Ranking the 2023 Texas football schedule in order of difficulty

The 2023 Texas Longhorns kick off the season in 87 days versus the Rice Owls. The Longhorns have a 12-game slate that features a trip to a national powerhouse program in the SEC, and the final matchups with several Big 12 teams for the foreseeable future.

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Inside Texas ranks the 12-game slate in order of difficulty, from easiest to hardest.

Rice

Date: Sept. 2
Time: 2:30 p.m.
TV partner: Fox
Last meeting: 2021 – Austin, Texas – Texas 58-0

JT Daniels won’t be able to overcome the talent deficiency on Mike Bloomgren‘s roster in what could be his final season leading the Owl program.

Wyoming

Date: Sept. 16
Time: 7 p.m.
TV partner: Longhorn Network
Last meeting: 2012 – Austin, Texas – Texas 37-17

The Cowboys rank No. 13 in returning production according to SP+ and No. 2 in defensive returning production. Oscar Giles will make his return to Austin coaching a decent defensive line, but the offense is missing several stars including USC transfer Emmanuel Pregnon. It’s a Longhorn Network game, and Texas usually takes care of business when on its own network.

at Houston

Date: Oct. 21
Time: TBD
TV partner: TBD
Last meeting: 2002 – Austin, Texas – Texas 41-11

Life is a lot different for Dana Holgorsen. The Cougars lost a lot of offensive star power and plain ol’ depth to the NFL draft and transfer portal. The additions made in an effort to replenish the UH roster will make a positive impact on Houston’s 2023 fortunes, but there are larger issues at play for the Coogs ahead of their first year in the Power 5 ranks.

BYU

Date: Oct. 28
Time: TBD
TV partner: TBD
Last meeting: 2014 – Austin, Texas – BYU 41-7

BYU has done well in the offseason through the portal in adding Kedon Slovis and other weapons. They also have one of the top offensive linemen in the conference in Kingsley Suamataia. It’s hard to discount the benefit of having older players in college football, but many of those experienced players were 2-3 against Power 5 competition last year and the 2023 game is in Austin.

at Baylor

Date: Sept. 23
Time: TBD
TV partner: TBD
Last meeting: 2022 – Austin, Texas – Texas 38-27

Baylor returns Richard Reese at running back but lost many of the offensive and defensive linemen that helped the Bears reach bowl eligibility. This will be the first conference road trip of the year for the Longhorns, and Baylor fans will be the first of many fanbases to wish Texas best of luck in the SEC.

Kansas

Date: Sept. 30
Time: TBD
TV partner: TBD
Last meeting: 2022 – Lawrence, Kan. – Texas 55-14

Texas whooped the Jayhawks in Lawrence in 2022, but KU has given the Horns problems in DKR in recent years. Jalon Daniels‘ health will determine this and many other Jayhawk games during 2023. If he’s ready to run and pass, he’ll create problems for opposing defenses.

at Iowa State

Date: Nov. 18
Time: TBD
TV partner: TBD
Last meeting: 2022 – Austin, Texas – Texas 24-21

The Cyclones were snake-bitten last year and the game between UT and ISU in Austin last year was just another piece of evidence. If Xavier Hutchinson catches one pass and Hunter Dekkers holds onto the ball, then Matt Campbell‘s club has a one-possession win to its name. This game being in Ames, Iowa, a place that hasn’t been kind to Texas in recent years, increases the difficulty.

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at TCU

Date: Nov. 11
Time: TBD
TV partner: TBD
Last meeting: 2022 – Austin, Texas – TCU 17-10

Amon G. Carter Stadium will be rocking as the Frogs face the Longhorns for the final time in conference play. TCU won’t have the same firepower as it did on its run to the College Football Playoff national championship game, but it’s still talented and the Horned Frogs’ 3-3-5 defense caused problems for Steve Sarkisian last year and in years past.

vs. Oklahoma

Date: Oct. 7
Time: TBD
TV partner: ABC
Last meeting: 2022 – Dallas, Texas – Texas 49-0

49-0 was sweet for Texas fans but the Oklahoma team is a different animal with Dillon Gabriel under center. Even if he misses time yet again, the safety net of Jackson Arnold is a better option than what Jeff Lebby trotted out last year. Plus, there should be more familiarity for the Sooners in Brent Venables system even if the personnel isn’t a perfect fit.

Texas Tech

Date: Nov. 24
Time: 6:30 p.m.
TV partner: ABC
Last meeting: 2022 – Lubbock, Texas – Texas Tech 37-34 (OT)

The Red Raiders went 8-5 in Year 1 under Joey McGuire, defeating Texas and Oklahoma in the same season and registering an above .500 conference record for the first time since 2009. McGuire kept the coaching staff in Lubbock in place, brought in a solid recruiting class, and returns two of three quarterbacks who saw action last year. This game could have major Big 12 championship implications as a spot in Arlington could be on the line for both teams. Texas Tech would love nothing more than to send the Horns into the SEC with a disappointing end to its final Big 12 regular season.

Kansas State

Date: Nov. 4
Time: TBD
TV partner: TBD
Last meeting: 2022 – Manhattan, Kan. – Texas 34-27

The reigning Big 12 champions may not have Deuce Vaughn or Malik Knowles anymore but All-American Cooper Beebe and starting quarterback Will Howard lead a Wildcat team with comfort in a system and experience in high-pressure games.

at Alabama

Date: Sept. 9
Time: 6 p.m.
TV partner: ESPN
Last meeting: 2022 – Austin, Texas – Alabama 20-19

Nick Saban has lost ONE non-conference home game as head coach of the Crimson Tide. Texas is a better team than Louisiana-Monroe was in 2007, but winning a game at night in Bryant-Denny Stadium is a task that has been nearly impossible to accomplish since Saban took over. Questions at quarterback remain for Bama, and new coordinators on both side of the ball create some variables, but even with that help for Texas the task of winning in Tuscaloosa remains a tall one.