Texas vs. UTSA Football 2026: Kickoff Time, How to Watch & Preview
Texas closes its non-conference football schedule against UTSA on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 7 p.m. CT. Before you go looking for it on cable, note this one: the game streams on SEC Network+ and is not on a traditional TV channel.
It is the third meeting between the two programs, all three in Austin, and it lands in an awkward spot on the Longhorns' calendar. Texas plays Ohio State the week before and travels to Tennessee the week after. UTSA is walking into a sandwich.
Quick Facts
| Matchup | UTSA Roadrunners at Texas Longhorns |
|---|---|
| Date | Saturday, September 19, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 7:00 p.m. CT / 8:00 p.m. ET |
| Venue | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas |
| How to watch | SEC Network+ (streaming only, via the ESPN app) |
| Rankings | Texas No. 5 (AP); UTSA unranked |
| All-time series | Texas leads 2-0 |
| Previous meetings | Texas 41-20 (2022), Texas 56-7 (2024) |
| Sponsor | Presented by Ford |
What Channel Is the Texas vs. UTSA Football Game On?
There is no TV channel. Texas vs. UTSA streams on SEC Network+ through the ESPN app.
You will need to sign in with a TV provider account that carries SEC Network. Sort that out before 7 p.m.
The most common question about this game has nothing to do with football. SEC Network+ is a streaming-only feed. It is not the SEC Network channel on cable, and you cannot find it by scrolling your guide.
To watch, open the ESPN app and sign in with a TV provider that carries SEC Network. If you don't have a cable or live-TV login, you will not be able to stream it through the app. This trips up thousands of people every year on SEC Network+ games.
Why This Game Is More Interesting Than the Last One
Texas beat UTSA 56-7 in 2024. The Roadrunners arriving in 2026 are a different team in one important way: they have continuity that almost nobody else in the Group of Five has kept.
Jeff Traylor is in his seventh season and has never had a losing year at UTSA. Quarterback Owen McCown is back for a third straight season as the starter, which makes UTSA the only program in the American Conference returning a third-year starter at the position. While North Texas, USF, Memphis and Tulane all lost their head coaches and rebuilt through the portal, UTSA kept its staff and its quarterback.
There's also a scheduling quirk worth pointing out. UTSA plays at Texas State on September 12 and then at Texas on September 19. Two straight road games against I-35 neighbors, in a nine-day stretch, against a Pac-12 newcomer and a top-five team.
Series History: Texas Leads 2-0
The programs have met twice, both times in Austin during the Sarkisian era.
| Year | Result | Site |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Texas 41, UTSA 20 | Austin |
| 2024 | Texas 56, UTSA 7 | Austin |
UTSA played Texas competitively for a half in 2022. The 2024 meeting got out of hand early. This will be the third straight time the Roadrunners have made the drive up I-35 without a return trip to San Antonio in the agreement.
Texas Longhorns 2026 Outlook
Texas is No. 5 in the AP preseason poll in Steve Sarkisian's sixth season. ESPN ranked the Longhorns sixth nationally in returning production.
Quarterback: Arch Manning is in his second full season as the starter and is a preseason Heisman favorite. He finished 2025 with 1,714 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions over the final six games.
Skill players: Cam Coleman came over from Auburn, and running backs Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and Raleek Brown (Arizona State) joined the backfield. This is the kind of game where the depth chart gets a workout in the second half.
Defense: Will Muschamp took over as coordinator from Pete Kwiatkowski. Colin Simmons is back after leading the SEC in sacks, and Jelani McDonald led the team in tackles and interceptions last season.
The context that matters: By the time UTSA arrives, Texas will have played Ohio State seven days earlier and will be six days out from opening SEC play at Tennessee. This is the definition of a trap spot, and Sarkisian will spend the week saying so.
UTSA Roadrunners 2026 Outlook
UTSA has gone 7-6 in each of the last two seasons and has won a bowl game in three straight years. Traylor's teams do not beat themselves.
Quarterback: Owen McCown threw for 3,424 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2024, then improved his efficiency in 2025 with 2,995 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven interceptions on 67.6% passing. He turned down chances to leave and is on seven preseason watch lists, including the Manning Award and Davey O'Brien.
Offense: The Roadrunners ranked in the national top 30 in both yards and points per game last season and return six starters. Running back Will Henderson III and receiver David Amador II are the names to know.
Coaching: Rick Bowie takes over as offensive coordinator after running Western Kentucky's air raid in 2025. Jess Loepp is in his sixth year as defensive coordinator, which is a rarity at this level.
Defense: This is the problem. UTSA lost its top five tacklers from 2025 and is leaning on players who were rotational last year, including linebacker Owen Pewee and cornerback Jakevian Rogers. Asking that group to slow Manning and Coleman in Austin is a tall order.
Three Things That Decide the Game
Texas's first fifteen plays
If the Longhorns score on their opening two drives, this follows the 2024 script. If UTSA holds early and the crowd gets restless a week after a huge Ohio State night, the game stays interesting into the third quarter.
Owen McCown against pressure
McCown is accurate and experienced, and he has faced Power Four fronts before. Colin Simmons is another level. UTSA has to protect with five and get the ball out quickly.
UTSA's replacement defenders
Losing your top five tacklers is survivable in the American. It's harder against a team with this much skill depth. Missed tackles turn into 60-yard plays here.
