Forty Acres Insider: November 18

Chris Del Conte head shot 2025

Longhorn Nation,

We've got ANOTHER BUSY AND FUN WEEK AHEAD for the Burnt Orange & White! Football looks to bounce back at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium against our long-time rivals from Arkansas (2:30 p.m. CT/ABC). Volleyball is taking dead aim on an SEC title at the conference tourney in Savannah, Ga. Both Basketball squads are in action at Moody Center, Swimming and Diving hosts the Texas Invitational, and Tennis competes in the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships. It's a full slate so keep those Horns Up all week long — and I'm so fired up to see you on the Forty!

And speaking of gatherings on the Forty, they've been few and far between for Coach Sark and our Football squad these past two months — it's just our second home game in the last nine weeks and boy do WE LOVE OUR OPPORTUNITIES TO GET FIRED UP AT DKR. Halleluiah, we get to gather again, enjoy some family-style fellowship at our pregame festivities, then turn up that Longhorns' home field advantage from the stadium stampede to a classic rivalry showdown with the Razorbacks! The last time Arkansas played in Austin was in 2008 (17 years ago!!) after we squared off as Southwest Conference rivals 65 times from 1915-91. Folks this is a series with a rich tradition, so many memorable games, and goes way back to the first matchup in 1894 that took place right here in the ATX. Saturday will be our 81st meeting with the Hogs on the gridiron and 41st in Austin. Our squad is coming off a tough one at Georgia where they left it all on the field, but they'll pick themselves up, dust off and be ready unleash their best Texas Fight. Together, we've got their backs. Let's bring the juice with so much still to cheer and play for. You did it after a historic 42 days away from home the first time — and good golly, y'all brought the heat in a top-10 victory over Vanderbilt to kick off November. Now after a bye week and last week's game in Athens, we've waited another 21 days to be back together on the Forty. It's the first of back-to-back home games to end the regular season, so let's do this — Hook 'Em, y'all!

IT'S ON TO POSTSEASON PLAY for Coach Elliott and No. 4 Volleyball squad! Fresh off a regular-season-ending 3-1 victory over South Carolina at Gregory Gym — and a sensational Senior Day honoring our four standouts, Emma Halter, Devin Kahahawai, Whitney Lauenstein & Kenna Miller — our Horns are locked in and ready for the next chapter. And how about our Longhorns Got Talent moment with Kenna's outstanding National Anthem on Sunday?! So awesome! Now it's off to Savannah, Ga. for the SEC Tournament (Nov. 21-25). It marks the SEC's first postseason tourney with a championship on the line in 20 years, and our Horns roll in as the No. 3 seed with a double-bye, hitting the court on Sunday. And fear not — we're not done gathering at the Greg this season. We'll be hosting NCAA Volleyball postseason matches when the tournament commences in early December, so stay tuned and get ready.

We had a full week of Basketball and A WHOLE LOT OF VICTORIES from our Longhorns last week at Moody Center. Coach Schaefer and No. 4 Women's Basketball notched another emphatic win to move to 4-0 on the year — surpassing the century mark for the third time with a 111-45 win over Texas Southern on Sunday afternoon. Coach Miller and the men made it three wins in-a-row with decisive victories over FDU on Wednesday and Kansas City on Saturday. The men get things started off this week at The Mood with Rider in town later tonight (8 p.m. CT/SEC Network) before traveling to Hawaii and play three games in three days against a loaded field at the Southwest Maui Invitational next week (Monday-Wednesday). For the women, they'll host James Madison on Wednesday (7 p.m. CT/SEC Network+) before heading to Las Vegas next week for the Players Era Championship where they will start off against No. 3 UCLA on Wednesday, Nov. 26 (1 p.m. CT/truTV).

The LOADED LONGHORN SCHEDULE THIS WEEK includes Men's and Women's Tennis traveling to the Sunshine State and taking on the nation's best at the NCAA Singles & Doubles Championships. And, after sweeping the overall and women's team titles at last week's Texas Diving Invitational, our Longhorn swimmers will challenge all comers at the annual Texas Invitational on Tuesday-Friday at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center.

