over it. When Kirk left the Statesman to go to the Chronicle, I subscribed, and I love it. You can get an almost daily email, and Kirk Bohl’s knowledge of and experience with the Texas Longhorns is unequaled.
Cedric Golden -The Austin American Statesman
One of my favorite writers and people. As good a sports journalist as he is, he is one of the most entertaining speakers you will ever hear – wicked good sense of humor.
The End Zone Club with Ed Clements
My dear friend Ed and his son Ben and Scotty Sayers host a great weekly radio show which is fun, entertaining, and a great way to listen to some sports on a Saturday afternoon.
Odds
The people who make money by setting odds and taking bets are pretty good at what they do. That’s why they make a lot of money, and why most bettors lose more often than not. As Glenn Taylor always told me, they didn’t build those fancy hotels and casinos in the desert to lose money. I am not big on betting, but I do think the information and insight from the oddsmakers and sportsbooks is informative.
National Champion:
From ESPN Bet
Southeastern Conference
From FOX Sports:
Texas Longhorns Football History
Texas is among the most storied football programs in American college football history.
All-Time Wins
This is harder to track than one might think, and different sources will give you different numbers, as the win totals do not always include vacated games and seasons.
By Winning Percentage
Southeastern Conference
Texas and Georgia will meet again in Atlanta on December 6th. The Texas win will put the Horns as the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoffs.
The Austin Horns Fan Dispatch: Administrative Notes
Sometime after midnight, early Friday morning, I start the process of emailing out several days of writing. Sometimes, I enjoy a cold Modelo for the emailing procedures, although when the weather cools I have taken to a glass of port. I occasionally will miss an entire distribution group, so if you don’t get the email one week, ping me. If you want me to add a different address for you, let me know. If you want me to add any friends or family, let me know.
Second, and importantly, the views expressed in my emails are mine alone, and not that of my employer, Jackson Walker LLP, any of my law partners, or of any other organization with which I am affiliated.
If you want to unsubscribe, email me, and I will do my best to find you in the distribution lists and delete you.
Juan Heisman Tailgate: Twenty-Seventh Anniversary Season
We welcome back Tito’s Handmade Vodka as our distilled spirits sponsor and provider. Thanks to Bryan Plater and Bert and all our friends at Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Texas Beer Company, the great craft brewery in Taylor, Texas will be back most games with their great beers.
Twin Liquors is back on board thanks to my longtime good friend David Jabour, and we appreciate their help with our beer supply and other beverages. David and his family and Twin Liquors give back to the community in so many ways. Great people, and I am grateful to partner with them. Thanks David!
The Best in the Nation – and the Southeastern Conference
The Texas Longhorns won the Learfield Director’s Cup for the fourth time, beating Southern Cal and The Leland Stanford Junior University by the narrowest of margins.
Two national championships – Men’s Swimming and Diving and Softball. Five third place finishes – football, women’s basketball, women’s swimming and diving, women’s rowing, and men’s tennis.
The Texas Longhorns also won the SEC All-Sports Trophy in our first year in the league. Baseball won the regular season championship. Women’s Basketball shared the SEC regular season title with the South Carolina Gamecocks. Men’s Tennis won both the regular season championship and SEC tournament. Men’s Swimming and Diving, Women’s Swimming and Diving, and Rowing all won the SEC Championship. Soccer won the SEC tournament championship.
This excellence is the result of not just the outstanding performances on the fields and courts by our athletes, but also of the great leadership in the Athletic Department, starting at the top with Vice President and Lois and Richard Folger Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. CDC is supported by an outstanding team that includes, at the leadership level, Chris Plonsky, Sarah Baumgartner, Shawn Eichorst, Andrew Hamor, Dr. LaToya Smith, and Drew Martin.
In related news, CDC got a nice contract extension.
The July 4th Floods
I have struggled mightily to write about the tragedy of the Kerr County floods. I can’t imagine how many people who are on this list lost a loved one or are just one degree removed. It is one of the most heartbreaking events of my life.
If you have not read Aaron Parsley’s firsthand account of those hours on the Guadalupe River, I encourage you to do so.
My Family and the Flood: A Firsthand Account
There are many great charities to support who are helping victims and families in the Hill Country. In the weeks ahead, I will include some of the specific funds that are close to our family. But for now, if you haven’t contributed to the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country, and specifically the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund, I ask that you consider it.
The Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country
Jim Nicar
Jim Nicar has taught me more University of Texas history than anyone, and his collection of stories, articles, and photographs is second to none. His website, The UT History Corner, is a treasure trove of Texas history, traditions, and trivia.
“1979: An aerial view of the UT Austin campus. Just left of the stadium, the present day Clark Field was being outfitted for racquetball and basketball courts for use by RecSports. They were replaced by the San Jacinto Residence Hall 20 years later.”
From Jim’s July 15, 2025 post on X.
Washington & Lee University
The 2025 Generals are picked second in the ODAC in the preseason poll, behind Randolph-Macon, who is ranked 21st in the Division III football preseason poll (of note to Texans, Hardin-Simmons is preseason No. 6 and Mary Hardin Baylor is No. 8).
The season preview:
2025 Football Season Preview – Washington and Lee University
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians
Almost all y’all know about HAAM. HAAM is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. HAAM Day 2025 is September 23. Mark your calendar.
Music
The Weight is one of my favorite songs. It is a regular in this missive. Here is a great version from FarmAid 2024 lead by Dave Matthews and joined by Lukas and Micah Nelson.
Picture of the Week
JType is one of my favorite Austin photographers and Instagram accounts to follow. This photo is from his August 21st post.
Thanks for reading.
