(Photo: Texas Tribune)
2025 Recap: The expectations were extremely high in Austin in 2025. Quinn Ewers was out and Arch Manning was now in as the starting Quarterback. I remember after that first game against the Ohio State Buckeyes, Arch was labeled overrated and all I could say was let’s not jump the gun because it’s his first game and he did play the defending national champs on the road to start the season. I didn’t like the fact they put too much on Arch’s plate which leads me to say it’s perfectly fine to run the football! They did finish with a 10-3 record and did end the season beating Texas A&M in the regular season finale. I will say Arch did look better to close out the season.
Key Departures: RB C.J. Baxter, RB Tre Wisner, WR Parker Livingstone & OL D.J. Campbell
2026 Prediction: I feel a full year under their belts can help them. After last season’s disappointment, Steve Sarkisian took an aggressive approach and took full advantage of the transfer portal and added Running Backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown to replace Baxter and Wisner along with Cam Coleman to be Arch’s primary receiver. Steve also hired Will Muschamp as the Longhorns new Defensive Coordinator and Colin Simmons is back for another season. I think it’s now or never for Texas and the window will close if they don’t make noise this year. With the growth of Manning to end the season last year and the minor tweaks here and there, I’ll be very surprised if they miss the playoffs again,.
