Bearkats head to Austin for showdown with No. 8 Texas

Naidelyn Trujillo

The Sam Houston football team takes the field prior to its game against UNLV on Aug. 29, 2025 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston.

Nour Almasri, Sports Editor

The Sam Houston football program is set to play its first game at Darrell K. Royal Stadium in almost two decades.

The Bearkats (0-3) will kick off against the University of Texas (2-1) on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., with the No. 8 Longhorns marking the first ranked opponent SHSU has faced since fully joining the FBS in 2023. Texas defeated the Bearkats 56-3 in 2006 in their only prior meeting.

From UT’s 2024 season roster, 11 Longhorns were selected in the NFL Draft. Sam Houston head coach Phil Longo emphasized that this is an opportunity for the Bearkats to assess themselves against a team that consistently produces professional athletes.

“This is a chance for our players to line up against a team of this caliber and gauge what it is like to play at the next level,” Longo said during Tuesday’s press conference.

UT went 13-3 last season while reaching the College Football Playoff, where they defeated Arizona State in overtime at the Peach Bowl 39-31, but fell 28-14 to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

The Longhorns entered the year as the No. 1 team in the country, with former top recruit Arch Manning beginning his first season as UT’s full-time starting quarterback. Manning, the nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions in 2024. This season hasn’t been as consistent for Manning, who has thrown six touchdowns with three interceptions in three games, while completing just 55.3 percent of his passes.

Texas dropped its season opener against Ohio State, but has rebounded with wins over San Jose State and UTEP.

“We have prepared our team to expect UT to play at their very best,”Longo said, adding “I don’t doubt [Arch] Manning and what he is capable of.”

The Bearkats are still looking to secure their first win of 2025 after losses against Western Kentucky, UNLV and Hawaii to start the season.

Mabrey Mettauer started at quarterback with Hunter Watson out two weeks ago against Hawaii, a game in which Mettauer took two hits to the head. Freshman Landon Locke made his SHSU debut when Mettauer went out, but he also took a hit to the head.

Longo gave some positive news on the injury front during Tuesday’s press conference, noting that all of the Bearkats’ quarterbacks “are back in the room and healthy.”

JaMair Diaz stood out defensively for SHSU against Hawaii, recording six tackles and one sack.