Texas Basketball Opens Season With 40.5-Point Spread Over Chicago State
Sean Miller focuses on integrating 11 new players before the Big 12 slate begins in November.
By John Ferrari ·
No. 7 Texas opened the 2026-27 college basketball season on Monday night against visiting Chicago State. The matchup featured a 40.5-point spread in favor of the Longhorns, with moneyline odds set at -100,000 for Austin and +8,000 for the Cougars. The combined scoring line was set at 149.5 points.
The game took place at 8 p.m. at Moody Center in Austin. It aired on the SEC Network. Austin Goosby scored the opening basket, a three-pointer that started the contest. The event marked the beginning of a schedule that includes the first Big 12 conference game on Nov. 15.
Chicago State enters the season as a member of the Northeast Conference. The program has recorded only one winning season in the last 40 years. Texas head coach Sean Miller, now in his second year, described the opponent as a struggling program that should not present major issues for his team.
Miller cited his own roster composition as the primary concern. The squad includes 11 new players, consisting of six freshmen and five transfers. He stated he wants the group to establish a rhythm before facing stiffer competition. The next test on the schedule is a home game against Big 12 rival Baylor on Nov. 15 in San Antonio.
The season is considered one of the most anticipated in recent years for the Longhorns. The initial focus is on internal cohesion rather than the external challenge presented by the Cougars. The outcome of the opener sets the baseline for the team’s early development.
