This football season, The Texas Longhorns have had one of the best secondaries in the country, leading it to the SEC championship game and College Football Playoff. While there are several stars in the defensive backfield, All-Americans Michael Taaffe and Jahdae Barron make sure that everyone is on the same page.

While giving up the most yards of the season in the First Round Playoff game against Clemson, Texas got the win but still isn’t satisfied.

Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik threw for 336 yards and the Tigers’ offense put up 412 total yards. Even though the Longhorns won 38-24, Taaffe and Barron wasted no time getting back to work.

“It’s the whole thing that Coach Saban always says,” Taaffe said. When you play a game not up to your standard but you still win, some immature players look at that like it’s a win. We can’t learn from it because we won, so let’s just keep moving on.”

Texas has been able to turn losses into lessons twice this season, and while they didn’t lose to Clemson, they still have a lot of work to do to be fully prepared for Arizona State. Back to practice after taking a break for Christmas, Barron was itching to get back out onto the field the second the clock hit 0:00 after beating Clemson.

“But this group that we have is so mature that Jahdae’s on the phone with me at 10 pm after the game,” Taaffe said. “He’s like ‘dude. I just watched it. We need to get better. We need to start tomorrow as early as 8 am and start getting better.’”

Taaffe, Barron and fellow Austin native Andrew Mukuba have led the Texas secondary, working tirelessly with defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski in the offseason to improve all aspects of their game.

Many doubted Texas’ ability to stop the run with the departure of T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II. But Kwiatkowski was prepared, ready to make the changes needed to keep the Texas defense elite.

“So schematically we went to more of a post-style defense going into the season. We lost T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy and we had (Alfred Collins) and (Vernon Broughton) coming back. We weren’t sure how we were going to be able to play the run with two high safeties with lighter boxes, so that was the main catalyst to that switch. And then from the secondary standpoint playing with a middle closed we were able to play tighter coverage, play with more outside leverage on a lot of the route combinations that we’re seeing,” Kwiatkowski said.

“And then credit to those guys. They took their growth and learning to a new level. As much as we like to tell them to stay off social media and not listen to outside noise, they hear it, and so they knew they had to get better. And starting in January all the way to camp to now, they’ve attacked that challenge.”

Now, the Longhorn defense will have at least one more challenge ahead of them as they will head back to Atlanta to face Arizona State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal on New Year’s Day at 12:00 PM.

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AUSTIN, Texas – On Wednesday, the Texas Longhorns and the Arizona State Sun Devils will square off in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.

The New Year’s Day match-up will be the first football game of 2025. 

The last time the Horns and Sun Devils played on the field was in 2007 when Texas beat Arizona 52-to-34 in the Holiday Bowl. 

“This is the first time that we’ll host Texas true blue blood in college football into the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, and if they win, Texas would be the first team in the history of college football to win all six New Year’s Six Bowl games,” said Gary Stokan, President and CEO of Peach Bowl, Inc.

Texas has never played in the Peach Bowl, and Arizona has never played in the CFP. It will be a game of firsts for both teams. The Sun Devils have only played in the Peach Bowl once before, in 1970, when they beat North Carolina. 

“They created the Fiesta Bowl out of that experience of the 1970 Peach Bowl,” said Stokan. “So interesting history there, and interesting history can be made with both teams moving along to the semifinal, the first CFP playoff.” 

It will be the 57th Peach Bowl, and tickets to the annual game have sold out yearly since sometime in the 1990s. 

“We were founded back in 1968, and it is the ninth-oldest bowl game in college football history, but only the first bowl game founded for charity,” said Stokan.

Stokan said the Peach Bowl and Chick-fil-A teamed up this year to give out scholarships to both universities, each receiving $100,000. The endowed scholarship will help fund tuition for students attending UT or ASU from Atlanta. 

“We’ve given $64 million to charity since 2002, which makes us the most charitable organization in the country,” said Stokan.

The Longhorns will return to Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the second time this season, and fans are upset that the beloved mascot has been banned from the sidelines.

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“Unfortunately, we hate it, but, you know, we’re not able to house Bevo similar to what the SEC championship did, so we apologize to all the Texas fans,” said Stokan.

The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl President said he had answered more interview questions about Bevo than football. 

“I’m not sure whether Texas fans are more interested in Bevo or the game,” said Stokan.

The stadium staff said they cannot accommodate the nearly one-ton steer. 

While the Peach Bowl is already sold out, some people feel this same restriction could affect Bevo’s game attendance for a possible national title game. 

