Texas vs. Florida 2026: Kickoff Time, TV Channel & Preview
Schedule checked October 14, 2026 against Texas Athletics. Pregame analysis is opinion; final results are labeled above when available.
Texas hosts Florida on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. CT on ABC at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. It is the first of three straight home SEC games and the sixth meeting between the programs.
Texas enters 4–1 after a three-point Oklahoma loss. Florida is 4–2 after losses to Missouri and South Carolina, a change from its 52-point outing against Ole Miss in late September.
Quick Facts
| Matchup | Florida Gators at Texas Longhorns |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, October 17, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 11 a.m. CT (confirmed) |
| Venue | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin |
| TV | ABC |
| Presented by | American Airlines |
| All-time series | Texas leads 3-1-1 |
| Last meeting | 2025 — Florida 29, Texas 21 (Gainesville) |
| Context | First of three straight home SEC games |
| Current form | Texas 4–1; Florida 4–2 through October 10 |
Why This Texas Football Game Matters
Florida beat Texas 29–21 in Gainesville in 2025, the Gators' first win in this series. The rematch moves to Austin with both teams coming off October 10 losses. The 2025 result is relevant history, while the current records offer more immediate context.
Texas lost 27–24 to Oklahoma despite outgaining the Sooners 382–238. Florida lost 38–19 to South Carolina after a 45–17 defeat at Missouri. Both teams have a clear on-field question for this Saturday: whether their offenses can finish drives without the mistakes that shaped their last games.
This opens a three-week home stretch — Florida, Ole Miss, Mississippi State — before November road games at Missouri, LSU and Texas A&M. Texas is 1–1 in SEC play; Florida is 2–2. The conference result matters to both teams, regardless of last year's series outcome.
Series History: Texas Leads 3-1-1
Five meetings across a century. Florida had never beaten Texas in four previous attempts before last season's game in Gainesville.
| Year | Result | Site |
|---|---|---|
| 1924 | Texas 7, Florida 7 (tie) | Austin |
| 1939 | Texas 12, Florida 0 | Austin |
| 1940 | Texas 26, Florida 0 | Gainesville |
| 2024 | Texas 49, Florida 17 | Austin |
| 2025 | Florida 29, Texas 21 | Gainesville |
The series opened with a 7-7 tie in Austin in 1924, followed by back-to-back Texas shutouts either side of 1940 — and then an 84-year gap. Realignment brought the programs back together, and the first SEC meeting in November 2024 went to Texas 49-17 in Austin, the most lopsided result the series has produced.
Which makes what happened eleven months later stranger still. The same fixture, reversed venue, and a Florida team that would finish 4-8 won by eight.
The 2025 game illustrates the limits of judging a matchup by season record alone. This year's teams and venues are different, so the prior score should be treated as series context rather than a prediction.
October 2026 Form: What Changed Before the Rematch
Florida beat Ole Miss 52–28 on September 26, then lost 45–17 at Missouri on October 3 and 38–19 to South Carolina on October 10. The Gators' own recap reports that across those last two games, they averaged 18 points, 356 total yards and 81 rushing yards. That is a marked change from the Ole Miss result, although two games cannot establish how Florida will perform in Austin.
Texas, meanwhile, moved the ball for 382 yards against Oklahoma and allowed 238, but lost on a final field goal. The box score records two Texas interceptions. Our read: limiting giveaways and finishing possessions matter more in this matchup than repeating the prior week's yardage edge.
Sources reviewed October 14: Florida's South Carolina recap, Texas's Oklahoma box score and the official Texas schedule.
Planning for the 11 a.m. Kickoff
ABC has the game at 11 a.m. CT. Check stadium entry, parking and your ticket before traveling, and allow time for an earlier arrival than a night game. The October 17 weather should be judged from a current Austin forecast, not a seasonal assumption.
Key Matchups
Texas after Oklahoma
Texas gained 382 yards to Oklahoma's 238 but lost 27–24 on October 10. Two interceptions and Oklahoma's nonoffensive scores make ball security and special teams more useful things to watch than the yardage advantage alone.
Florida's recent offense
Florida scored 52 against Ole Miss on September 26, then 17 at Missouri and 19 against South Carolina in consecutive losses. Its October 10 recap reported 18 points per game and 81 rushing yards per game across those two defeats. Whether that ground game rebounds is a specific matchup to watch.
Three straight home dates
Florida is the first of three consecutive SEC visitors to Austin. Texas then hosts Ole Miss on October 24 and Mississippi State on October 31 before traveling to Missouri and LSU in November.
A 2025 rematch with different context
Florida won 29–21 in Gainesville last season. That result supplies a storyline, but this preview evaluates the current teams: Texas enters 4–1 after Oklahoma, while Florida enters 4–2 after two consecutive losses.
Prediction
No betting line is used in this preview. Check a current, licensed source if you need market information.
A close game is plausible; this is an editorial outlook, not a projected final score
Texas has won three home games but its last two contests were decided by three points. Florida's offense produced 52 against Ole Miss before two lower-scoring defeats. Those recent results support watching turnovers and rushing production more closely than last year's head-to-head result.
This is analysis, not a confirmed result. Kickoff details and team availability may change.
How to Watch and What to Know
Kickoff is confirmed for 11 a.m. CT on ABC. Check the Texas Athletics listing closer to the game for any late changes.
Ticket inventory and prices change. Use the official Texas ticket links or a verified resale site, and check the current stadium entry and bag policies before travelling.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Texas vs. Florida in 2026?
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Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 11 a.m. CT at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, according to the official Texas Athletics schedule.
What channel is Texas vs. Florida on?
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ABC will carry the October 17 game at 11 a.m. CT, according to the Texas Athletics schedule.
Is the kickoff time confirmed?
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Yes. Texas Athletics lists an 11 a.m. CT kickoff on October 17 on ABC.
Who leads the all-time series?
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Texas leads 3-1-1 across five meetings dating back to 1924. Florida's win in 2025 was the Gators' first in the series.
What happened the last time they played?
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Florida won 29-21 in Gainesville during the 2025 season. Texas entered the year as the preseason No. 1 and the loss to an unranked Gators team dropped the Longhorns out of the AP Top 25.
Did that loss cost Texas a playoff spot?
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Florida's 29–21 win was one of Texas's three losses in 2025. Assigning a single game as the definitive reason for a playoff selection decision would be an interpretation, not an official finding.
How did Florida finish 2025?
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The Gators finished 4-8. Beating Texas was comfortably the high point of their season, which is part of why the result stung so much in Austin.
Is this a home game for Texas?
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Yes, at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. It is the first of three consecutive home SEC games, followed by Ole Miss on October 24 and Mississippi State on October 31.
Who does Texas play the week before?
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Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas on October 10.
What is the weather usually like?
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Weather for the October 17 kickoff depends on the actual forecast. Check a local forecast near game day and plan for an outdoor late-morning game.
How do I get tickets?
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Through the official Texas ticket partner or verified resale. Demand for this one should be higher than a typical October home game given the 2025 result, though it will not reach Ohio State levels.
What's the bag policy at DKR?
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Clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, one-gallon clear storage bags, and small clutches up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Everything is inspected at entry.