After the SEC schedule release, the Texas Longhorns might have been granted their toughest schedule since joining the conference

Texas football EDGE Lance Jackson has earned a spot on this season’s SEC All-Freshmen team, according to a league announcement on the release of this year’s fishy honorees. The award comes after Jackson logged playing time all 12 regular season games through 2025.

Texas and Texas A&M each had three players on the All-SEC football first team announced Tuesday.

The SEC released the 2026 conference schedule for all 16 teams on Thursday night, giving Texas and college football fans something to chew on before bowl season and the College Football Playoff begins. It's safe to say that the Longhorns have some intriguing matchups ahead on the path back to Atlanta.

Texas A&M football had several players honored in the all-conference awards announced Tuesday. More honors will be publicized in the coming days.

The SEC broke the record in December for representation in the College Football Playoff, comprising nearly half the field with five teams. Commissioner Greg Sankey believes his conference deserved seven, and while his argument might hold merit among the metrics crowd, one can't argue that the SEC was the best conference in the country in 2025.