Texas football is getting close to turning the page on a familiar inconvenience: the quarter-mile bus ride to Denius Fields and the 24-year-old practice bubble that has housed the Longhorns’ indoor work since 2002.
That old setup has done its job, but even Steve Sarkisian made it clear he’s ready for what comes next. After Texas wrapped its final spring camp before moving into the new practice facility just south of Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Sarkisian looked back on the bubble and remembered how slow the whole operation could feel when weather forced the team inside.
“The memory I have is the first time we were outside and we had a transition to go into the bubble because of weather and lightning,” Sarkisian said. “It just didn't dawn on me how long it would take to get 120 players plus staff and video into the bubble [through that one revolving door].
I was tapping my foot, and I was thinking to myself, 'If Nick Saban were here today, the top of the bubble might have blown off, because, as a coach, you want to be efficient and go, go, go. It's been a lot of great players that have practiced in the bubble, but I'm definitely looking forward to moving into the new indoor [facility] for sure."
The new building, the $80 million Frank & Wofford Denius Indoor Football Facility, is set to officially open in August.
Photos taken Wednesday showed the progress being made on the Longhorns’ new football practice facility.
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Sarkisian Just Landed The Kind Of Texas Recruiting Win That Lasts
Texas 2027 class already sits among the nations best, and Steve Sarkisian just added the kind of foundational piece that can shape a roster for years. The Longhorns have been working to keep the offensive line stocked with both blue-chip talent and older help, pairing this latest commitment with experienced transfers as they try to fortify the front for 2026 and beyond.
What makes this one matter is the level of the player and the schools Texas had to hold off to get him. The Longhorns won out over Oregon and Texas A&M for a prospect ranked among the very best linemen in the country, the sort of addition that can alter how a class is viewed the moment it lands. And because he is the kind of tackle who could be in the mix quickly, the Longhorns may not have to wait long to see whether this recruiting win pays off on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Be Losing A Massive Commitment At The Worst Time
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LSU is now working to pull him back home, with its staff leaning into the chase and trying to change the momentum around a commitment Texas once felt good about. For the Longhorns, the timing makes this especially delicate because losing a player of Royals caliber would not just sting in the abstract, it would open the door for a rival to make a real statement on the trail. [Read more 🡒]