Texas Longhorns Begin Season Against Texas State Bobcats

The Texas Longhorns are set to kick off their 2026 college football season against the Texas State Bobcats at Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, with Texas entering as a 29.5-point favorite.

Last season, Texas finished outside the College Football Playoff field despite being the top-ranked team in preseason polls. Arch Manning leads the Longhorns, who are looking to improve their standing this year. Texas State, coached by former Longhorns quarterback G.J. Kinne, is also looking to make an impact as they join the revamped Pac-12 Conference.

The SportsLine Projection Model has simulated the game 10,000 times, predicting a total score of 49 points, which is under the set over/under of 60.5 points. Texas State's offense, which ranked 12th in scoring last year, returns key players including quarterback Brad Jackson and two 1,000-yard receivers. Meanwhile, Texas boasts a strong defense under new coordinator Will Muschamp, having allowed only 20 points per game last season.