AUSTIN, Texas — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Wednesday the Longhorns still expect to play Michigan in 2027, though the date of the game is no longer settled. Sarkisian made the comments during a media availability in Austin, and they were reported by Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com.
Michigan moved its 2027 home game against Eastern Michigan up one week to Sept. 11, according to a report published Sept. 1 by Kevin Kelley of FBSchedules.com. Sept. 11, 2027 is the date Michigan was scheduled to play at Texas. Kelley obtained a copy of the amendment from Eastern Michigan University through a state public records request. Michigan will pay Eastern Michigan an additional $50,000 under the revised agreement, which raises the total guarantee to $1.55 million.
The Texas-Michigan contract carries a $2 million cancellation fee unless both schools agree to void the game.
“I think the date might be changed,” Sarkisian said. “I think what you all need to understand is they changed our calendar for next year, so everybody’s playing week zero, and so some of the game dates of those games are getting moved around. I don’t know exactly what it is, but I know we’re playing Michigan.”
Texas And Michigan In 2027
The FBS calendar changes in 2027. The Division I Cabinet approved a Football Oversight Committee proposal in June standardizing a 14-week regular season, and the NCAA has since published updated bylaws governing the start of the year. Teams will play 12 games with two open dates, the regular season will end on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and the opening weekend moves to the weekend that has been known as Week Zero. The 2027 season begins Thursday, Aug. 26. The 2028 season begins Thursday, Aug. 24, and the 2029 season begins Thursday, Aug. 23.
This season is the last one in which Week Zero operates as a separate, waiver-only weekend. Eight games were played on Aug. 29.
Texas lists New Mexico State on Sept. 4, Michigan on Sept. 11, and UTEP on Sept. 18 as its 2027 nonconference schedule. The Michigan game now carries a new date to be determined.
Eastern Michigan’s home game against Mercyhurst, also scheduled for Sept. 11, 2027, is expected to move, possibly to the season opener on Aug. 28. Michigan and Eastern Michigan are also scheduled to meet on Sept. 7, 2030.
Texas and Michigan opened the home-and-home in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Sept. 7, 2024, and the Longhorns won 31-12. The teams met again in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31, 2025, at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, and Texas won 41-27 to finish 10-3.
Sarkisian said in December that Texas would honor the return games against Ohio State in 2026 and Michigan in 2027 after playing the first half of both series on the road. He said at the time that scheduling beyond those two games was open for discussion. Texas has a home-and-home with Notre Dame scheduled for 2028 in South Bend, Indiana, and 2029 in Austin.
Texas finished the 2025 regular season 9-3 and was left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff. The SEC moved to nine conference games beginning this season, and each school is required to schedule at least one opponent from another power conference among its three nonconference games.
Texas Opens Against Texas State
Texas opens the 2026 season Saturday against Texas State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN. Ohio State visits on Sept. 12 at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC, and UTSA follows on Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+.
