On Saturday, September 5, Texas Longhorns multi-sport athlete Jonah Williams had a great game to open the 2026 college football season.

In a 59-7 win for the Texas Longhorns over the Texas State Bobcats in Austin, Williams had six total tackles.

He finished tied for the second-most tackles on the team in that game. Defensive back Graceson Littleton also had six tackles for the Longhorns against Texas State. The only player who finished ahead of Williams and Littleton in tackles was Jelani McDonald, who had eight.

Williams finished with the highest Pro Football Focus tackling grade of any Texas football player in the season-opening win over the Bobcats, according to On3's Tyler Horka.

It is the third-highest tackle total for Williams in his Texas football career as well. The two games where he had more tackles came in 2025 against Vanderbilt, where he had nine, and Arkansas, where he had seven.

Williams and his baseball career with the Longhorns

When he is not playing football for the Longhorns in the fall, Williams is playing outfield for the school's baseball team in the spring.

In 78 career at-bats with Texas in 2025 and 2026, he has a .321 batting average with five doubles and 14 RBIs. He has also scored 13 runs and has stolen three bases in his career with the Longhorns.

Williams' sophomore season with the baseball team in 2026 was cut short due to a shoulder injury he sustained when diving for a ball in foul territory. The Texas outfielder had surgery done on the injured shoulder.

Williams was able to appear in only 23 at-bats during the 2026 season before sustaining the season-ending injury.

Without Williams, the Texas Longhorns went on to play in the 2026 College World Series after winning a regional and super regional at Disch-Falk Field. During Williams' two seasons on the baseball team, the Longhorns have won 90 total games.

A big game ahead for Texas football

Before Williams returns to the Texas baseball team in 2027, he has to finish out his sophomore year playing football for the Longhorns.

After a dominant win over Texas State and a 1-0 start, Texas will host the Ohio State Buckeyes at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin on Saturday, September 12.

The Buckeyes are also coming off a dominant win. They defeated the Ball State Cardinals 56-3 on Saturday.

The game between Texas and Ohio State is an AP Poll top-five matchup, and the game is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game can be watched on ABC.

For more NCAA news: https://worldbaseball.com/news/category/ncaa