With a confident quarterback in Arch Manning leading the team, Texas should be better equipped to face Ohio State in Austin. The Longhorns need top transfers — wide receiver Cam Coleman, linebacker Rasheem Biles, running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers, offensive tackle Melvin Siani and cornerback Bo Mascoe (Rutgers) — to come through and stay healthy. If that happens, the Longhorns have a chance to make a deep playoff run in what is likely to be the final season for juniors Manning, Coleman and Colin Simmons.
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Texas Football: 2026 Longhorns Season Preview and Prediction
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Previewing Texas' Offense for 2026
After watching quarterback Arch Manning finish the 2025 season by throwing for 11 touchdowns with one interception over the final five games while running for four TDs and even catching a TD pass, head coach Steve Sarkisian went all-in to try to win a national championship by creating the most explosive offense possible. In came the transfers - big-play wide receiver Cam Coleman (Auburn), electric running backs Raleek Brown (Arizona State) and Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and tackle Melvin Siani (Wake Forest). Texas also added 5-star wideout Jermaine Bishop Jr., who is drawing comparisons to a young Xavier Worthy.
“Our ability to create explosive plays is showing up,” Sarkisian said coming out of spring ball.
Texas needs to hit on its O-line transfers because the inconsistency of last year’s offensive line was a major contributor to the Longhorns averaging the fewest points per game (30.5) of the Sarkisian era in Austin.
Previewing Texas' Defense for 2026
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Sarkisian traded out a top-notch defensive coordinator in Pete Kwiatkowski (whose defenses gave up an average of 18.1 ppg the last three seasons) in hopes of an even better one with the hire of Will Muschamp. Muschamp, who spent four of the past five years on Kirby Smart’s staff at Georgia, brought Smart’s double-A-gap pressure with him back to Texas, where Muschamp served as DC from 2008-10.
Muschamp has playmakers at every level with end Colin Simmons, the SEC’s sack leader (12) in 2025; linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith and transfers Rasheem Biles (Pitt) and Justin Cryer (Florida State); and safety Jelani McDonald (team leader in tackles and interceptions in 2025).
Gone is Kwiatkowski’s bend-but-don’t-break philosophy in favor of Muschamp’s attacking style, which includes cornerbacks playing press-man instead of off coverage.
Previewing Texas' Specialists for 2026
Texas will have a new placekicker, punter and long-snapper in 2026 — Gianni Spetic (Memphis), Mac Chiumento (Florida State) and Trey Dubuc (New Mexico), respectively. Junior Ryan Niblett finished as the nation’s No. 2 punt returner in 2025 with punts returned for TDs in wins over Oklahoma and Mississippi State.
