| Sport: | football |
| Year: | 1979 |
| Team: | Texas Longhorns |
| Conference: | Southwest Conference |
| Short Conf: | SWC |
| Record: | 9–3 |
| Conf Record: | 6–2 |
| Coachrank: | 13 |
| Aprank: | 12 |
| Hc Year: | 3rd |
| Oc Year: | 3rd |
| Dc Year: | 3rd |
| Bowl Result: | L 7–14 vs. Washington |
The 1979 Texas Longhorns football team represented the University of Texas at Austin in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Longhorns finished the regular season with a 9–2 record and lost to Washington in the Sun Bowl.
See main article: 1980 NFL draft. The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | Franchise |
| Wide receiver | 1 | 2 | New York Jets | |
| Cornerback | 1 | 17 | Los Angeles Rams | |
| Safety | 1 | 24 | Baltimore Colts | |
| Defensive tackle | 3 | 73 | New England Patriots | |
| Strong safety | 4 | 84 | San Francisco 49ers | |
| Defensive tackle | 6 | 142 | St. Louis Cardinals | |
| Charles Vaclavik | Defensive back | 12 | 306 | Pittsburgh Steelers |