The University of Texas pulled off a stunning fourth-quarter comeback against Ohio State during a primetime college football game on Saturday. But it wasn’t just the victory that caught attention.
Many viewers were struck by the Longhorn student section, which appeared to be predominantly filled with Indian students. For native Texans, this sight might have been frustrating, though it’s not entirely surprising. There have been warnings for years about how much Texas has changed, especially with the influence of mass immigration. It seems like this concern hasn’t resonated broadly—many didn’t fully grasp or perhaps even care about the significant demographic shifts in Texas.
Now that the public is starting to pay attention, it’s worth diving into the issue and considering those responsible for the transformation of native Texan identity.
Bo French, the Republican nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner, shared a photo of the stands, expressing skepticism about reports he had heard regarding the makeup of UT’s graduation. He remarked, “I didn’t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined.”
I heard UT graduation this year looked like this. I didn’t believe it. The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined. pic.twitter.com/Ys1bql0y4U
— Bo French (@bofrench) September 13, 2026
His comments ignited a wave of reactions, particularly within the Texas Republican Party. Texas state Representative Lacey Hull called for French to delete his post, and she wasn’t alone in doing so, as State House Speaker Dustin Burrows also criticized him.
“You can oppose immigration policy without demeaning people because of their race or ethnicity — this post has crossed the line. Delete it,” Burrows stated.
Meanwhile, State Rep. Jared Patterson voiced a lengthy critique of French’s remarks, labeling them as “racist” and “wrong,” invoking his Christian beliefs. Former Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan suggested that French didn’t belong in public office. The general consensus among these responses was that French was misguided for recognizing Texas’s changing demographics. His transgression—and really, ours as well—seemed to be merely acknowledging the situation.
Thanks to Ben Shapiro’s controversial viewpoint, the conversation can shift from just the reactions to the deeper issue at hand. In an online exchange with Sean Davis, co-founder of the Federalist, Shapiro minimized the significance of the problem, claiming statistics didn’t support the notion of a crisis.
Davis countered, expressing concern over the systematic displacement of Americans, particularly white men, by foreigners in key institutions, emphasizing how stark it is in Texas. “And it’s not just happening at universities. Entire Texas cities are being taken over. From Frisco to Irving to Coppell, entire school districts look more like New Delhi than New Braunfels,” he added.
Shapiro thought he had a solid counter, stating that Texas law mandates that a significant portion of freshmen must be local residents, with only about 4% of the students being international. Yet, while that statistic is technically accurate, it doesn’t clarify why a particular student section was predominantly Indian. Ignoring the fact that many of these students are in Texas due to their parents working in the state on H-1B visas seems naïve.
Texas didn’t attract a wave of Indian immigrants solely due to its pleasant climate. There’s currently a severe heatwave with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees for three consecutive months. The influx happened because state Republicans courted companies that prefer hiring H-1B visa holders over native workers. Over a short time, communities shifted without any direct approval from Texan voters. These visa holders and their families have access to the same opportunities that native Texans once had, be it jobs, housing, or education.
The current dilemma for Texas is that finding a solution is challenging. Ideally, the H-1B visa program would be effectively temporary, meaning the government would halt its continuation and revoke work rights for those who are not permanent residents. Yet, even under Republican leadership, the issuance of H-1B visas hasn’t slowed down, and once granted, it’s tough to remove them, as the visa often leads to permanent residency.
The presence of so many Indian students at the Longhorn games is a stark indicator of failed leadership. It highlights how American values and communities have been sold to the highest bidder. Witnessing a familiar neighborhood evolve into something unrecognizable can be jarring. Feeling distressed about these changes doesn’t make you unpatriotic; it may very well mean you care about preserving what makes this country special.
As an Aggie fan, I never thought I’d find myself cheering at pictures of Longhorns fans circulating on social media. But perhaps this time, it might actually lead to serious consideration of an issue that has been largely overlooked.
