The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Forty Acres Insider: September 1
09.01.2026 | Forty Acres Insider
Important news happening in and around Texas Athletics compiled by Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte
Longhorn Nation,
Well, HEY THERE LONGHORNS, WE SURE DID MISS YOU! Y'all know the ol' adage – absence makes the heart grow fonder. It certainly did, and we are so fired up to be stampeding into a new year, and I know you are too. The wait is almost over! Campus is abuzz, our teams are doing their thing with Soccer and Volleyball seasons underway, we've announced our latest class of the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor, and now folks, are you ready for some Football?!
We joined Coach Sark and the squad for a mock game this past Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, getting all the new bells and whistles tested and prepped in and around the stadium. The squad was going through their game week routine and getting everything buttoned up, as well. They've been putting in the work for months, had an outstanding preseason camp, and are getting ready to show out as we kickoff another exciting season. Now we're in game week, and we can't wait to see y'all at a big-time family reunion on the Forty on Saturday. We'll have all of our pregame festivities fired up at 10 a.m., greet the team on Bevo Blvd. at 12:15 p.m. and be ready to get the Texas Fight goin' with 100,000+ of our closest friends for kickoff at 2:30 p.m. CT (ESPN) against Texas State.
Almost time y'all pic.twitter.com/v0vaTFF6fI
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) August 31, 2026
It's All GAS NO BRAKES for Texas Athletics. Alongside President Davis, we welcomed the nearly 10,000 new students to Longhorn Nation at a raucous Gone to Texas event on Aug. 23. Then we did one last victory lap for another incredible year in 2025-26, putting our third-straight Learfield Directors' Cup — and fifth in the last six years — in the history book at our annual student-athlete Welcome Back event last Monday.
Starting the school year off right 🤘@UTAustin x @TexasLonghorns pic.twitter.com/Cu3W9ELeJf
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) August 24, 2026
SOCCER IS OFF AND RUNNIN' in year one of the Coach Bates era! The Longhorns improved to 4-1-1 after Sunday's 6-0 victory over Incarnate Word, and they'll return to the pitch at TCU on Sunday (7 p.m. CT/ESPN+). After starting the season with four-straight neutral-site contests, including three against ranked foes. Coach Elliott and Volleyball will make their home debut at The Greg against No. 15 USC on Wednesday (8 p.m. CT/ESPN2) as part of the Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge before heading back on the road again for a neutral-site showdown against No. 6 Louisville in Nashville on Sunday (11 a.m. CT/ABC) in the Broadway Block Party. It's time to get out your Burnt Orange and White-best, put those Horns Up High, and let's Hook 'em all the livelong day.
The Horns are back 🤘#HookEm | @SeatGeek pic.twitter.com/GDkjgQBeHG
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) August 31, 2026
We had SOME BIG NEWS ON THE FORTY heading into this week. Earlier today at our all staff meeting we let everyone know that our Longhorn Legend Chris Plonsky will be retiring from her current role as Chief of Staff/Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director and Senior Women's Administrator at the end of the 2026-27 academic year. CP is an absolute rock star. She's a legend who has poured her heart and soul into The University of Texas and our athletics department for four decades. We are so grateful for all she's done, the impact she's had on our coaches, student-athletes, and The University of Texas for a long, long time. But there's no need to fear, she'll still be here as after this year, she will be continuing in another role working with Texas Athletics that will be announced at a later date. We'll take this year to celebrate all she's done in her current role and the many roles that came before it, but we're so fortunate she'll continue to be a part of Texas Athletics. Here's to an emphatic Horns Up for CP!
And while I've got you and to make your gameday experience as smooth as possible, please take a moment to read through the information below. Here's to another awesome year, y'all. See you on the Forty!
Download your mobile ticket(s) and parking passes in advance and enter at your designated entry gate
If you haven't already, please log in to your account and download your mobile ticket(s) and/or parking permits. Make sure to enter the entry gate listed on your mobile ticket(s) as this will be the fastest entry gate to your seat location. Please note that only fans whose tickets list Gate 4 or 5 as their entry gate will be able to scan in at those gates on the west side of the stadium.
