Longhorns Daily News: Texas football will play 2026 Spring Game in April later this year

Austin — Texas football is officially reviving its annual Spring Game in 2026, the university confirmed earlier this week, ending a one-year hiatus that had been prompted by concerns over potential tampering with current players.

The program and administration elected to shelve last spring’s intrasquad showcase amid worries that opposing programs—primarily those from the Big Ten—might use the public setting to poach talent from the Forty Acres. With those fears now addressed, the Longhorns will welcome fans back to Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 18, for the first time since 2024.

Kickoff times and additional logistical details have yet to be released, but athletic department officials emphasized that the return of the Spring Game is intended to re-engage the fan base and provide a live evaluation period for a roster that has undergone significant turnover. Spring practice will commence on March 9, giving head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff six weeks of on-field work before the public exhibition.

The April 18 date falls deep into the evaluation window for the 2027 recruiting cycle, and program sources expect a heavy visitor presence on campus. Texas currently holds the nation’s top-ranked women’s basketball recruiting class and is pursuing elite talent across multiple sports; football recruiting analysts anticipate that the Spring Game will double as a major recruiting weekend for the 2026 and 2027 classes.

AD Chris Del Conte has made expanding fan-friendly events a priority since taking over the department, and the Spring Game’s revival aligns with his broader vision of accessibility. The athletic department is also exploring a potential switch from turf to a natural-grass surface inside DKR, though no timeline has been set for that transition.

For a program that played a nation-leading seven one-score games in 2025, the extra live reps—and the energy of a sold-out stadium—could prove pivotal as the Longhorns eye a deeper postseason run in the expanded 16-team College Football Playoff.

Tickets are expected to go on sale later this summer through the Texas athletics website.