The University of Texas Longhorns football program recently made waves in the college football world by requesting to cancel a future home-and-home series with the Arizona State Sun Devils. Originally slated for the 2032 and 2033, the series has now been made defunct as the Longhorns are backing out.
The decision is said to be driven by shifting scheduling priorities within the Southeastern Conference (SEC) and broader, more extensive changes in college football altogether. Here’s what to know about the implications of Texas backing out of the series with ASU.
Changes in SEC Conference Commitments to Blame
GettyTexas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning
Under the original plan, Texas would travel to Tempe in 2032 and then the Longhorns would host the Sun Devils in Austin in 2033. Those back-to-back matchups were games expected to be marquee non-conference contests that would rekindle competition between Power Five programs while providing both fan bases with the excitement of a renewed high-profile rivalry.
However, recent developments have fundamentally altered the calculus for non-conference scheduling with ongoing changes continuing to unfold in the world of FBS. Beginning with the upcoming 2026 season, the SEC has expanded to a nine-game conference schedule and therefore put pressure on the Texas Longhorns and other league teams to prioritize scheduling games with conference teams over non-conference competitors.
With more conference commitments to fulfill, Texas presumably found itself facing constraints when trying to figure out how many non-conference games the program can feasibly fit into its upcoming seasons.
The Longhorns Have Shocked the FBS World, But Longhorns Will Benefit
GettyArch Manning of the Texas Longhorns looks on during the first quarter of the game against the Georgia Bulldogs in 2025
The decision from the Texas Longhorns to back out of the scheduled home-to-home series with ASU has elicited reactions from fans, media, and analysts like. However, some critics support the Longhorn’s decision to negate the series deal.
Originally arranged several years ago when both programs were pursuing non-conference matchups at the time, the intentions behind the series included balancing competitive opportunities for both teams with roster requirements and needs. The fact that the Longhorns have now backed out of this deal leaves many experts stunned, though some commentators have noted the practicality of canceling the scheduled series between the two teams.
The biggest argument for why Texas is being strategic in backing out of the series rests in the simple fact that benefits for the Texas football program are greater than the drawbacks of canceling the series. Avoiding the long distance travel to Arizona will decrease the overall travel footprint for the Longhorns during the 2032 season, and ultimately they’ll be able to add an additional home game to their schedule that will provide additional at-home profits into the program. No longer having to travel to ASU will also allow for the team to avoid taxing energy and time spent on the road to be put back onto the practice field as they prepare to take on more conference games in future seasons.
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