Odds and Prediction
A widely posted line for this game had not settled as of late August. For reference, Texas opened as roughly a 31-point favorite over Texas State in Week 1. Expect UTSA to draw a somewhat shorter number given McCown and the offensive continuity, likely somewhere in the high 20s.
Texas 41, UTSA 17
UTSA scores more than it did in 2024 and moves the ball between the 20s. Texas has too much speed on the edges, and the second half turns into an evaluation period for the Longhorns' backups before SEC play.
Odds move all week. Check a current sportsbook before kickoff. Please gamble responsibly. Nothing on this page is betting advice.
How to Watch the Texas vs. UTSA Football Game
- Stream: SEC Network+ through the ESPN app, with a TV provider login that includes SEC Network
- Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. CT / 8:00 p.m. ET, Saturday, September 19, 2026
- TV channel: None. This is a digital-only broadcast.
- Radio: Longhorn radio affiliates carry the Texas call; UTSA's broadcast airs on Roadrunner radio affiliates in San Antonio
- Highlights: Both schools post highlights to their official channels after the game
Tickets, Parking and Gameday Info
This is one of the cheaper tickets on the Texas home schedule, and it usually stays that way. It follows the Ohio State game, which absorbs most of the demand and most of the disposable income in Austin that month.
- DKR holds roughly 100,000. Expect a real crowd, though not the sellout intensity of the week before.
- A 7 p.m. kickoff means the worst of the September heat is done by the time you're in your seat, but tailgating still happens in the afternoon sun.
- San Antonio to Austin is about 80 miles. UTSA travels well for this game, and I-35 northbound on a Saturday afternoon is its own event. Budget two hours or more.
- Campus garages sell out and rideshare zones shift on gamedays. Check the university's gameday page that morning.
- Texas uses a clear bag policy. Confirm the current version before you leave.
What's Next for Both Teams
Texas opens SEC play at Tennessee on September 26, then gets an open date before the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl on October 10. Because the SEC moved to a nine-game conference schedule, UTSA is the last non-conference opponent on the slate.
UTSA heads into American Conference play with a legitimate shot at the program's first American title game appearance. The Roadrunners are 25-1 in conference games at the Alamodome under Traylor.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Texas vs. UTSA in 2026?
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Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 7 p.m. CT (8 p.m. ET) at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.
What channel is Texas vs. UTSA on?
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No channel. The game streams on SEC Network+, which is a digital-only service.
How do I watch SEC Network+?
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Open the ESPN app or ESPN.com and sign in with a TV provider account that includes SEC Network. Without that login, you cannot access the stream.
Is SEC Network+ the same as the SEC Network channel?
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No. SEC Network is a cable channel. SEC Network+ is an online-only overflow feed for games that don't get a linear TV window. The login requirement is the same for both.
Can I watch Texas vs. UTSA on ESPN+?
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An ESPN+ subscription by itself does not unlock SEC Network+ games. You need a qualifying TV provider login.
Where is the game being played?
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Austin. All three Texas-UTSA meetings have been at DKR.
Have Texas and UTSA played before?
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Twice. Texas won 41-20 in 2022 and 56-7 in 2024. Texas leads the series 2-0.
Will UTSA ever host Texas in San Antonio?
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Not under the current arrangement. These have been one-way games to Austin, which is standard for this kind of scheduling agreement.
Who is UTSA's head coach?
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Jeff Traylor, in his seventh season. He has never had a losing season at UTSA and won Conference USA titles in 2021 and 2022.
Who is UTSA's quarterback?
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Owen McCown, a redshirt senior in his third year as the starter. He threw for 2,995 yards and 30 touchdowns in 2025 and appears on seven preseason award watch lists.
How good is UTSA in 2026?
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Solid and experienced. Back-to-back 7-6 seasons, three straight bowl wins, and one of the more stable rosters in the American. The concern is a defense replacing its top five tacklers.
Is Texas ranked?
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Yes, No. 5 in the AP preseason poll and No. 4 in the Coaches Poll.
Is Arch Manning playing?
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Manning is the starter and expected to play, barring late-week injury news. In a game like this, the more relevant question is how long he plays.
Who is favored?
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Texas, heavily. A settled line was slow to post, but expect the Longhorns to be favored by roughly four touchdowns.
Why is this game a trap for Texas?
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Because it sits directly between Ohio State at home and a road trip to Tennessee. Emotional letdowns after big wins and losses are real, and Sarkisian will spend the week trying to prevent one.
Is this the last non-conference game for Texas?
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Yes. The SEC's nine-game conference schedule leaves Texas with three non-conference games, and UTSA is the third.
How much are tickets?
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It's typically among the least expensive tickets on the Texas home schedule, since it follows the Ohio State game.
How far is San Antonio from Austin?
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About 80 miles, or roughly 90 minutes without traffic. Plan for longer on a gameday.
What is the DKR bag policy?
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Texas uses a clear bag policy. Check the official gameday page before you travel, since specifics change season to season.
Who does UTSA play the week before?
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Texas State, on the road, on September 12. It's back-to-back road trips against I-35 opponents.
Who does Texas play after UTSA?
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Tennessee on the road on September 26, which opens SEC play.
Where can I find live updates?
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ESPN's game page, plus both schools' official athletics sites and social accounts.