Texas football fans are losing the traditional Orange-White spring game after coach Steve Sarkisian announced its cancellation earlier this month.
However, Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte assured the Longhorn faithful during an interview with On Texas Football that there will be a fanfest to replace the game in the spring. Del Conte didn’t lay out a specific schedule, but he did talk about a meet and greet with the Texas football team that will coincide with the baseball team’s three-game series against Texas A&M
“I know people are disappointed about a traditional game, but the ultimate goal is to win a championship, and the health and wellness of our student-athletes is most important,” Del Conte said. “It’s unusual, playing a 16-game schedule, but every year, we want to play that 17th game. I applaud Steve for his thinking, I understood it. I understand the disappointment, but you have to look at it in its totality.
The Longhorns’ traditional spring game is usually held in April, but Sarkisian pointed to the wear and tear that his team has gone through as a reason to cancel it. Texas made two College Football Playoff runs the past two seasons, playing 14 games in the 2023-24 season and 16 in 2024-25.
The development of incoming young players who enrolled this winter is another factor in Texas’ decision. The Longhorns have sent 25 players to the NFL combine the past two years, leaving plenty of roster spots open for players who have just stepped foot on campus.
