The upcoming college football season will be Longhorn Network’s last, according to a report from the Associated Press. The $300 million venture from ESPN and University of Texas at Austin will join ESPN’s SEC Network in tandem with Texas joining the Southeastern Conference in summer 2024.
“Yeah, it was bold,” former Texas athletic director DeLoss Dodds, told AP News. “We built something we can be proud of … I think it’s a big loss for Texas to have to give it up.”
The Longhorn Network launched in 2011 and featured events from multiple sports involving the Texas Longhorns athletics department. Programming included pre- and post-game coverage, as well as behind-the-scenes content. When the network launched, former Texas coach Mack Brown voiced concerns about the amount of information rivals could glean from watching. Some speculated that LHN gave Texas too much influence over the Big 12.
At the network’s peak, it broadcast upwards for 200 live events every year including school graduation ceremonies and fashion shows.