Texas Football Schedule: Three games Longhorns 'must win' this season

While the Longhorns might be better in 2026 than in 2025, Texas' schedule is one of the toughest in the nation. We have detailed UT's hardest games this year. The Horns have games at LSU, at Texas A&M and a Week 2 tilt against No. 1 Ohio State in Austin. Texas could lose any or all of those games. But there are three games that, while also dangerous, the Longhorns simply can't lose and have hopes of playing for a title.

Last year, one of these dangerous games cost Texas a spot in the college football playoff. UT lost two games to the two toughest opponents on the schedule, Ohio State and Georgia. But they were also upset at Florida to start the SEC season that was ultimately the reason Texas was on the outside looking in at the CFP.

With the release of the US LBM Coaches Poll last week, we now know the Horns will face the No. 1 team in the country, as well as No. 8, No. 9, No. 10, No. 13, No. 18 and No. 25. More than half of UT's games are against ranked opponents.

Here is a look at three tough, but 'must-win' games on the Longhorns schedule this year:

Texas and Tennessee have only met three times, all in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. The Longhorns are 2-1 against the Vols and won the last meeting in 1969.

Since Texas joined the SEC, the Volunteers have been solid, but not elite. In 2024, Tennessee finished in third place behind the Horns and Georgia. Last year, the Vols finished middle of the pack.

Ranked No. 18 to begin the season, the Vols are a dangerous team and will face Texas at home in Knoxville. Neyland Stadium, with over 100,000 fans, is traditionally one of the toughest places to play.

While traveling to Tennessee is a tall order, Texas has to win this game. If the Longhorns have true title aspirations, they can't slip up to what is probably the fifth or sixth toughest game on the schedule.

The Vols are also the SEC opener for the Horns. Texas lost last year's SEC opener against Florida. The loss to the Gators kept Texas out of the college football playoff.

The Sooners might have their best team under head coach Brent Venables. OU starts the season in the top ten for second straight year, up one place to ninth.

Quarterback John Mateer returns after an injury plagued 2025 season that saw flashes of greatness mixed with tough games, including against Texas, that were impacted by his hurt throwing hand.

Other than the need and desire to beat one of your two biggest rivals, the Longhorns can't slip to the Sooners. OU is Texas' second SEC game of the season. It follows a bye week for both teams.

Texas might lose to Ohio State in Week 2 and will face a challenging game at Tennessee as mentioned. A loss to the Sooners on the second Saturday in October would be devastating to both Texas' SEC and National title hopes.

Mizzou represents the classic trap game. Texas travels to Columbia one week before facing LSU at Death Valley. Longhorn Nation's attention will most certainly be on the LSU Tigers, not the Missouri Tigers. But Mizzou won't be a gimme game.

Texas last traveled to Faurot Field in 2011, before Mizzou left the Big 12 for the SEC with Texas A&M. The two last met at the 2017 Texas Bowl, which the Longhorns won 33-16.

Missouri has had periods in the SEC where it looked like it might break into the top tier in the conference. The Tigers are usually solid, but not elite. That said, Faurot Field can be a tough place to play. Especially if Mizzou is ranked.

A loss right before the LSU game would be a disaster for Texas. UT plays the Tigers just before two of its toughest games, at Baton Rouge and at Texas A&M in College Station.

If Texas loses one or two of the tougher games on its schedule, a loss to Mizzou could literally cost UT a spot in the CFP.

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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas Football Schedule: Three games Longhorns 'must win' this season