The Texas Longhorns football program has long been synonymous with excellence, tradition, and high expectations. However, a startling and perhaps unsettling sequence of events has forced the program to confront the truth about its current state, its future, and its ability to return to the pinnacle of college football. A series of off-field controversies, inconsistent performances on the field, and growing pressure from alumni, fans, and media have made it clear: something has to change.
In order to understand the gravity of the situation, it’s important to look at the history of the Texas Longhorns football program. For decades, Texas was the gold standard in college football. The program boasted numerous conference championships, a slew of Hall of Fame players, and a national title in 2005, the most recent in its storied history. However, as the years have passed, the Longhorns’ grip on college football has loosened. The 2000s saw some success under head coach Mack Brown, but even his tenure ended with a sense of stagnation. In the years since, the program has cycled through coaching changes, and each new coach seemed to promise a return to glory, only to fall short in one way or another.
The first major turning point in this modern era came in 2013 when Mack Brown, after a decade and a half in charge, stepped down following a string of disappointing seasons. The search for a new head coach led to the hiring of Charlie Strong, a defensive-minded coach with a strong reputation for turning around struggling programs. Strong’s tenure, however, was underwhelming. Despite an initial surge in recruiting and optimism, his teams struggled to find consistent success on the field. There were flashes of potential, but ultimately, Strong was dismissed after just three seasons. The program was left searching for its identity once more.
Tom Herman, a former offensive coordinator at Ohio State, was brought in to replace Strong. Herman had led the University of Houston to significant success, including a major bowl victory, and he seemed like the perfect fit for the Longhorns. However, like his predecessors, Herman struggled to produce the consistent results expected at a program with such high expectations. Despite a few solid victories, the Longhorns never seemed to reach the level of elite programs like Alabama, Clemson, or Oklahoma. Herman’s tenure ended after four seasons, as Texas once again found itself searching for answers.
The hiring of Steve Sarkisian in 2021 was met with cautious optimism. Sarkisian, a former offensive coordinator at Alabama, was expected to bring a new offensive dynamism to Texas, a program that had long struggled to develop a consistent offensive identity. But as the seasons have progressed, Sarkisian’s tenure has, so far, been underwhelming. While the Longhorns showed promise in certain games, they continued to fall short in key matchups, often losing to rivals like Oklahoma or failing to secure a place in major bowl games.
A major issue that has plagued the Longhorns in recent years is inconsistency. The team often plays to the level of its competition—winning big games but struggling against lower-tier teams. This inconsistency has led to a growing sense of frustration among fans and alumni, who are used to a program that prides itself on being a national contender every year. The lack of sustained success has led to mounting pressure on the coaching staff, athletic director, and university leadership to make significant changes.
Off-field issues have compounded the on-field struggles. The Longhorns have found themselves embroiled in a series of controversies that have tarnished the program’s reputation. A number of high-profile players have been involved in legal issues, and there have been several reports of misconduct within the program. While the program has taken steps to address these issues, the negative publicity has had a long-term impact on its image, making it harder to recruit top-tier talent and retain the loyalty of the fanbase.
Recruiting, once a major strength for Texas, has also become a challenge in recent years. Texas has traditionally been a hotbed for high school football talent, but the rise of in-state rivals like Texas A&M and Baylor, as well as the growing prominence of other national programs, has made it harder for Texas to land top-tier recruits. While the Longhorns still pull in highly-rated classes, they often find themselves losing out to other programs in key recruiting battles, particularly for positions of need like quarterback and offensive line.
The failure to recruit and develop talent at an elite level has been one of the primary reasons for Texas’ struggles. While individual players, like Heisman Trophy finalist Bijan Robinson, have stood out in recent years, the overall talent on the roster has been uneven. Recruiting rankings do not always translate to success on the field, but they are an important indicator of a program’s trajectory. Texas, once considered one of the top destinations for high school football players, now finds itself in competition with an increasing number of schools for the same talent pool.
The mounting pressure on the Longhorns has also been fueled by their move to the Southeastern Conference (SEC), which was announced in 2021 and is scheduled for 2024. The decision to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC has been controversial, as it will place the Longhorns in direct competition with some of the most powerful football programs in the country. Texas will now have to face juggernauts like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU on a regular basis, as well as their archrivals in the SEC West. This move has raised the stakes for the program, with fans and analysts wondering whether Texas will be able to rise to the occasion or be left behind in the ever-competitive SEC landscape.
In light of all these challenges, the Texas Longhorns football program must confront some hard truths about its future. The program cannot continue to rest on its laurels, nor can it afford to continue cycling through coaches without achieving sustained success. The next steps for the Longhorns will be crucial, as they must find a way to balance tradition with innovation, recruit at a consistently high level, and develop players into championship-caliber athletes. The future of the program will depend on its ability to adapt to the changing landscape of college football and build a team that can compete at the highest level year after year.
Ultimately, the Texas Longhorns football program stands at a crossroads. The next few seasons will determine whether the program can reclaim its place among the elite in college football or whether it will continue to fall short of expectations. The truth is that Texas has the resources, the fan support, and the potential to succeed—but only if it can navigate the challenges it faces both on and off the field. The Longhorns’ next chapter will depend on whether they can rise to the occasion and prove that they are still one of the premier programs in college football. The road ahead will be difficult, but for the Texas Longhorns, the time to confront the truth and embrace change is now.
