AUSTIN, TX — Continuing his legacy of support and impact at the University of Texas, Matthew McConaughey has made yet another bold and generous move: donating five state-of-the-art, luxury buses to serve the university’s athletic and academic programs. With this gift, McConaughey once again proves that his dedication to Texas is not ceremonial—it’s transformational.
The fleet, dubbed “Longhorn Legends Transport,” is equipped with leather recliner seating, Wi-Fi, study lounges, climate-controlled cabins, and full multimedia capability. Designed with the burnt-orange and white Longhorns color scheme, each bus also carries a personalized inscription representing core values: Grit, Unity, Legacy, Honor, Drive.
Unveiled during a special ceremony on the campus commons, the buses arrived in dramatic fashion—led by McConaughey himself, driving the front bus with the words “Let Us Ride” emblazoned across the windshield. Students erupted into cheers as he stepped out, arms wide in triumph.
“These buses aren’t just wheels,” McConaughey said to the crowd. “They’re vessels for potential. They’re classrooms on the road. Locker rooms on wheels. Dream machines. Whether you’re headed to the gridiron, a science competition, or a civil rights conference, you ride with pride—and you ride together.”
The donation is part of McConaughey’s longstanding mission to unify athletics and academics under the banner of service and identity. Through his Just Keep Livin Foundation, the actor has championed initiatives in youth empowerment, mental health, and education access. This new transportation initiative, he noted, was inspired by conversations with student-athletes who described long, uncomfortable, or logistically challenging road trips.
“Athletes shouldn’t arrive to compete already exhausted. Scholars shouldn’t have to carpool to represent their departments. We’ve got the best people—so let’s get them there the best way.”
Athletic Director Chris Del Conte expressed his gratitude, calling the donation “game-changing for both logistics and morale.” He explained that the buses will serve multiple teams and student groups throughout the academic year and will also be used for outreach trips across the state to inspire high school students to pursue higher education.
“These buses will move people,” Del Conte said. “Not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually, and professionally. They’re symbols of unity, just like Matthew has been.”
Already, student-athletes and faculty alike are planning collaborative trips between academic programs and sports teams—a new model of cross-campus cooperation McConaughey hopes will “tighten the family circle of the Forty Acres.”
Though known around the world for his acting career, McConaughey has consistently emphasized that his heart belongs in Austin. From sideline speeches to philanthropic leadership, his actions reflect a mission larger than himself. With this latest donation, he isn’t just giving transportation—he’s giving momentum.
As the first of the five buses revved to life, McConaughey smiled and waved at the students gathered around. “Let us ride,” he said again, this time with a quiet finality. And with that, the fleet rolled on—forward into a legacy built not just on fame, but on faithful, tangible commitment to the people and the promise of Texas.