Plan your gameday commute before heading to the stadium
We want your trip to AND from DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium to be as smooth and stress-free as possible this season. That means planning ahead, allowing yourself extra time, and knowing your best route before you head our way. With the ongoing I-35 construction project, take a moment to review important traffic flow patterns at TexasLonghorns.com/Parking for individualized parking and traffic flow maps as well as important traffic updates all season long.
The best gameday experience in the country returns this Saturday!
Get ready! The nation's best pregame experience returns with 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 all set to welcome fans for another unforgettable gameday with all areas opening at 10 a.m. We've got plenty of exciting new additions to these areas with more to come throughout the season.
One quick note for our Hook 'Em Hangout regulars. You'll notice a condensed layout this season as exciting renovations continue around Winship Circle. We appreciate everyone's patience while the work is underway and can't wait to unveil a beautiful new-look space when the project is complete in 2027!
Plan your day with our new Texas Gameday Fan Journeys Program!
We've got so much happening on the Forty Acres each and every gameday, and this year we're making it easier than ever for y'all to experience everything you love! Our new Texas Gameday Fan Journey Profiles give you a personalized roadmap to gameday, whether you're bringing the Little Longhorns and choosing our Families Journey, looking for the best sights, bites, sips and sounds with our Explorers Journey, or wanting to hit all of our Texas gameday "greatest hits" with the Essentials Journey. Just pick the journey that fits you, and we'll help guide you through all the can't-miss action from Bevo Blvd and Longhorn City Limits to Smokey's Midway, Big Bertha's Bazaar and so much more. We can't wait for y'all to check it out and make the most of every minute on the Forty Acres! Plan your Fan Journey TODAY!
make the most of your Gameday experience with our new curated Fan Journeys 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/csijnFxZux
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) August 25, 2026
Be on Bevo Blvd by 11:30 a.m. and help us welcome Bevo and the Horns to DKR!
There are so many things I love about Texas Football gameday, but seeing Longhorn Nation packed along Bevo Blvd to welcome our beloved Bevo is always near the top of the list! There's truly nothing like watching Bevo make his grand entrance alongside Texas Cheer, Texas Pom, the Longhorn Band and Hook 'Em during the Bevo Parade pres. by TFBI. We'll officially get our home season going this Saturday with the Bevo Parade at 11:30 a.m., then keep that Burnt Orange energy going as Coach Sark and the Horns make their way through the Stadium Stampede at approximately 12:15 p.m. Get there early, wear your Burnt Orange and White, and bring the energy as we welcome Bevo and our team back home to DKR!
Eli Young Band and Graham St. Clair Band get Longhorn City Limits rolling!
We've got a terrific Texas lineup to start up our eighth season of Longhorn City Limits presented by Hollister! Rising Texas country act Graham St. Clair Band will get things rolling at 11 a.m. before we welcome Eli Young Band to the LBJ Lawn at approximately 12:30 p.m. Y'all know their hits — "Crazy Girl," "Even If It Breaks Your Heart," "Drunk Last Night" and so many more. I can't think of a better way to get Longhorn Nation fired up before we head into DKR. And remember, LCL is FREE for all fans, so come out early and enjoy the Tito's Tailgate, Bulleit Frontier Lounge, award-winning BBQ, happy hour pricing and plenty more as we kick off another tremendous season of live music on the Forty Acres. See y'all on the lawn!
see y'all on LBJ Lawn soon🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/tlWWp1i4o7
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) August 24, 2026
Can't-miss product drops, exclusive eats and more await at Big Bertha's Bazaar
Big Bertha's Bazaar has quickly become one of the most unique stops on Texas Football gameday, and we're taking things to another level this season! Starting at 10 a.m., come check out exclusive product drops you'll only find at the Bazaar on gameday, including UNDEFEATED streetwear, Concho, Mizzen+Main, Kendra Scott, Horn Legend, Vineyard Vines and even fresh Longhorns pajamas from Coordinates, the luxury pajama brand from our very own Longhorn Legends Sanya Richards-Ross and Aaron Ross. And there's plenty more than shopping! Grab a Raspberry Lemonade or Prickly Piña from the Bazaar Bar, dig into chicken bulgogi street tacos and other gameday bites, and make sure to snap a photo with Big Bertha herself before 11:30 a.m. There's truly nothing else like the Bazaar, so come see us at Moody Center and check out all the exclusive gear, food and fun before heading to DKR!
