Texas Longhorns Football: Five most important games in 2015

Nov 8, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns running back Johnathan Gray (32) runs for a touchdown against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the second half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Texas beat West Virginia 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

With the 2015 season fast approaching, which five games should fans of the Texas Longhorns be sure to tune into this fall?

As long and perilous as the 2014 season was for the Texas Longhorns, the buildup to the 2015 has felt even longer. Optimism reigns supreme, augmented by reports of a finally healthy Johnathan Gray to anchor the offensive attack and the arrival of a strong recruiting class headed by middle linebacker Malik Jefferson.

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To put it lightly, 2015 is a make-or-break season in Austin, Texas. For a Texas Longhorn team that finished 2014 with an abysmal 6-7 record, every game feels like must-see TV on the Forty Acres. For a team that is still very much figuring things out on both sides of the ball, the first six weeks offer no reprieve; five of the first six games are against high-level opponents, including an opening-week trip to Notre Dame.

Things ease up after a bye week; the ‘Horns are fortunate to get Kansas State at home, followed by a trip to Iowa State and another home date with cellar-dwelling Kansas. Other highlights of the second-half schedule include a Thanksgiving night home tilt with Texas Tech, and a season-ending trip to what should be a raucous McLane Stadium to take on the Baylor Bears.

With all this in mind, should you only pick to watch five Texas football games this season, here are the five that stand out among all others.

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