What Is 1959 Texas Longhorns football team

Overview

The 1959 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin during the 1959 NCAA University Division football season. Coached by Darrell Royal in his third year, the team suffered through a historically difficult campaign, finishing with a 0-10 record—the only winless season in program history.

Competing in the Southwest Conference (SWC), the Longhorns struggled both offensively and defensively, failing to secure a single victory. The season marked a low point in Texas football history, especially following more promising performances in previous years under Royal’s leadership.

• 0-10 record: The team lost all ten games, the first and only winless season in Texas Longhorns football history since records were consistently kept.
• Head coach Darrell Royal: In his third season, Royal faced immense pressure, though he would later rebuild the program into a national powerhouse by the mid-1960s.
• Six conference games: The Longhorns played six games within the Southwest Conference, losing all of them, including matchups against rivals like TCU and Texas A&M.
• Defensive struggles: The team allowed an average of 27.3 points per game, among the worst in the nation, with frequent breakdowns in pass coverage and tackling.
• Offensive ineptitude: Texas scored only 57 total points for the season, averaging 5.7 points per game, one of the lowest outputs in NCAA history for a Division I team.

Performance & Season Details

The 1959 season was defined by consistent underperformance and growing frustration among fans and administrators. Despite high hopes after modest improvements in 1957 and 1958, the team regressed dramatically on both sides of the ball.

• Season opener loss: The Longhorns lost 28–7 to Rice on September 26, 1959, setting a negative tone for the rest of the year.
• Closest game: Texas nearly upset Baylor, losing 7–6 in Waco, marking their only game decided by a single point.
• Worst defeat: The team suffered a 47–0 shutout loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry game, one of the most lopsided defeats in the series’ history.
• Home record: At Texas Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns went 0-5, failing to win a single game in front of their home crowd.
• Final game: The season ended with a 13–0 loss to Texas Tech, completing the 0-10 record and cementing the season’s infamy.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of the 1959 Texas Longhorns with other historically weak and strong seasons in program history:

The contrast between the 1959 season and Texas’ national championship years like 1963 and 2005 highlights the program’s dramatic turnaround. While 1959 was defined by futility, later decades showcased sustained excellence under Royal and subsequent coaches.

Why It Matters

The 1959 season remains a pivotal moment in Texas football history, symbolizing both the depths of struggle and the potential for redemption under strong leadership. Though a low point, it laid the foundation for future success.

• Coaching resilience: Darrell Royal remained head coach and led Texas to its first national title in 1963, proving long-term vision over short-term failure.
• Program legacy: The 0-10 record is still referenced in Texas football lore as a reminder of perseverance and rebuilding.
• Recruiting overhaul: The season prompted a major shift in recruiting strategy, focusing on in-state talent to stabilize the roster.
• Fan engagement: Attendance dropped sharply in 1959, but loyal support helped sustain the program through the downturn.
• Historical benchmark: The 1959 team is often cited in discussions of college football’s worst seasons, placing Texas among rare company.
• Statistical anomaly: No other Texas team since has lost more than seven games in a season, underscoring how unique the 1959 collapse was.

Today, the 1959 season serves as a cautionary tale and a testament to resilience—proof that even elite programs can hit rock bottom before rising to national prominence.