The game was the talk of the town.

When LSU came to meet the Texas Longhorns September 7 at the burnt orange sanctum of Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin was awash with team colors. The Tigers fans in their purple and gold flooded downtown ahead of the loyal Horns contingent. With the ESPN College Gameday crew also on campus, this rare meeting of two Top 10 rivals was the hottest ticket.

Our pregame photos capture the spirit of a game that filled UT’s stadium to the rafters.

The LSU football team is no stranger to big games. Fans on both sides have been eagerly awaiting this matchup since it was announced in 2014.

Before the game, fans had the opportunity to visit the Nissan Heisman House. The Heisman House offers fans the opportunity to take a picture with the Heisman Trophy, win Heisman-themed prizes and photo sessions with Longhorn greats Derrick Johnson and 1998 Heisman winner Ricky Williams. This exhibit will tour college campuses throughout the season.

In 2018, the University of Texas introduced Bevo Boulevard as a place fans can go for fun and exciting pregame activities. Bevo Boulevard opens five hours before kick off and offers activities for all ages. The new addition to Bevo Boulevard this year is Smokey’s Midway. “By adding Smokey’s Midway, we intend to give fans an experience that brings a State Fair-type atmosphere to gamedays,” said Texas Athletic Director Chris Del Conte. 

ESPN’s College Gameday was on hand for the Top 10 tussle between the LSU Tigers and the Texas Longhorns. Fans tune in to see which mascot head analyst Lee Corso will put on to predict the winner. September 7, Corso picked LSU to win the game, much to the dismay of the Longhorn fans in attendance. Little did they know how accurate his prediction was to be.

One of the unique activities fans can take part in during Texas home games is Longhorn City Limits. This season, fans can see performers like Jack Ingram, Midland and the Gin Blossoms. The stage can be found near the LBJ Presidential Library.

The Texas Cowboys were on hand for the game against LSU with Smokey the Cannon. Smokey III, the current version, is a famous Civil War replica, and can be heard firing off when the Horns score a touchdown or field goal.

The Showband of the Southwest leads the Bevo parade down Bevo Boulevard. After the parade, Bevo enters the stadium and the Silver Spurs prep him for the upcoming game.

Cover: Bevo, one of college football’s most iconic mascots, arrives at the stadium in style. Photo Brian Maass

Native Austinite Brian Maass has long had a passion for music and the Texas Longhorns, and is now bringing that same passion to the world of photography. @maass_brian and brian_maass_photographer