What’s subsequent for Texas? Extra assist round Arch Manning a requirement for 2026

Steve Sarkisian took a not-so-subtle shot on the School Soccer Playoff choice course of earlier this week when he proclaimed Texas‘ Citrus Bowl win over Michigan may outrate some playoff video games with TV viewership.

He is proper. Manufacturers just like the Longhorns and Wolverines are like catnip on New Yr’s Eve afternoon. The rankings most likely will beat a number of of the video games from the playoff’s opening spherical, particularly those who featured Tulane and James Madison.

By making that assertion, Sarkisian is digging on the choice course of that left a 9-3 Texas out of the sphere.

The truth is Texas missed the playoff regardless of incomes the preseason No. 1 rating for the primary time in program historical past following back-to-back semifinal appearances.

There are schedule-based excuses to be made for Texas’ absence within the 12-team area. However the Longhorns completed behind 4 different groups within the SEC standings and got here up brief throughout a yr the playoff was the expectation.

This results in the query: What’s subsequent?

Portal season has already been chaotic for Texas with a lot of the working again room selecting to exit en masse along with beginning linebacker Liona Lefau and huge receiver DeAndre Moore.

NFL selections will quickly stress Texas, too. These like star left deal with Trevor Goosby and defensive deal with Hero Kanu might select to go away and open gaping holes on Texas’ depth chart. These like All-American security Michael Taaffe are additionally set to graduate.

Nonetheless, if I had been a betting man, I would put cash on Texas being subsequent season’s preseason No. 1.

There are solely 5 seniors who had been a part of Texas’ common beginning 22 this season. 

Arch Manning, who torched Michigan for 376 yards of offense and 4 touchdowns on Wednesday, is again. So is famous person edge rusher Colin Simmons. With a title window open in Austin, count on the Longhorns to go all-in with the switch portal to construct a reputable contender for what tasks to be Manning’s final season.

Forward of a important offseason on the Forty Acres, this can be a look again at what went flawed and what labored in 2025 and what which means for the Longhorns’ offseason.

Anticipate Manning to be a preseason Heisman favourite

Sure, we did this already. Sure, Manning had some actual stinkers throughout the 2025 season. However what you might have missed down the stretch of the season was Manning rising as an elite faculty quarterback.

After being referred to as the “first faculty soccer flop” by The Athletic, Manning threw for 13 touchdowns in opposition to simply two interceptions within the common season whereas finishing 62% of his passes. Regardless of the sluggish begin, he completed the yr as a prime 20 QB for PFF by way of his season-long grade.

Given the strides Manning made in Yr 1 as a starter and the overwhelming optimism of sources within the constructing about his future, it is best to count on a leap by Manning in 2026.

And given his final identify and the eye round him … count on that to generate loads of Heisman chatter this summer time.

Modifications round Manning are coming

Steve Sarkisian produced a 1,000-yard rusher in each cease he made between 2008 and 2024 as a play-caller or a head coach. That got here to a hault this yr when no Texas again cleared the 600-yard barrier.

A part of that was on account of damage. However numerous it needed to do with a struggling offensive line and disappointing backfield manufacturing exterior of Quintrevion Wisner, who’s now the No. 3 working again within the 247Sports Portal rankings.

The working again room might want to endure an entire overhaul within the portal. The one remaining scholarship gamers within the room are freshmen Christian Clark and James Simon, a pair that may quickly be joined by four-star freshman Derrek Cooper.

Given the youth of the room, count on Texas to seize not less than one high-profile again out of the portal, perhaps even two. The Longhorns are anticipated to be lively on the prime of that market.

The identical may very well be mentioned for the offensive line, the place the one actual assure to return is correct deal with Brandon Baker and probably heart Connor Robertson. Texas might be aggressive including offensive line items within the portal to assist bolster a unit that completed 112th nationally in strain price allowed within the common season.

Oh yeah, do not be shocked if Texas goes after a high-level huge receiver within the portal. A participant like Auburn switch Cam Coleman might change the tenor of the Longhorns’ offense. Texas can even doubtless not less than seize a blocking-focused tight finish.

A shocking defensive change

Protection wasn’t the difficulty for Texas this yr. The Longhorns ranked twenty sixth nationally in yards allowed per play, twenty fifth in scoring protection and allowed solely 26 factors per sport in Texas’ three losses.

Regardless of that, Sarkisian made the shocking change to maneuver on from defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski — who authored the nation’s No. 3 protection in 2024 — and rent Georgia analyst Will Muschamp.

It is a reunion for Muschamp in Austin. A former head-coach-in-waiting for the Longhorns, Muschamp returns after 15 years away and stints as Florida and South Carolina‘s head coach.

Does Muschamp nonetheless have his fastball as a defensive play-caller? We’ll see. However Sarkisian is clearly banking on Muschamp to be the CEO of that unit and make it an annual prime 10 group.

As for what returns for Texas, the Longhorns can have arguably the very best defensive participant within the nation subsequent yr in EDGE Colin Simmons, who posted 13.5 TFLs and 11 sacks within the common season. There are additionally constructing blocks with gamers like Kanu (if he returns), freshman security Graceson Littleton and sophomore DT Alex January.

Anticipate Texas so as to add to a few spots on protection by way of the portal. The Longhorns are aggressively pursuing linebackers and cornerbacks within the portal to date, and it would not be a shock to see them take a defensive lineman or an edge rusher as effectively.

Wanting forward

Looking back the No. 1 rating for Texas within the preseason was shortsighted. The Longhorns had holes throughout their offense and lacked the elite secondary play to be a very dominant protection. Manning additionally struggled for stretches of his debut, and a suspect O-line and run sport did not assist issues.

Nonetheless, Texas completed with 9 wins, together with over playoff groups Oklahoma and Texas A&M.

Forward of subsequent yr with Manning and Simmons returning and an anticipated push within the portal, the Longhorns ought to as soon as once more be within the combine for preseason No. 1.

The title window is open in Austin. There’s an consciousness of that for the employees. Anticipate them to make a push this offseason to succeed in that aim.