There are great seasons. There are legendary years. And then there’s 2025—the year the Texas Longhorns didn’t just rise to the top, but shattered the ceiling on what was previously thought possible in college athletics.
In a display of excellence across every major sport, the University of Texas at Austin has been officially recognized as the nation’s top athletic program for the 2024-25 academic year. From the gridiron to the diamond, from the hardwood to the biggest stage in women’s college sports, no school has matched what the Longhorns have achieved this season.
The accolades aren’t just historic—they’re unprecedented. Texas is the only program in the country to check off every major milestone in collegiate athletics this year: a national championship title, a men’s Final Four appearance, a Women’s College World Series bid, a Softball Regional qualification, and a bowl game appearance in football. The term “all-around excellence” doesn’t even begin to describe what the Longhorns have pulled off. This isn’t just dominance—it’s a redefining of the standard.
Let’s start with the jewel in the crown: a national championship that reignited the pride of a fanbase hungry for the glory days. In a year where so many powerhouses faltered, the Longhorns stood tall and delivered. Whether it was on the basketball court, the volleyball court, or in track and field, the Horns proved they could not only compete at the highest level—but win it all.
Texas captured the NCAA Men’s Track and Field national championship, becoming a force in both individual and relay events. Behind an all-star cast of sprinters, throwers, and distance runners, the team outpaced top rivals from Oregon, LSU, and Florida to bring the title back to Austin. This wasn’t just a win—it was a clinic in speed, power, and strategy.
Then there was men’s basketball, where Texas returned to the Final Four for the first time since 2003. The Longhorns, under the guidance of a revitalized coaching staff, leaned into a hard-nosed defensive identity that carried them through a gauntlet of competition. With wins over two No. 1 seeds en route to the semifinal, the Longhorns’ March Madness run galvanized an entire state and proved they belong among the sport’s elite.
And let’s not forget about the Women’s College World Series, where the Longhorns softball team battled through a grueling postseason to claim a spot among the top eight teams in the country. Sparked by a lethal combination of veteran pitching and explosive bats, Texas stormed past ranked opponents and earned its place in Oklahoma City. While they fell short of the ultimate prize, their run sent a clear message: Texas softball is back, and here to stay.
As for the Softball Regional, Texas dominated early postseason play, sweeping its bracket in front of packed crowds in Austin. The energy inside Red & Charline McCombs Field was electric, with fans waving burnt orange and belting chants deep into the night. These games didn’t just set attendance records—they served as a celebration of how far the program has come in just a few short years.
And, of course, football. The sport that breathes life into Texas every fall saw the Longhorns make a powerful return to the national conversation. Not only did they qualify for a New Year’s Six bowl, but they did so with flair, defeating archrivals and outlasting elite SEC foes in the process. Quarterback Quinn Ewers solidified himself as a future first-round NFL pick, while head coach Steve Sarkisian silenced all doubters by navigating one of the nation’s toughest schedules with resilience and maturity. The Longhorns ended the season with a resounding bowl victory that capped off a 12-win campaign and restored the swagger of a program once defined by Vince Young and the Rose Bowl.
That’s five different sports. Five different postseason appearances. Five triumphs. And one undeniable truth: the Texas Longhorns are back—and they might be better than ever.
But perhaps the most remarkable part of Texas’ 2025 success story is its balance. This wasn’t just a men’s program getting hot at the right time. This was a complete, athletic department-wide commitment to greatness. In women’s basketball, the Longhorns reached the Elite Eight, powered by All-American forward Madison Booker, whose leadership and highlight-reel performances turned heads across the country. In baseball, Texas returned to the NCAA Tournament, continuing a proud tradition of excellence and proving once again that Disch-Falk Field remains one of the toughest places to play in America.
Even Olympic sports got in on the action. The swimming and diving team added to its trophy case with multiple individual national champions, while tennis and rowing both saw deep postseason runs. Wherever there was a Longhorn jersey, there was likely a scoreboard lighting up in their favor.
Behind it all stands Athletic Director Chris Del Conte, whose vision and leadership have transformed Texas from a perennial powerhouse into an all-sport empire. Del Conte’s strategic hires, investments in facilities, and relentless focus on championship culture have finally paid off in historic fashion. His message has always been clear: Why settle for dominance in one or two sports when you can build an ecosystem of winning?
And that ecosystem has delivered. Perhaps no image better captures the spirit of the 2025 season than that of Longhorn athletes from different teams—football, softball, basketball, and track—celebrating each other’s wins on the sidelines, in postgame interviews, and across social media. The camaraderie within the program, the shared pride, and the cross-sport support have elevated Texas from a good program to a legendary one.
It’s also worth noting that the Longhorns achieved all this amid transition. This was their final year before fully entering the Southeastern Conference. Rather than stumble during a year of change, Texas surged forward, sending a clear message to the SEC: We’re not coming to take part. We’re coming to take over.
Longhorn Nation has waited a long time for a moment like this. The last decade has brought flashes of promise—national titles in volleyball, College World Series runs, Sugar Bowl victories—but nothing quite like this. Nothing this complete. Nothing this dominant. The 2025 campaign wasn’t just a winning season. It was a redefining one.
Recruits are taking notice. Donors are opening their checkbooks. The fanbase is louder and prouder than ever. And with NIL opportunities booming and state-of-the-art facilities going up across campus, this could just be the beginning.
The 2025 Texas Longhorns didn’t just win—they made history. They became the gold standard for what an athletic department can be. In doing so, they gave Austin something bigger than wins and titles. They gave it belief. They gave it legacy.
So hang that banner. Light the tower. Burnt orange is burning brighter than ever. And from every field, court, and track across the nation, one thing is clear:
The eyes of Texas are upon you—and you better believe they’re here to stay.
