Texas has reshuffled its 2027 opener, and the change means the Longhorns will now meet Michigan on Sept. 4 instead of Sept. 11.
That adjustment comes after Michigan reportedly moved its 2027 game with Eastern Michigan to Sept. 11, the same date originally set for its home-and-home matchup with Texas. What had looked like a possible escape hatch for the Wolverines quickly turned into a schedule switch on Texas’ side.
The bigger wrinkle is what Texas did with the calendar. The Longhorns will now open their 2027 season in Week 0, taking advantage of a new rule after the FBS Oversight Committee voted to make Week 0 the official start of the season rather than Week 1.
Under that setup, teams that begin in Week 0 gain an extra off week, stretching the regular season from a 13-week window to 14 weeks. That also means a team would have 11 opponents left to play across the next 13 weeks.
Texas pointed to the change with a simple post: “Plan accordingly🤘”
For the Longhorns, the practical impact is pretty straightforward. The schedule mostly stays intact, but everything shifts up a week, and Texas could end up with a second bye in 2027. That second open date would land during an SEC slate that already figures to be demanding.
The first bye week for Texas is usually set for the first weekend in October, just before the Red River Rivalry. After three non-conference games, the Longhorns will move into their conference grind with another off week somewhere along the way.
Texas’ SEC schedule for 2027 includes home games against Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas A&M. The Red River Rivalry with Oklahoma will again be played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas. On the road, the Longhorns are set to face Alabama, Arkansas, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt.
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College GameDay Sees Texas As A Contender But Not A Sure Thing
ESPNs College GameDay spent part of the weekend sorting through the SECs top tier, and Texas came out of it with something close to a respectability stamp. Several of the panels analysts, including Nick Saban and Desmond Howard, weighed in on the SEC Championship and the College Football Playoff National Championship, and the consensus leaned toward Georgia as the favorite to come out of the conference. Even so, the Longhorns were firmly in the conversation, which is where they wanted to be entering another season with bigger expectations attached to the program.
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What makes the trip even more notable is the return to a venue where Texas has not played this matchup in generations, which only adds to the anticipation around a game that already carries plenty of name recognition. Tickets are already on the market too, with prices stretching from $350 to $1,650, a reminder that this one is expected to draw plenty of attention well before the teams actually get to Knoxville. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Depth Chart Already Reveals A Few Surprising Early Battles
Texas released its first official depth chart of the season ahead of the Texas State game, and it already offered a few hints about where the early competition is fiercest. The Longhorns listed starters and backups across offense, defense and special teams, giving the first real look at how the staff is sorting out roles after camp.
Among the more notable choices, sophomore Dylan Sikorski is penciled in ahead of sixth-year Laurence Seymore at left guard, a sign that the interior line picture is still taking shape. The rest of the chart also suggests Texas is not afraid to make some early calls and keep a few jobs open to challenge, which is exactly the kind of pressure a team wants before the schedule starts to tighten. [Read more 🡒]