# 1946 Texas Longhorns football team

The 1946 Texas Longhorns football team was an American football team that represented the University of Texas in the Southwest Conference (SWC) during the 1946 college football season. In their tenth and final year under head coach Dana X. Bible, the Longhorns compiled an 8–2 record (4–2 against SWC opponenets) and outscored all opponents by a total of 290 to 68. Texas was ranked No. 1 in the first AP Poll of the 1946 season, but slid throughout the season and was ranked No. 15 in the final poll.
The Longhorns ranked 15th nationally in total offense with an average of 328.1 yards per game, and 10th nationally in total defense with 176.0 yards allowed per game. Led by Bobby Layne, they ranked third nationally in passing offense with 156.9 yards per game. Layne ranked second nationally in total offense with 1,460 yards (1,122 passing and 336 rushing) and second nationally in passing yardage.
Five Texas players received honors from the Associated Press (AP) or United Press (UP) on the 1946 All-Southwest Conference football team: Bobby Layne (AP-1, UP-1); center Dick Harris (AP-1, UP-1); back Jim Canady (AP-2, UP-2); end Hub Bechtol (AP-2, UP-2); and guard Spot Collins (AP-2, UP-2).

## Schedule

| Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 21 | Missouri* | | War Memorial StadiumAustin, TX | W 42–0 | 37,000 |
| September 28 | Colorado* | | War Memorial StadiumAustin, TX | W 76–0 | 25,000 |
| October 5 | Oklahoma A&M* | | War Memorial StadiumAustin, TX | W 54–6 | 45,000 |
| October 12 | vs. Oklahoma* | No. 1 | Cotton BowlDallas, TX (Red River Rivalry) | W 20–13 | > 50,000 |
| October 19 | No. 14 Arkansas | No. 3 | War Memorial StadiumAustin, TX (rivalry) | W 20–0 | 40,000 |
| October 26 | at No. 16 Rice | No. 3 | Rice FieldHouston, TX (rivalry) | L 13–18 | 30,000 |
| November 2 | SMU | No. 7 | War Memorial StadiumAustin, TX | W 19–3 | 34,000 |
| November 9 | at Baylor | No. 6 | Waco StadiumWaco, TX (rivalry) | W 22–7 | 15,000 |
| November 16 | at TCU | No. 6 | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX (rivalry) | L 0–14 | 21,000 |
| November 28 | Texas A&M | No. 20 | War Memorial StadiumAustin, TX (rivalry) | W 24–7 | 48,000 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game |||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | Final |
| AP | 1 (69⅓) | 3 (38) | 3 (13¼) | 7 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 20 | 15 (1) |

## Awards and honors

* Hub Bechtol, End, Consensus All-American

## After the season

The 1947 NFL draft was held on December 16, 1946. The following Longhorns were selected.
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL club |
| 1 | 5 | Hub Bechtol | End | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 2 | 13 | Walt Heap | Back | Boston Yanks |
| 6 | 45 | Harlan Wetz | Tackle | Chicago Bears |
| 8 | 59 | Hank Harris | Guard | Washington Redskins |
| 19 | 174 | Frank Guess | Back | New York Giants |
| 20 | 184 | Tom Landry | Defensive back | New York Giants |
| 20 | 185 | Bill Cromer | Back | Washington Redskins |
| 23 | 215 | Al Lawler | Halfback | Chicago Bears |
| 24 | 217 | Ed Heap | Tackle | Boston Yanks |
| 28 | 265 | Joe Billy Baumgardner | Halfback | Chicago Bears |