The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Forty Acres Insider: September 29
09.29.2026 | Forty Acres Insider
Important news happening in and around Texas Athletics compiled by Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte
Longhorn Nation,
Gritty, gutsy, driven and determined … our Horns dug deep, stood tall and delivered some TENACIOUS TEXAS FIGHT in Knoxville on Saturday! We can all agree it was a heck of a game and an incredible performance on the field, but I also know we had some major issues to address with inappropriate celebrations from our players. I'm not happy about that, I know none of us are, and it was embarrassing to our proud and widely respected football team, athletics program and university. It certainly raised very warranted concerns that many of you shared with me, drew a lot of attention, and I understand why. Rest assured, Coach Sark has addressed both situations with the players individually and with the team, and he discussed them after the game and again in Monday's press conference. As he said, it is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The message is clear — the players conduct did not reflect the values of Texas Athletics or our university and cannot happen again. I also want to add my apology to our Longhorn community and everyone who expects better from Texas. We should represent this university with class, dignity and respect at all times, and in those moments, we fell short. I do recognize that these are young men who made mistakes, and this is a meaningful learning experience. They have owned their mistakes, and those actions are not reflective of who they are. They are good people who made poor choices — they know it, we know it, and they, along with our entire team, will grow from this. What matters now is that they do just that and that our entire team understands the responsibility that comes with representing The University of Texas. We are proud of the team and what it accomplished Saturday and thus far this season, and we will continue to hold ourselves to the standard that all of you rightly expect from Texas. Thank you for your passion, your candor and your unwavering support of our Longhorns.
That said, with thousands of y'all cheering your hearts out for our Horns in Knoxville and millions tuning in worldwide, the victory was a memorable one. They came, they saw, they conquered, as Coach Sark and our No. 1 Longhorns took their show on the road for a Top-15 matchup and came away with a vital road win over No. 13 Tennessee. And y'all — the best fans in the land — brought it to the Volunteers, too, my friends … so thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your unwavering support! College GameDay, the ABC Saturday Night Football crew and millions of viewers had their eyes on Texas as our relentless resolve produced a tremendous triumph. On the heels of that SEC road win, we'll have a chance to get some rest and recovery during a bye week before heading to Big D for the Allstate Red River Rivalry next week (2:30 p.m. CT/ABC). And as a prelude to Saturday's 20-17 thriller over the Vols, Volleyball pulled off a reverse sweep to take down No. 13 Tennessee, setting the table for a Texas two-step and a sweep in Knoxville last weekend.
Brought the burnt orange to Neyland🤘 https://t.co/qgbgNzDFwK
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 26, 2026
It was a physical, hard-hitting, old-fashioned gridiron battle in Tennessee — and one HECK OF A STATEMENT WIN. The victory was fueled by a fierce defense and big-time, clutch plays on offense when we needed them most. And it was another Texas Takeover as our Longhorn road faithful showed up in force, then stayed to celebrate and sing "The Eyes of Texas" with us after the big-time win. What a scene it was! The locker room was a sight to behold, too, as our Horns' rousing rendition of "Texas Fight" could probably be heard from the Rocky Top all the way to Austin, Texas, Baby! (in my best VY voice). And how about these numbers? It was our second Top-25 win this season — something no other program can claim at this point — and our FBS-leading 16th Top-25 victory and fifth Top-25 road victory since 2023. Think about this: over our last 12 games, our Horns have beaten six Top-20 teams, including four Top-10 opponents. That's some incredible success to build on, and the best part is, we've got so much more out there in front of us!
Football may have the week off, but there's still PLENTY OF LONGHORN ACTION TO CHEER FOR. We look forward to seeing you on the Forty as Volleyball returns to Gregory Gym for a pair of SEC matches — first against Mississippi State on Friday (6:30 p.m. CT/SEC Network+) and then Alabama on Sunday (Noon CT/SEC Network+). Soccer is coming off its first SEC victory of the season at Ole Miss and now hosts a Red River Rivalry match with Oklahoma on Sunday at Mike A. Myers Stadium (2 p.m. CT/SEC Network+). Beach Volleyball is at home as well on Friday and Saturday, taking on TCU (1 p.m. CT Friday/9 a.m. CT Saturday) at Wright-Whitaker Sports Complex. Fall Ball begins for Coach White and our two-time defending National Champion Softball program tonight at Red & Charline McCombs Field (6 p.m. CT), while Baseball gets a special treat with a trip to Dell Diamond on Saturday to take on Houston (Noon CT). Cross Country, Golf and Tennis compete on the road as well … that's a lot to get your Horns Up for so let's Hook 'Em!
