Texas football is gearing up for a pivotal spring, and it all starts March 9. That’s when the Longhorns will hit the field for the first of 15 spring practices, culminating in the return of the Orange-White Spring Game on April 18-a welcome sight for fans after the event took a break last year.
Athletic director Chris Del Conte confirmed the spring game date during his annual Town Hall Meeting, and he didn’t hold back on the enthusiasm.
“We're gonna have a combination Fan Day and also a spring game,” Del Conte said. “Not too sure how the spring scrimmage is gonna go.
We have a lot of young bucks. But I talked to Coach [Steve] Sarkisian yesterday at lunch, and he said, 'Yeah, we're gonna give it a go.'
It’s gonna be awesome.”
That April 18 date is shaping up to be a full day of Longhorn sports, with the Texas baseball team also hosting Alabama at Disch-Falk Field at 2 p.m. CT. So if you’re in Austin, you might want to clear your schedule.
The return of the spring game marks a shift from last year, when Texas opted out following a grueling 16-game 2024 season that included a trip to the College Football Playoff semifinals. In contrast, the 2025 campaign wrapped after just 13 games, and with the NCAA’s recent changes to the transfer portal-eliminating the spring window and consolidating it to a single January period-there’s less concern now about showcasing talent that might get poached.
Still, this spring comes with its own set of challenges. Texas announced on Jan. 23 that quarterback Arch Manning underwent minor foot surgery as a precautionary move tied to a previous injury.
He’ll be limited during offseason workouts but is expected to return during spring ball. That’s obviously a big storyline to watch, considering Manning’s role in the quarterback room and the expectations surrounding his development.
He’s not the only Longhorn recovering from offseason procedures. Safety Xavier Filsaime, left tackle Trevor Goosby, wide receivers Emmett Mosley V and Ryan Wingo, and linebacker Ty'Anthony Smith all had surgeries of their own. While the program expects all of them to be fully healthy by the season, it remains unclear how involved they’ll be in spring practices.
And then there’s the influx of fresh faces. Texas brought in 43 newcomers as part of its 2026 class-24 from the high school ranks and 19 via the transfer portal. That’s a massive injection of talent and depth, and it’s going to make for some intense competition across the board.
Elijah Ali, a three-star defensive lineman from St. Pius X-St.
Matthias Academy in Downey, California, became the final high school signee in the class on Wednesday. He and offensive lineman Nicolas Robertson are the only two high school signees who won’t take part in spring ball, opting instead to enroll in June.
The rest-22 in total-are already on campus and ready to get to work.
The transfer haul is equally intriguing. It includes players from across the college football map-names like junior DT Ian Geffrard (Arkansas), senior RB Raleek Brown (Arizona State), and senior QB MJ Morris (Coastal Carolina), among others. These are experienced additions who could push for immediate roles, especially in a program that’s clearly aiming to reload, not rebuild.
With a roster this deep and so many new pieces in play, this spring isn’t just about getting reps-it’s about establishing chemistry, identifying leaders, and setting the tone for a season where expectations will be sky-high once again.
April 18 might be circled for the fans, but for Steve Sarkisian and his staff, the real work starts March 9. And with all the talent converging in Austin, there’ll be no shortage of storylines to follow.