While I've got you — let's make sure we GIVE OUR GUY MICHAEL HUFF A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE ON SATURDAY. Huffy is set to be inducted into the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame in December, and man, has he earned it. A unanimous first-team All-American, our first-ever Thorpe Award winner (nation's top defensive back), Defensive MVP of the National Championship game, and a stat sheet full of jaw-dropping accomplishments — the resume speaks for itself. But what truly sets him apart is who he is: the way he pours into our community, the impact he makes with our team as assistant director of player development, and the character, class, and heart he brings every single day. Michael Huff is a Hall of Famer in every way. The NFF will be on hand Saturday for a special on-campus salute during the game, and like Coach Sark said, I cannot wait to raise my Horns with all of you to celebrate a Longhorn Legend on the very field he once dominated. Here's to you, my friend! Hook 'Em!

And in closing before we get to the notes, I want to give a SHOUTOUT TO OUR FACULTY REP FOR ATHLETICS, MECHELE DICKERSON. She does a terrific job in all she does with us and it's so wonderful that when a school has a Scholar Athlete and William V. Campbell Award finalist, the National Football Foundation honors the Faculty Representatives as well. Our outstanding student-athlete Trey Moore makes it back-to-back years for us to have an honoree among that prestigious group and here's to another shoutout to Mechelle. We appreciate all you do on campus, for Texas Athletics, and all of your support of our student-athletes. What starts here changes the world my friend!

Action-packed pregame starts at 10 a.m. on Saturday!
We can't wait to welcome y'all back to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial for the final two games of the regular season! First up is this Saturday's game versus Arkansas at 2:30 p.m. (presented by American Airlines). All of our pregame experiences will open at 10 a.m. including Bevo Blvd pres. by H-E-B, Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister, Smokey's Midway pres. by Conecuh Sausage, Hook `Em Hangout, and Big Bertha's Bazaar at Moody Center.

We've got a full Bevo Blvd. lineup down San Jacinto Blvd. including autographs from not one but two of our teams! Men's Tennis will begin signing at 12:30 p.m. followed by Women's Basketball at 1 p.m. Both signings will take place across from Gate 5. And set those reminders for our three signature parades that you won't want to miss: the Bevo Parade (pres. by TFBI) at 11:30 a.m., the Stadium Stampede team arrival at 12:15 p.m., and the Longhorn Band march to the stadium at 1:30 p.m.

Breakout country artist Ty Myers headlines Longhorn City Limits this week
Dripping Springs-native Ty Myers makes his debut performance at Longhorn City Limits presented by Hollister this weekend! Ty has been blowing up the country scene this past year, selling out his 73-date tour, and he is preparing for a huge 2026 run that includes dates with Luke Combs in stadiums across North America and Europe. He grew up a Longhorn fan, and we are so excited for him to showcase his incredible talent on gameday at the LBJ Lawn. He'll be joined by Coleman Jennings, another next generation star in the making who also is one of our own and part of the Texas Longhorns family. The Tito's Tailgate, Bulleit Frontier Lounge, and Pinkerton's BBQ will open at 10 a.m. with live music beginning at 11 a.m. when Coleman Jennings takes the stage. It'll be an LCL you won't want to miss! And stick around after the game as the fan-favorite silent disco is back for the second time this season!

Visit Big Bertha's Bazaar at Moody Center for launches from Aviator Nation and Coordinates plus a "Pig on a Spit"!
We've got a huge day at Big Bertha's Bazaar with a full house of licensees, including a new Texas Longhorns x Aviator Nation launch as well as the debut appearance from Longhorn Legend Sanya Richards-Ross and Aaron Ross' performance pajama brand Coordinates. In addition, we'll have a Pig on the Spit at this game only for fans to enjoy. Come out, enjoy signature cocktails you won't find anywhere else on gameday at the Bazaar Bar, get photo ops with Big Bertha and the giant photo frame, and shop exclusive product. It all gets started at 10 a.m. this Saturday on the Dell Technologies Plaza at Moody Center.

