Texas AD Sends Shockwaves Through College Football: “We Turned Down Ohio State—This Program Bows to No One”

In a bold and unapologetic revelation that’s igniting fierce debate across college football circles, University of Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte has publicly confirmed that Texas *rejected* a scheduling proposal from none other than Ohio State. And he’s not hiding behind diplomacy.

“We’re Texas. We don’t beg, we don’t chase, and we sure as hell don’t bow,” Del Conte told a group of alumni at a recent Longhorns booster event. “They came to us, and we said no. Simple as that.”

The bombshell dropped late Monday evening and has since sent shockwaves through social media and sports talk shows, fueling passionate reactions from fans coast to coast. For many, it’s a moment of pride; for others, it’s a challenge to unpack what this power move truly means for college football’s future.

Ohio State, a perennial powerhouse and Big Ten juggernaut, reportedly reached out to Texas with a high-profile non-conference matchup proposal set for the late 2020s. Sources say the Buckeyes were eager to revive the kind of marquee clash that gets the entire nation watching, especially with college football evolving into a superconference arms race.

“We’re not in the business of propping up anyone else’s brand,” Del Conte added. “We have our own house to run, our own schedule to dictate. We’re not some second-tier team waiting for an invitation—we are the invitation.”

The Longhorns, now firmly entrenched in the SEC, clearly have a renewed swagger under head coach Steve Sarkisian and a rapidly improving roster. Turning down a blue-blood like Ohio State would have seemed unthinkable during Texas’ more turbulent years. But now? It’s being painted as a statement—Texas is done playing second fiddle.

Longhorn Nation responded with thunderous applause online. Social media lit up with messages like *“Finally, Texas is acting like Texas again!”* and *“We don’t need them—we’ve got Bama, Georgia, and LSU on speed dial!”

Of course, it’s not the first time these two programs have tangled. The 2005 and 2006 home-and-home series between Texas and Ohio State were instant classics, with Vince Young leading the Horns to a dramatic win in Columbus before the Buckeyes returned the favor in Austin a year later.

Insiders within the athletic department say the decision came down to control and vision. With the move to the SEC, Texas already faces a gauntlet of conference opponents that would make even the most ambitious programs wince. Adding Ohio State would only further complicate scheduling logistics and, perhaps more importantly, risk undermining the Longhorns’ strategic positioning.

Moreover, there’s a feeling that Texas doesn’t need Ohio State to validate itself anymore. With a billion-dollar athletic department, top-tier facilities, elite recruiting pipelines, and a national brand, Del Conte and his team are shifting the narrative—Texas isn’t chasing relevance. They are the standard.

This decision comes amid a backdrop of chaos and change in college football. With NIL money exploding, superconferences forming, and traditional rivalries fading, the balance of power is shifting by the year.

Whether fans agree or not, the move represents a new chapter in the Longhorns’ story—one in which the program no longer plays second fiddle to anyone. And as they march into the SEC spotlight, that attitude may be just what they need to reclaim the throne they believe is rightfully theirs.

As Chris Del Conte wrapped up his comments, he left Longhorn fans with a message that will echo in locker rooms, barbershops, and social feeds for weeks to come.

The gauntlet has been thrown. Whether Ohio State or anyone else picks it up remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure—the Horns are standing tall, and they’re not backing down.