It will be brutally hot. Saturday’s forecast for Austin calls for a high of 100 to 103 degrees under mostly sunny skies, with humidity pushing the heat index to as much as 108. The National Weather Service has a heat advisory in effect for Austin and counties along and east of I-35 from noon to 7 p.m., which covers all of the tailgating and the first half hour of the game. At the 6:30 p.m. local kickoff (7:30 p.m. ET) the temperature should be in the upper 90s, cooling into the low 90s by the fourth quarter. There is no rain in the forecast; winds are out of the south and southeast around 10 mph with gusts near 20.
| Time (local) | Forecast |
|---|---|
| Noon | Mid 90s, sunny, heat advisory begins |
| 3 to 4 p.m. | 100 to 102, feels like 105 to 108 |
| 6:30 p.m. kickoff | Upper 90s, feels like around 100, advisory ends at 7 |
| Late game (9 to 10 p.m.) | Low 90s |
| Overnight low | Around 78 |
| Rain | None. High pressure over the region has shut off rain chances for the weekend |
Forecast per the National Weather Service, KVUE and the Austin American-Statesman as of Friday.
What It Means for the Game
The heat is the same for both teams but not the same preparation. Ohio State’s opener at home was 80 degrees and cloudy; Ryan Day said the Buckeyes practiced in 90 degree conditions this week and players used saunas to acclimate. Texas has already played one game in this, a 59-7 win over Texas State in similar heat that sent 13 fans to hospitals from the stadium. Depth on the lines and defensive rotation matter more than usual in the second half; the bettors’ consensus is that heat alone does not move the spread or the 48.5 total, but it favors the team that can substitute more freely up front.
If You Are Going
The pregame concert on the LBJ Lawn starts at 3 p.m. in the worst of it. Hydrate before you get to Bevo Boulevard, plan air conditioned breaks and expect the stadium to still feel like 100 when you sit down. The heat advisory ends at 7 p.m., half an hour into the game.
Related: how to watch, injury report, odds, announcers.
The Bottom Line
Upper 90s at kickoff, no rain, a heat advisory through the first half hour. The weather will not cancel or delay anything; it will decide who is still standing in the fourth quarter.