New flavors, Fan First favorites and more highlight what's cooking at DKR this season!
Come hungry, Longhorn Nation, because our partners at Sodexo Live! have another terrific lineup of food and beverage options waiting for y'all at DKR this season! Among the new additions are Footlong Brisket Nacho Dogs, Big Tex Bacon-Wrapped Hot Dogs, Cake Cups and Dirty Sodas, along with new specialty cocktails featuring our newest partner, Verdadero Tequila. And one thing we're especially proud of is our Fan First Menu, which returns for a ninth consecutive season with prices that haven't changed since we started the program, including $3 bottled water, candy and popcorn, $4 hot dogs and peanuts, and $5 nachos and bottled Coca-Cola products.
We're also continuing to make it easier for y'all to grab what you want and get back to your seats. A new interactive concessions map coming later this week will help you find specific food and beverage items and direct you to the closest location, while the addition of 16 more self-checkout units brings us to 105 self-checkout units, the most of any college stadium in the country! And for those of you who collect our gameday YETIs, we've got new designs coming this season, starting Saturday with our first-ever two-tone colored Burnt Orange and White Ramblers. Lots to eat, drink and check out at DKR this fall, so come hungry and come early!
View the full list of concessions locations here.
pov: you're a foodie during football season 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/zmXT1TeC3E
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) August 21, 2026
Stay in your seats at halftime as we salute the Showband of the Southwest and our Champions!
You won't want to leave your seats at halftime Saturday as the Showband of the Southwest takes the field for its first halftime performance of the season! Then, we'll turn our attention to celebrating another extraordinary year for Texas Athletics as we recognize our three NCAA Championship teams (Men's Swimming & Diving, Rowing and Softball) along with our seven conference championship teams on the field. And what a year it was! We'll cap it off by celebrating our third consecutive Learfield Directors' Cup and fifth in the last six years, once again recognizing Texas as the nation's top athletics department, along with the Women's Capital One Cup, honoring our women's programs as the best in the nation. I couldn't be prouder of our tremendous student-athletes, coaches and staff who continue to raise the standard and make Longhorn Nation proud.
Beat the heat and stay hydrated on gameday!
It's going to be a warm one on the Forty Acres, Longhorn Nation, so plan ahead, drink plenty of water and take care of yourselves and your fellow Longhorns throughout the day! Be sure to hydrate before, during AND after the game, and take advantage of the 16 free "water monsters" located throughout DKR — just ask any usher to direct you to the closest one. You're also welcome to bring one factory-sealed plastic water bottle up to 1 liter into the stadium. And when you need a break from the heat, our friends at St. David's HealthCare will have four cooling stations at Sections 32, 106, 118 and 124 featuring fans, cooling towels and plenty of water. Stay cool, stay hydrated and let's bring the energy on Saturday!
Here's your complete Saturday schedule
• 7 a.m. – Parking Lots open
• 10 a.m. – Bevo Blvd pres. by H-E-B, Smokey's Midway pres. by Conecuh Sausage, Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister, and Hook 'Em Hangout open
• 10 a.m. – Big Bertha's Bazaar opens on Moody Center Plaza. Get there early for an exclusive Texas Longhorns collection drop from UNDEFEATED Streetwear.