Here's your complete Saturday schedule:
• 7 a.m. – Parking Lots open
• 10 a.m. - Bevo Blvd presented by H-E-B, Smokey's Midway presented by Conecuh Sausage, and Hook 'Em Hangout open!
• 10 a.m. – Big Bertha's Bazaar opens on the Moody Center plaza! Get there early for a special Texas Longhorns x Aviator Nation collection product launch and photo ops with Big Bertha until 12 p.m.
• 10 a.m. - Tito's Tailgate and the Bulleit Frontier Lounge open at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister (ages 21+)
• 10 a.m. – Photo ops with Smokey the Cannon on Smokey's Midway until 12 p.m.
• 10 a.m. – The Flat Creek Estate Wine Garden opens for the general public on the north side of DeLoss Dodds Way near Trinity St.
• 10 a.m. – Hook 'Em Herd signups (pres. by Dick's Sporting Goods) begin for kids ages 7-12 across from Gate 1 on Bevo Blvd spots (available on first-come, first-served basis)
• 10:30 a.m. - Gate 8 Ticket Resolution opens for mobile ticketing support and general ticketing issues
• 11 a.m. – Coleman Jennings LIVE at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister
• 11:30 a.m. – Texas Exes Tailgate opens for Texas Exes members at the Etter-Harbin Alumni Center
• 11:30 a.m. - Bevo XV Parade presented by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance (line up on the south side of Bevo Blvd beginning at 11:15 a.m.)
• 11:30 a.m. – Sports Radio AM 1300 The Zone Longhorn Gameday Pregame Show LIVE at Hook `Em Hangout begins
• 12:15 p.m. - Cheer on Texas Football at the Stadium Stampede, the official team arrival (line up on the north side of Bevo Blvd beginning at 12 p.m.)
• 12:30 p.m. – Ty Myers LIVE at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister
• 12:30 p.m. – Texas Men's Tennis autograph session across from Gate 5 on Bevo Blvd
• 12:30 p.m. - All stadium gates and in-stadium Longhorn Foundation hospitality areas open
• 12:30 p.m. – Gate 32 ticket resolution opens for mobile ticket support
• 1 p.m. – Texas Women's Basketball autograph session across from Gate 5 on Bevo Blvd
• 1:30 p.m. – Longhorn Band March to the Stadium (located at the corner of Robert Dedman Dr. and DeLoss Dodds Way near Longhorn City Limits)
• 2 p.m. – Bevo Blvd, Longhorn City Limits, Smokey's Midway, Hook `Em Hangout, and Big Bertha's Bazaar close
• Pregame – T-38 flyover by the Air Force's 435th Training Squadron "Deadly Black Eagles"
• 2:30 p.m. - Kick-off
• Halftime – Longhorn Band Halftime Show and Texas Exes Distinguished Alumnus Recognition
• Postgame – Silent Disco at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister

For a full list of activities and everything you want to know about all-things gameday, please visit our Football GameDay headquarters page.

Men's Basketball back in The Mood tonight at 8 pm!
Coach Miller and the guys earned a pair of home wins last week to improve to 3-1 on the young season. Last Wednesday night, Tramon Mark posted a game-high 20 points while my man Matas Vokietaitis (just call him 'Big V') added 19 points during the 93-58 victory over FDU. Big V plays with great physicality and is just scratching the surface of the player he can be, so if you haven't had a chance to watch him in person do yourself a favor and get out to Moody Center. The Longhorns were back on the court for a Noon tip on Saturday and earned a 71-55 win against Kansas City. Lassina Traore, who missed all of last year with an ACL injury, led the way with a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds. The team is back in The Mood against Rider later tonight (8 p.m. CT/SEC Network), so let's pack Moody Center and bring the energy! Following tonight's game, Coach Miller (who celebrated a birthday yesterday) and the guys will get a couple days of practice before heading out to compete in the Southwest Maui Invitational next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Women's Basketball wraps up season-opening homestand on Wednesday
Talk about absolute domination. That's exactly what Coach Schaefer and our No. 4 Women's Basketball team has done every time they have taken the court this season. The Longhorns improved to 4-0 on the year with an 111-45 victory over Texas Southern in Moody Center on Sunday afternoon. Texas has reached the century mark in three of its opening four games this season, and on the defensive end of the floor the Longhorns have limited their opponents to single digits in scoring in a quarter a total of six times this year. Six different players scored in double figures for Texas in Sunday's win, led by 18 each from Madison Booker, Aaliyah Crump and Teya Sidberry. Crump has reached double figures in points in each of our first four contests, not too bad I must say for the freshman! The Longhorns will conclude their five-game homestand to open the year when they welcome James Madison to The Mood on Wednesday (7 p.m. CT/SEC Network+). Texas will hit the road for the first time this season, when it heads to Las Vegas to compete in the Players Era Championship. The Longhorns will battle No. 3 UCLA on Wednesday, Nov. 26 (1 p.m. CT/truTV) before facing either No. 2 South Carolina or Duke on Thursday, Nov. 27 (7 or 9:30 p.m. CT/truTV).