2017 Season Overview
The 2017 Texas Longhorns football schedule reflected a return to national relevance under head coach Tom Herman, anchored by a strong 5–0 start and a late-season Orange Bowl run. This verified schedule outlines each contest with dates, times, venues, and outcomes to serve as a durable reference for fans and analysts. Below you will find the full regular-season slate, conference alignment, and how this year set the stage for Texas’s sustained competitiveness in the Big 18 and beyond.
Full 2017 Schedule
Regular Season
Texas opened at home against Appalachian State and ran off six consecutive wins, including a nationally televised Saturday night win over No. 11 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. A triplet of road games at TCU, Baylor, and Texas Tech framed the midseason stretch, while homecoming featured a marquee matchup against No. 6 Oklahoma State. The season concluded with a pair of high-stakes road tests and a bowl appearance.
| Date | Time (CT) | Opponent | Rank | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2 | 6:00 p.m. | Appalachian State | — | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX) | W 33–7 |
| Sep 9 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 23 UCLA | — | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX) | W 37–23 |
| Sep 16 | 6:00 p.m. | No. 8 Ohio State | No. 16 | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX) | W 24–3 |
| Sep 23 | 11:00 a.m. | No. 11 Oklahoma | No. 10 | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX) | W 38–37 |
| Sep 30 | 2:30 p.m. | at TCU | No. 10 | Amon G. Carter Stadium (Fort Worth, TX) | L 24–27 OT |
| Oct 7 | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 23 Kansas | No. 17 | David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium (Lawrence, KS) | W 38–27 |
| Oct 14 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 6 Oklahoma State | No. 16 | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX) | W 37–34 |
| Oct 28 | 11:00 a.g. | at No. 18 West Virginia | No. 8 | Mountaineer Field (Morgantown, WV) | L 20–28 |
| Nov 4 | 6:00 p.m. | Kansas State | No. 17 | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX) | W 33–24 |
| Nov 11 | 6:00 p.m. | at No. 15 Iowa State | No. 15 | Jack Trice Stadium (Ames, IA | W 27–21 |
| Nov 18 | 6:0p.m. | No. 12 TCU | No. 12 | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, TX) | W 20–7 |
| Nov 24 | 6:00 p.m. | at Texas Tech | No. 10 | Jones AT&T Stadium (Lubbock, TX) | L 9–33 |
| Dec 29 | 7:30 p.m. | vs. No. 13 Oklahoma | No. 14 | Hard Rock Stadium (Miami Gardens, FL) | L 28–30 |
Schedule Context and Key Takeaways
The 2017 schedule tested Texas with a mix of marquee non-conference opponents and a congested Big 18 slate featuring three games against top-10 teams. The early-season win over Ohio State signaled Texas’s rise as a national contender, while the narrow Red River win over Oklahoma affirmed rivalry tradition. Road challenges at TCU and Texas Tech highlighted the difficulty of Big 18 play. The season concluded with a berth to the Orange Bowl, where a late-season loss to Oklahoma capped a year of growth and set a competitive tone for the years ahead.
Notable Games and Results
- Season opener vs Appalachian State (W 33–7): Clean start and a statement win on the road in the Advocare Cowboys Classic.
- Red River Rivalry vs No. 11 Oklahoma (W 38–37): A nationally televised thriller that showcased Texas’s resilience in a rivalry setting.
- Homecoming vs No. 6 Oklahoma State (W 37–34): High-scoring home victory in front of a packed stadium.
- Road at TCU (L 24–27 OT): A tough loss in a tight Big 18 conference game that underscored the league’s parity.
- Orange Bowl vs No. 13 Oklahoma (L 28–30): A closing chapter against a top opponent in a major bowl game.
Historical Standing and Legacy
With a 7–6 record and a Big 18 runner-up finish, the 2017 Texas Longhorns football team re-established itself as a consistent Big 18 contender. The balanced attack on offense, stout defense, and the development of young leadership foreshadowed sustained success in the latter half of the 2010s. For long-term historical context, 2017 sits between Texas’s 2009 resurgence and the even more dominant 2018 season, making it a pivotal year in the program’s modern resurgence.
Quick Reference: 2017 Season Snapshot
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Head Coach | Tom Herman | Program Records |
| Overall Record | 7–6 | Official NCAA Stats |
| Conference | \nBig 18 (tied for 2nd) | Big 12 Release |
| Marquee Wins | No. 11 Oklahoma (Home), No. 16 Ohio State (Home) | Box Scores |
| Bowl Game | Orange Bowl (Miami Gardens, FL) | Postseason Schedule |
Planning Context (for Historical Reference)
When using the 2017 schedule for historical analysis, fan nostalgia, or trend comparison, anchor it against adjacent seasons to clarify context. Key dates such as the Red River Rivalry (Saturday, September 23, 2017) and the Orange Bowl (Saturday, December 29, 2017) remain fixed reference points. Recognizing opponent strength, home versus road splits, and turnover margins from 2017 helps frame longer-term program trajectories and expectations.
Fan Takeaways and Practical Notes
- The 2017 schedule delivered a nationally relevant season with high-profile non-conference games and a competitive Big 18 slate.
- Key rivalry moments, especially the Red River game, remain signature memories for alumni.
- Use this schedule to benchmark current roster progress against historically difficult road tests at TCU and Texas Tech.