Austin, Texas – The University of Texas' football season kicks off on September 4 with a new coach, a new team, and a refreshed outlook.

On Saturday, the Texas Longhorns 129th season begins with its home opener against the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns.

This marks the 42nd matchup between the two teams, but the Longhorns have a new head coach leading the way in Steve Sarkisian.

It's been a rough decade for Texas Football. In 2013, the organization replaced its long-time head coach, Mack Brown, with Charlie Strong. While expectations were high, the university ended up giving him the boot in 2017, and selected Tom Herman as the new beacon of hope.

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But things didn't fare well for the inexperienced coach out of the University of Houston, who was relieved of his role following the 2020 season.

With Sarkisian serving as the new, and highly-experienced, head coach, Texas Football might be able to return to its glory days.

Having worked as an offensive analyst, offensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach with Nick Saban at Alabama, Sarkisian is sure to bring some fire back to Texas Football – something Texas fans (and donors) have been waiting for far too long.

"I think our team is in a good spot and frame of mind as far as the work we put in last week," Sarkisian said during a press conference on August 30.

Though optimistic, Sarkisian was sure to point out that while the team has a strong foundation, they still have a lot of work to do.

Redshirt Freshman Hudson Card from Lake Travis High School was named the Longhorns' starting quarterback, and Sarkisian has nothing but faith that Card is up for the challenge and in it to win it all.

Speaking of Card, Sarkisian noted that the quarterback has a strong work ethic and the ability to set up the offense in a way he and his staff have envisioned for the team.

"Everybody has a role in our organization, and ultimately, come game day, you have a responsibility to do your job, and the quarterback's no different," Sarkisian said at the press conference.

The Longhorns' leading wide receiver, Joshua Moore, will be returning for the 2021 season. While there is a slew of new talent on the team, having strong players with experience in the college football world is a major advantage, especially for a team with a brand-new head coach.

Other star returning players include sophomore running back Bijan Robinson, senior defensive back Josh Thompson, and the fan-favorite senior kicker – Cameron Dicker.

With experienced players on offense, defense, and special teams, the Longhorns have all the tools necessary to bounce back from a disappointing 2020 season.

The Longhorns will face off against the Ragin' Cajuns on September 4 at Darrel K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas, at 3:30 PM CST.