coming this week 🤘 #HookEm | @SeatGeek https://t.co/OrSbUc0dX8
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 28, 2026
Football grits it out in our first-ever game in Knoxville
We touched on it earlier, but what guts and resiliency our Horns showed going into an awesome Neyland Stadium atmosphere for the first time in our program's rich history and walking out of that place with the win. The defense was sensational, the offense came up with game-changing plays, and it was all part of an amazing day that had it all. Talk about a ferocious defense! What a historic performance, led by 10 sacks (you read that right, TEN!) — the second-most in a game in school history and the fourth-most by an FBS team against a Top-25 team since sacks became an official NCAA stat in 2000. The defense limited a Tennessee offense that had entered the game with the nation's No. 4 rushing offense (298.7 ypg), No. 7 scoring offense (47.7 ppg) and No. 14 total offense (510.3 ypg) to just 70 rushing yards and 1.7 yards per carry, 10 offensive points (one of their two touchdowns came on a punt return), and 221 total yards — with 80 of those coming on one drive. How about that, y'all?! It was a total team effort, with five different players accounting for the 10 sacks and highlighted by a historic game from our National Defensive Player of the Week Colin Simmons, who registered a school-record, SEC record-tying 5.5! Rasheem Biles was everywhere with 13 tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss. We got sacks from all over the defensive line, from the likes of Hero Kanu, Maraad Watson, and Zina Umeozulu. And he might not have gotten an official sack, but it sure felt like my man Lance Jackson was all over the field. The DBs did their part, too, and by the time Jelani McDonald knocked down that final pass, a historic defensive performance was in the books. Meanwhile, the offense came out of the gates with a fantastic 75-yard drive for an early 7-0 lead and then hammered it home down the stretch with an eight-play, 60-yard march in the fourth quarter to build a late 10-point lead. Those were sandwiched around a pair of field goals from our guy Gianni Spetic, and we never trailed in one of the SEC — and the nation's — biggest and most iconic venues. Playing in the place where his uncle Peyton was a legend, Arch Manning made clutch throws, like the third-down 18-yard connection to Ryan Wingo in the fourth quarter, along with big ones to Cam Coleman, young Mr. Bishop and Emmett Mosley V throughout the game. I know that was a special one for the Manning family as Grandpa Archie and the whole crew cheered on Arch and our Horns. The offensive line cleared a path for both touchdowns by Raleek Brown (now, this highlight wasn't a touchdown, but I mean, come on — spin cycle is right!), and we were on our way to a Burnt Orange sunset in the Great Smoky Mountains! It all adds up to 4-0, and we're ready to go from the Blue Ridge Mountains to that Red River Rivalry! The Cotton Bowl awaits — we'll see you in Dallas in less than two weeks!
Hook 'Em Horns,
P.S. — Love It — Tennessee Takeover!
Rocky Top will always be home to the Horns🤘 #HookEm https://t.co/8KBgbXMsR9
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 26, 2026
P.S. — Longhorn Nation Showed Up and Showed Out in Knoxville!
burnt orange >> #HookEm https://t.co/WqqAGQ8mLr
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 26, 2026
P.S. — All for One and One for All!
had to get out to Neyland Stadium for @TexasFootball 🤘 #HookEm | @TexasBaseball https://t.co/wdGLpebuT0
— Texas Men's Basketball (@TexasMBB) September 26, 2026
P.S. — Battle Tested, INDEED!
Tough hide🤘 https://t.co/ax7wCg843F
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) September 28, 2026
P.S. — Thanks for the support, my friend!
squad made it's way to Knoxville 🤘 #HookEm https://t.co/gxYecyOk3g
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 26, 2026
P.S. — Iconic Photo!
headed home with the dub 🤘 #HookEm https://t.co/ze2wzGTplF
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) September 26, 2026
P.S. — ICYMI, fresh off the press from the SEC office on Monday night!
Statement from the Southeastern Conference on Senate passage of Protect College Sports Act: https://t.co/tG9MjI30fQ
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) September 29, 2026
HEADLINES:
Video: Texas & Os Season 2, Episode 4 featuring Michael Masunas, Xavier Butler and Tyler Nichols:
Video: Vic Schaefer media availability (Sept. 24):
Texas Football on Longhorn Excellence:
No. 1/1 Football's Kanu named NFF Campbell Trophy semifinalist:
Texas Athletics announces 'Texas Rising Presented by St. David's HealthCare' docuseries:
