In the SEC, everything just means a little more, especially when two teams in the conference take to the football field for a battle of powerhouse programs.
That much is reflected in television ratings every season as the SEC matchups top the charts. This year, that trend is expected to continue, with a few conference games standing out among the rest.
On3's Crain & Cone show released its ranking of the top five SEC football games in the upcoming season, and what other team would be present in over half of the matchups than the Texas Longhorns?
Top 5 SEC Football Games in 2026 via On3
Three out of the five matchups ranked by the On3 included the Horns, including the top matchup on the confernce schedule. In other words, Texas football is must-see TV.
5. Texas Longhorns at LSU Tigers
4. Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners
3. Georgia Bulldogs at Alabama Crimson Tide
2. LSU Tigers at Ole Miss Rebels
1. Texas Longhorns at Texas A&M Aggies
Unsurprisingly, the rivalry between the Longhorns and the Texas A&M Aggies topped the charts, especially as TAMU head coach Mike Elko rebuilds the team into a more respectable program.
This year, the game kicks off in College Station, but even on the road, the Horns have been able to dominate the Aggies, winning the Lone Star Showdown 17-7 the last time they played Texas A&M on the road.
Texas also occupied the fourth- and fifth-place spots, including the Red River Rivalry earning a place in the ranking.
Read more: Settling the debate between the Lone Star Showdown and the Red River Rivalry
Despite the Oklahoma Sooners being unable to score a touchdown against the Longhorns in over 1,000 days (yes, one thousand), the hatred between the two teams brings in a massive audience every season.
Last, but certainly not least, the Horns' road matchup against the LSU Tigers was ranked fifth out of the top SEC matchups in the coming season.
Almost any game in Death Valley draws thousands upon thousands of eyes, but a game between Texas and LSU nearly guarantees that the size of the television audience could be in the millions. Steve Sarkisian versus Lane Kiffin, Arch Manning versus Sam Leavitt... the matchups could go on for infinity.
Also read: Longhorn Nation already in battle mode with afternoon kick to start the season
The rivalry matchup between the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide occupies the third-ranked spot, with the two programs dominating the conference over the last decade or so. Then, the reunion between Lane Kiffin and his former team, the Ole Miss Rebels, is expected to be the second-most highly anticipated game of the season.
No matter who the Horns are scheduled to play or when the game is scheduled to kick off, Texas football always draws a massive audience, both in person and on television.
This ranking from On3 is just further proof that to the Longhorns, it just means more, even in comparison to the rest of the SEC.
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