The Texas Longhorns have done it. In a historic, unprecedented display of all-sport excellence, the University of Texas has been officially named the 2025 Nation’s Best Athletic Program. After a year of dominance across the collegiate sports landscape, Texas has earned the coveted title with a resume no other school in the country could match. From national championships to deep postseason runs in nearly every major NCAA sport, the Longhorns have redefined what it means to be an elite all-around program. They are the only school in the nation this season to win a national championship and make it to the Final Four, College World Series, and a New Year’s Six bowl. No program has ever accomplished that in the modern era of NCAA competition—until now.
From the very first whistle in the fall to the final buzzer of the spring, Texas set a standard of excellence that captured the attention and admiration of fans, analysts, and rival programs alike. Their dominance was not confined to one field or one season—it was everywhere, all at once. Football, basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, track and field, swimming, golf, tennis—name a sport, and Texas was not only competitive, but elite. It was a complete, across-the-board takeover of the college sports world, a sustained storm of greatness that few believed possible in an era of increasing parity and intense competition.
The Longhorns’ 2025 football season alone would have been enough to generate buzz. Under head coach Steve Sarkisian, Texas returned to the College Football Playoff for the second straight year, earning a trip to the Sugar Bowl, one of the prestigious New Year’s Six games. Though the national title narrowly eluded them, the Longhorns finished the season with a top-four ranking and one of the most explosive offenses in college football. Quarterback Arch Manning came into his own, silencing doubters with clutch performances and showing leadership beyond his years. Behind him, the team boasted a fearsome defense and one of the deepest receiving corps in the country.
But football was just the beginning.
In men’s basketball, Texas stormed its way to the Final Four under head coach Rodney Terry. Fueled by a dynamic backcourt and a defense-first mentality, the Longhorns dismantled blue-blood programs on their way to the national semifinals, solidifying their place among the elite. It marked the first time in nearly two decades that Texas had advanced this far in March Madness, and the team’s unity, toughness, and resilience made them one of the tournament’s most compelling stories.
Meanwhile, the baseball team brought home hardware of its own, winning the College World Series in thrilling fashion. It was a dream run that began with high expectations and ended with dogpiles and champagne. The Longhorns leaned on elite pitching, clutch hitting, and a never-say-die mentality that saw them rally multiple times throughout the postseason. In Omaha, they delivered walk-off wins, dominant starts, and the kind of jaw-dropping moments that define champions. For Texas, it was the program’s seventh national title in baseball and a fitting chapter in the story of 2025’s dominance.
On the softball field, the Longhorns weren’t far behind. The women’s squad made it all the way to the Women’s College World Series final, narrowly losing in a dramatic three-game series. Their presence on the national stage further cemented Texas as a force in every season, every sport, and every championship. The team’s blend of veteran leadership and breakout young stars captivated fans, drawing record viewership and energizing the fanbase from Austin to Oklahoma City.
Women’s basketball also turned heads with a Sweet 16 appearance, showcasing the depth and talent that now defines the entire athletic department. Madison Booker emerged as a bona fide star, guiding her team through the regular season and tournament with poise and fire. Her leadership off the court was just as impactful, as she helped fund travel for fellow students to the Final Four, inspiring an entire community of Longhorn faithful.
Beyond the big-name sports, Texas continued its dominance in Olympic and non-revenue disciplines. The men’s and women’s track and field programs swept conference championships and posted multiple individual national champions, reaffirming Texas’s status as a cradle of elite athleticism. The swimming and diving teams brought home national team titles, with record-setting relay performances and NCAA-best times. In men’s tennis, Texas made it to the national semifinals, while the women’s team took home its second championship in three years. The golf teams remained among the top-ranked programs in the country, with multiple players earning All-American honors and finishing as individual runners-up.
Even the volleyball team—already a perennial powerhouse—added to the historic year, reaching the national championship match and continuing its string of consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. Every step of the way, Texas seemed to have an answer. Every time a challenge arose, a Longhorn athlete or coach stepped forward with excellence, grace, and grit. There was no offseason, only championship season after championship season.
The final tally is staggering. Over the course of the 2024-25 academic year, Texas made the Final Four in men’s basketball, won the College World Series in baseball, played in a New Year’s Six bowl in football, reached the Women’s College World Series final in softball, advanced deep into NCAA tournaments in volleyball, track, swimming, and golf, and captured team and individual titles across a staggering 13 sports. It was the kind of year most athletic departments can only dream of—and it’s why the Longhorns were named the 2025 Nation’s Best Athletic Program.
But the story isn’t just about trophies. It’s about culture. It’s about a university-wide commitment to excellence, development, and integrity. Athletic Director Chris Del Conte has built a foundation for sustainable success, hiring visionary coaches and empowering athletes with state-of-the-art resources, support systems, and mental health infrastructure. The Longhorns are no longer just trying to win—they are building something that lasts. Something that inspires.
For many schools, NIL, the transfer portal, and shifting conference affiliations have created turmoil and inconsistency. For Texas, they’ve been catalysts. Instead of resisting change, the Longhorns embraced it—using NIL opportunities to attract and retain elite talent, leveraging the portal to fill critical needs, and preparing for the bold move to the SEC by sharpening every part of the athletic operation. This year proved that Texas isn’t just ready for the SEC—it’s ready to run it.
Perhaps most remarkable of all is how unified the program felt across departments. Athletes supported each other. Coaches collaborated. Success in one sport bled into the next. There was an unmistakable sense of family—a championship culture built not just on talent, but on mutual respect, accountability, and pride in the Longhorn name.
Now, as the University of Texas closes the books on one of the greatest all-around seasons in NCAA history, the rest of the country is left to marvel at what they witnessed. The bar has been raised. The blueprint has been drawn. And the message is clear: Texas isn’t back. Texas is leading.
With a flood of returning stars, top-ranked recruiting classes, and momentum that feels unstoppable, it’s not hard to imagine this being the beginning of a new era in college sports—a burnt orange era. The 2025 campaign will be remembered not just for what was won, but for how it was won: with class, with courage, and with a relentless pursuit of greatness.
There have been great athletic programs before. There have been dominant seasons. But what Texas just accomplished goes beyond any one sport, one player, or one coach. It was comprehensive. It was historic. And it was undeniably Longhorn.
So here’s to the champions of champions. The school that did what no other could. The 2025 Texas Longhorns—truly the Nation’s Best Athletic Program.