• 10 a.m. – Tito's Tailgate and Bulleit Frontier Lounge open at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister
• 10 – 11:30 a.m. – Photo ops with Smokey the Cannon on Smokey's Midway
• 10 a.m. – Hook 'Em Herd (pres. by Dick's Sporting Goods) signups begin for kids ages 7-12 across from Gate 1 on Bevo Blvd (spots available on first-come, first-served basis)
• 10 a.m. – Get photo ops with Big Bertha and check out Big Bertha's Bazaar
• 10:30 a.m. – Huntington Bank Gate Ticket Resolution opens for mobile ticket support
• 11 a.m. – Noon – Graham St. Clair Band LIVE at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister
• 11:15 a.m. – Photo ops with Hook `Em at Hook `Em Hangout
• 11:30 a.m. – Texas Exes Tailgate opens at Alumni Center for Texas Exes members
• 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Rowing autographs on Bevo Blvd across from Gate 5
• 11:30 a.m. – Sports Radio AM 1300 AM The Zone Longhorn Gameday Pregame Show LIVE at Hook `Em Hangout begins
• 11:30 a.m. – Bevo Parade pres. by Texas Farm Bureau Insurance on Bevo Blvd (fans line up at 11:15 a.m. at South Entrance on Bevo Blvd)
• 11:30 a.m. – ShopBack Gate and ShopBack Gate Ticket Resolution opens for Big Ticket holders with general admission lower-level student tickets
• 12:15 p.m. – Stadium Stampede team arrival on Bevo Blvd (fans line up at Noon at North Entrance on Bevo Blvd)
• 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.– Men's Basketball autographs on Bevo Blvd across from Gate 5
• 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. – Eli Young Band LIVE at Longhorn City Limits pres. by Hollister
• 12:30 p.m. – LLH Gate Ticket Resolution open for mobile ticket support
• 12:30 p.m. – All stadium gates and Longhorn Hospitality areas open
• 1:30 p.m. – Longhorn Band March to the stadium (starts on Robert Dedman Drive 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 from the Air Force 435th Fighter Training Squadron
• 2:30 p.m. – Kickoff vs. Texas State!
• Halftime – Longhorn Band Halftime Show
• Halftime - 2025-26 Directors' Cup/Women's Capital One Cup/Championship Team Recognition
For a full list of activities and everything you want to know about all-things gameday, please visit our Football GameDay headquarters page.
And in closing, just a note of caution, folks. With the rise in AI-generated content and digital scams, here's a quick reminder to stay vigilant. If you receive an email claiming to be from Texas Athletics, please double-check its authenticity. Official communications will only come from a utexas.edu email address — not from AOL, Gmail, Yahoo, or any other personal accounts.
Hook 'Em Horns,
P.S. — Scenes from our 4EVER Texas community outreach trip to Kenya this summer!
more scenes from our @CourtsForKids trip to Busia, Kenya 🤘🇰🇪#HookEm pic.twitter.com/8CHhoqFeHU
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) August 30, 2026
P.S. — Welcome to the Forty Acres!
Welcome to the Forty Acres! 🤘🧡
— UT Austin (@UTAustin) August 25, 2026
From mooov-in to Gone to Texas, the Class of 2030 kicked off their UT journey with traditions, new friends and plenty of Texas spirit.
See how we welcomed our newest Longhorns here - https://t.co/prYRpXJ8Kg pic.twitter.com/HeMC3x5LnD
P.S. — Burnt Orange is so back!
Burnt orange is so back 🤘 pic.twitter.com/np648tNKYF
— UT Austin (@UTAustin) August 28, 2026
P.S. — A new era of Texas Soccer is underway!
first of many 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/PI7cbFOWZa
— Texas Soccer (@TexasSoccer) August 13, 2026
P.S. — Our guy Scottie Scheffler is on a different level!
our guy Scottie Scheffler wins the TOUR Championship to earn his second FedExCup title in the last three years 🤘🏆#TakeDeadAim | @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/c67YpIRRDY
— Texas Men's Golf (@TexasMGolf) August 30, 2026
P.S. — The standard is the standard!
welcomed back your 2025-26 Learfield Directors' Cup Champs this week 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/UwoMD0ms2J
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) August 28, 2026
P.S. — Love to see the love of teammates! What a win for Seb Gorzny in his US Open debut!
That feeling when you see your teammate win his @usopen debut over a top 40 ATP player to advance to the second round! So proud of you Seb! #HookEm 🤘🎾 pic.twitter.com/OzdNqheCB2
— Texas Men's Tennis (@TexasMTN) August 31, 2026
HEADLINES:
Video: Steve Sarkisian press conference (August 31):
Four from Women's Golf earn Golf Channel Preseason All-America honors:
Men's Golf's Bennett, Comegys named Golf Channel Preseason All-Americans:
Women's Basketball to return to Players Era Showcase:
Scottie Scheffler wins TOUR Championship and FedExCup crown:
Softball announces 2026 fall schedule:
Women's Basketball to play in Lone Star Series in Fort Worth:
Texas Athletics and Huntington Bank announce landmark 10-year sponsorship:
Texas Athletics names Verdadero Tequila the Official Tequila of the Longhorns:
