2026 Texas NFL And College Football Season Previews

Texas online sports betting is massive, and nowhere is its influence felt more than in college football. For many Texans, the sport borders on a religion, and the sheer number of programs across the state ensures fans and bettors have no shortage of action to follow.

Big 12 Powerhouses: Four Texas schools compete in the Big 12 Conference, making it one of the most Texas‑centric leagues in the country. Rivalries among Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech, and the University of Texas guarantee high‑stakes matchups every fall.
SEC Spotlight: Texas A&M continues its battle in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), where the Aggies face some of the toughest competition in college football.
AAC Contenders: Programs like Houston and SMU bring Texas flavor to the American Athletic Conference (AAC), adding depth to the state’s betting landscape.
Conference USA Representation: Rice and UTEP (Texas‑El Paso) round out the field in Conference USA, ensuring that nearly every region of Texas has a team to rally behind.

With so many programs spread across multiple conferences, Texas bettors enjoy one of the most diverse and competitive college football markets in the nation. From historic rivalries to playoff pushes, every weekend offers opportunities to wager on games that carry both emotional and financial stakes.

Baylor Bears / TCU Horned Frogs 2026 Football

The Big 12 title chase in 2025 once again features two familiar contenders: Baylor and TCU. Both programs bring strong rosters and quarterbacks at different stages of their careers, setting up a compelling race.

TCU Horned Frogs: With Josh Hoover returning after valuable starting experience in 2024, the Horned Frogs have stability under center. Hoover’s growth in Sonny Dykes’ offense gives TCU an edge in continuity, and the team’s balanced attack makes them a legitimate favorite for the conference crown.
Baylor Bears: Baylor counters with Sawyer Robertson, who gained meaningful reps in his first two seasons and now steps into the full‑time starting role. His transition has been smoother thanks to Baylor’s offensive system and a strong supporting cast.

The Horned Frogs may hold the early advantage, but Baylor’s depth and ability to adapt ensure they’ll be close behind all season. With both teams entrenched in the Big 12, every matchup carries weight—not just for bragging rights, but for playoff positioning.

Texas Longhorns 2026 Football

The Longhorns are no longer a middle‑tier program. Under Steve Sarkisian, Texas has rebuilt into a national contender, highlighted by their 2023 College Football Playoff appearance and strong recruiting classes. The defense has become more balanced, and the offense—led by quarterback Arch Manning—is designed to deliver explosive production.

The Longhorns’ trajectory shows how far the program has come since the struggles of 2014. What was once a rebuilding team is now a legitimate playoff threat, making Texas one of the most closely watched programs in both college football and sports betting markets.

Texas Tech Red Raiders 2026 Football

Looking back, the 2015 season marked the beginning of a transformation. Mahomes would go on to become one of the most prolific quarterbacks in college football, setting records at Texas Tech before becoming an NFL superstar with the Kansas City Chiefs. Kingsbury’s tenure was defined by offensive innovation, though defensive struggles remained a recurring theme.

Today, in 2025, Texas Tech continues to build its identity in the Big 12, with Joey McGuire as head coach and a renewed emphasis on balance. The Red Raiders remain a program known for offensive fireworks, but the lessons of 2015—needing both sides of the ball to compete—still resonate.

Texas A&M Aggies 2026 Football

Fast forward to today, Texas A&M remains a major SEC contender under head coach Mike Elko, who took over in 2023. The Aggies continue to recruit at an elite level, with a roster stacked with NFL‑caliber talent. Garrett, of course, went on to become one of the NFL’s most dominant defenders with the Cleveland Browns, a testament to the program’s ability to produce elite stars.

The Aggies’ challenge in 2025 is the same as it was in 2014: balancing offensive firepower with defensive toughness. With a strong recruiting pipeline and a renewed focus on fundamentals, Texas A&M is positioned to be more than just competitive—they’re aiming to break through in the SEC title race.

Houston Cougars / SMU Mustangs 2026 Football

New head coach Tom Herman is seeking to get the Cougars back to their old-high powered ways, and the level of play AAC can help that become a reality much more quickly. With SMU, another new coach in Chad Morris is hoping to rekindle the glory years of the Mustang program-without the baggage.

Rice Owls / UTEP Miners 2026 Football

The Owls have completely reversed things around from their old woeful ways with three solid seasons, but that success might slow up this season. That’s because the team has sustained heavy losses on both sides of the ball. With UTEP, it took nearly a decade for the Miners to achieve a winning season, collecting seven victories in 2025. They have five defenders returning, which could mean another bowl game is on tap.

Dallas Cowboys 2026

The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 season ended in disappointment, as the team finished with a 7–10 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Despite entering the year with high expectations after three straight 12–5 campaigns, the Cowboys struggled to find consistency on both sides of the ball. Offensively, they managed 350 points, ranking just 21st in the league, while the defense faltered badly, surrendering 468 points—second worst in the NFL.

Quarterback Dak Prescott threw for nearly 2,000 yards, but the offense lacked rhythm, and the rushing attack, led by Rico Dowdle, couldn’t carry the load. Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb remained a bright spot, earning All-Pro honors, while Micah Parsons continued to shine defensively, but the unit as a whole failed to contain opponents. Special teams stood out, with kicker Brandon Aubrey and returner KaVontae Turpin both earning All-Pro recognition.

The season also marked the end of Mike McCarthy’s tenure as head coach, with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn departing for Washington and veteran coach Mike Zimmer returning to Dallas to lead the defense. Losses to division rivals, including a crushing 41–7 defeat to the Eagles late in the season, underscored the team’s regression.

For Cowboys fans, the 2024 campaign was a sobering reminder of how quickly fortunes can change in the NFL, and it set the stage for a pivotal offseason as the franchise looks to rebound in 2025.

Houston Texans 2026

The Houston Texans’ 2024 season was one of the most promising in franchise history, as the team finished with a 10–7 record and captured the AFC South title. Under second-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, Houston showed remarkable growth, powered by the continued development of quarterback C.J. Stroud, who threw for over 4,500 yards and cemented himself as one of the league’s brightest young stars.

Running back Joe Mixon provided balance to the offense, while wide receiver Nico Collins emerged as a reliable playmaker. On defense, cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. earned First-Team All-Pro honors, and veteran pass rusher Danielle Hunter added leadership and production up front. The Texans opened the season 2–0 for the first time since 2016, and their momentum carried them into the postseason. In the Wild Card Round, Houston dominated the Los Angeles Chargers 32–12, showcasing both offensive firepower and defensive toughness.

Their playoff run ended in the Divisional Round with a 23–14 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, but the campaign marked a turning point for the franchise. With five Pro Bowl selections and a roster full of rising stars, the Texans proved they are no longer rebuilding but legitimate contenders in the AFC. The 2024 season set the stage for even greater expectations in 2025, as Houston looks to push deeper into the playoffs and challenge for a conference championship.