If Texas wins the Peach Bowl and their semifinal game, the Longhorns would return to Atlanta on January 20 for the national championship.

Austinites, new and old, often hear that the city is no longer the live music capital of the world, but that claim should be taken with a grain of salt. There are plenty of spots in ATX to hear free live music that’s good — as long as you know where to look.

The Capital City was first dubbed the “Live Music Capital of the World” in August 1991. According to Visit Austin, the title was justified by the number of music venues per capita in the city. ATXToday reports there are over 250 venues in Austin where live music is played, proving there’s no shortage of spots offering live entertainment.

However, not every venue allows residents and visitors to Austin to enjoy quality live music without some sort of cover charge. This is when it pays to know the Capital City like the back of your hand.

9 places in Austin to see free live music

While there are countless bars, coffee shops, restaurants and music venues in Austin offering free live music, not all of it passes as “good.”

What’s the point of hitting up a cover-free spot if the live entertainment is soul-crushingly bad?

Below are nine spots to see quality live music in Austin for free.

Reminder: If you’re enjoying free live music somewhere, show the artists some support! Most have tip jars and/or signs with their Venmo username near the stage.

Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden

Pros: Spacious beer garden with indoor and outdoor seating, covered outdoor stage for live entertainment, a stellar sound system that funnels live music inside (even in the bathrooms) quality local acts that get guests on their feet during Sunday brunch and beyond, attentive service and an expansive food and drink menu.

Address: 79 Rainey St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

View Banger’s live music calendar here.

Mama Dearest

Pros: Backwoods-themed bar with eclectic and borderline eerie decor, decent sound system for listening to live music, indoor-outdoor seating, food truck, all of the vibes. Misting fans on outdoor patio in the summer, heaters in winter.

Address: 515 Pedernales St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; noon to 2 a.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Mama Dearest often will share its live music offerings on Instagram. Check the bar’s IG here.

Austin Beer Garden and Brewing Co.

Pros: Free live music on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, delicious pizza and sandwiches, various drink options (beer, wine, seltzer and more!), dog-friendly, children welcome.

Address: 1305 W. Oltorf St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: Closed Monday; 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday-Friday; noon to midnight Saturday; noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.

View ABGB’s live music calendar here.

The Elephant Room

Pros: Centrally located venue offering live jazz music nightly, no cover charge on Sunday, Monday or before 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, intimate setting, attentive service.

Address: 315 Congress Ave., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday.

View the live music calendar here.

Armadillo Den

Pros: Spacious, casual friendly service, free live music, good sound system, numerous food trucks on-site. Kids are welcome until 6 p.m. Monday-Friday. Otherwise, the Armadillo Den is for those ages 21 and older.

Address: 10106 Menchaca Road, Austin, Texas.

Hours: 4 p.m. to midnight Monday-Wednesday; noon to 12:30 a.m. Thursday; noon to 2 a.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; noon to midnight Sunday.

View Armadillo Den’s live entertainment calendar here.

Jester King Brewery

Pros: Live music on weekends at a brewery that doubles as a ranch where goats not only live but also thrive alongside their trusted canine companion. Jester King also has delicious bites and funky beers to choose from, forts for kids to climb on and ample space.

Address: 13187 Fitzhugh Road, Austin, Texas.

Hours: 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Browse Jester King’s live music calendar here.

Blind Pig Pub

Pros: Live music every day of the week in the heart of Dirty Sixth, indoor and outdoor stages, open-air rooftop patio. For a chiller experience on weekends, visit the Blind Pig before 9 p.m.

Address: 317 E. Sixth St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Tuesday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Wednesday-Friday; 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday.

Austin Garden & Studio at Inn Cahoots

Pros: The Garden at Austin Garden & Studio often hosts live music on the outdoor stage. Musical genres vary, but the sound quality is superb. There also is a food truck on-site and yard games to play.

Address: 1209 E. Sixth St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: Doors open at 4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday.

Browse the December 2024 schedule here, and view the 2025 schedule here.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Icehouse

Pros: Located in the heart of West Sixth where bars and restaurants are plentiful, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot offers stellar sound quality, a covered bar and stage for chilly or rainy nights, strong drinks, fast service and more.

Address: 701 W. Sixth St., Austin, Texas.

Hours: 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday; 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday, noon to 2 a.m. Sunday.

Check Whiskey Tango Foxtrot’s Facebook and Instagram pages for up-to-date information on live music offerings.