By state
Texas teams
Where high school football is a civic institution, and the flagship program now measures itself against the SEC every week.
Programs
Football in Texas
SEC · Austin, Texas · 10-3 in 2025
SEC · College Station, Texas · 11-2 in 2025
Big 12 · Fort Worth, Texas · 9-4 in 2025
ACC · Dallas, Texas · 9-4 in 2025
Big 12 · Waco, Texas · 5-7 in 2025
Big 12 · Houston, Texas · 10-3 in 2025
Big 12 · Lubbock, Texas · 12-2 in 2025
American · Denton, Texas · 12-2 in 2025
American · Houston, Texas · 5-8 in 2025
American · San Antonio, Texas · 7-6 in 2025
Conference USA · Huntsville, Texas · 2-10 in 2025
Mountain West · El Paso, Texas · 2-10 in 2025
Pac-12 · San Marcos, Texas · 7-6 in 2025
Texas
The high school pipeline
No state treats high school football the way Texas does. Friday night games draw crowds that would fill college stadiums elsewhere, and the scale of the system — thousands of schools across a state larger than most countries — produces a volume of recruits that only Florida and California approach.
The practical effect on the college game is that Texas programs can build rosters close to home, and out-of-state programs invest heavily in recruiting here anyway. A Texas commitment is contested by schools in every major conference — including, increasingly, by the two SEC programs inside the state itself.
Texas
Texas in the SEC
The Longhorns' move from the Big 12 to the SEC changed what a season looks like in Austin. The conference offers no easy weeks, and a schedule that once had clear breathing room now rarely does. The 2026 season is Texas's third as a member.
The Red River rivalry against Oklahoma survived the move — both programs left the Big 12 together — and is still played annually at a neutral site in Dallas during the State Fair, one of the few fixtures in the sport that has kept its setting for a century.
Leagues
Conferences represented
SEC · Austin
SEC · College Station
Big 12 · Fort Worth
ACC · Dallas
Big 12 · Waco
Big 12 · Houston
Big 12 · Lubbock
American · Denton
American · Houston
American · San Antonio
Conference USA · Huntsville
Mountain West · El Paso
Pac-12 · San Marcos
FAQ
Texas football questions
Which college football teams are in Texas?
Two are covered here, both in the SEC: the Texas Longhorns in Austin and the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station. Coverage is being expanded program by program.
What conference does Texas play in?
The SEC. Texas moved from the Big 12 alongside Oklahoma, and 2026 is its third season in the conference, which makes the week-to-week schedule considerably heavier.
Is the Red River rivalry still played?
Yes. Texas and Oklahoma left the Big 12 together for the SEC, so the annual meeting continues, still at a neutral site in Dallas during the State Fair of Texas.
Why is Texas high school football so important to the college game?
The scale of the system produces a large volume of recruits every year, and the standard of play means those players arrive well prepared. Programs across the country recruit the state heavily.