The Texas Longhorns didn’t just dip into the transfer portal this January-they dove in headfirst and came up with a haul that could reshape the SEC landscape in 2026. At the center of it all? A game-changing addition for their star quarterback, Arch Manning: former Auburn wideout Cam Coleman.
Let’s start with the obvious-Manning is already the face of college football heading into next season. He closed out 2025 with a strong finish in his first year as a starter and enters 2026 as the Heisman favorite for the second straight offseason.
But now, he’s got a new weapon who could take this offense to another level. Coleman, a former 5-star recruit and Auburn’s top receiver the past two seasons, arrives in Austin after showcasing flashes of brilliance despite inconsistent quarterback play on the Plains.
Pairing him with Manning? That’s a potential nightmare for SEC defenses.
Texas didn’t land every top target-left tackle Jordan Seaton ultimately chose a different path-but that hasn’t stopped the Longhorns from being widely considered one of the most improved teams in the country heading into next fall. With the combination of incoming talent and key returners, there’s a growing belief that Texas could open the 2026 season ranked No. 1 for the second year in a row.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t go full “superteam” in the portal, but he didn’t have to. The pieces he added are high-impact, and they fill real needs.
Beyond Coleman, Texas added depth and explosiveness in the backfield with transfers Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers. On defense, they brought in former Pitt linebacker Rasheem Biles and ex-Rutgers cornerback Bo Mascoe-both 4-star talents who should compete for immediate roles.
It’s a clear response to how last season ended. Despite looking like one of the top 12 teams in the country by the end of 2025, Texas missed the College Football Playoff.
A narrow eight-point loss to Florida in October and a rough outing against Georgia ultimately knocked them out of contention. Even a dominant Week 14 win over Texas A&M couldn’t undo the damage.
That kind of finish tends to light a fire under a program, and Texas responded like a team that knows what’s at stake in 2026.
And then there’s Coleman-arguably the crown jewel of this portal class. His time at Auburn was complicated.
He entered the program as the highest-rated offensive recruit in school history and a homegrown talent from Phenix City, Alabama. But things never quite clicked.
Whether it was the quarterback carousel or a locker room culture that didn’t mesh, Coleman didn’t fully realize his potential in orange and blue.
That doesn’t mean he’s the villain in this story. Far from it.
Players have to make decisions that are best for their careers, and Coleman’s move to Texas is just that. With Manning throwing him the ball and a bigger stage to showcase his skills, he’s in a prime position to elevate his NFL draft stock.
And let’s be honest-he wasn’t going to get that kind of exposure staying where he was.
Coleman’s decision will sting for Auburn fans, no doubt. But it’s also a move that makes sense.
He’s betting on himself, and he’s doing it in a place that’s ready to win now. Texas is building something serious in Austin, and Coleman’s arrival is another sign that the Longhorns aren’t just aiming to compete in the SEC-they’re looking to run it.
As for the rest of the country? Eyes will be on Texas from the moment the season kicks off.
Manning, Coleman, and a reloaded roster have the Longhorns positioned for a potential title run. The pieces are there.
Now it’s about putting it all together.