Arch Manning’s Heisman case took a hit Saturday, while Jeremiah Smith kept building one of the loudest campaigns in the country.
Manning delivered plenty of production in Texas’ 27-24 loss to Oklahoma, throwing for 260 yards and three touchdowns. But the two interceptions were the difference, including a late pick that helped the Sooners close it out and left the Longhorns with their first loss of the season.
The setback showed up quickly in the betting market. Manning opened week 6 at +3000 on FanDuel to win the Heisman Trophy, but after the loss he dropped out of the sportsbook’s latest leading contenders. At the top now sits Smith, the Ohio State wide receiver, at -210.
Smith did his part again in Ohio State’s 45-16 win over Maryland, finishing with four catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns. That pushed his streak to three straight games with multiple touchdown receptions and lifted his season line to 48 catches for 916 yards and 11 touchdowns through six games.
The rest of the race still has some moving pieces, and Texas will see a few of them down the stretch. The Longhorns are scheduled to face Florida running back Jaden Baugh, Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss and Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor later this season.
FanDuel’s current Heisman board lists Darian Mensah at +1000, CJ Carr at +1200, Trinidad Chambliss at +1300, Gunner Stockton at +1400, Keelon Russell at +2000 and Manning all the way down at +30000. Chambliss is set at +1300, while Taylor has moved to +1500 after Mississippi State’s loss to Alabama.
Texas still has room to climb back into the conversation, but Manning’s path is clear: cleaner games, fewer giveaways and more of the sharp play he flashed against Oklahoma.
In Other News...
Texas Has A Discipline Problem Sarkisian Can't Ignore
Penalties again hovered over Texas in a loss to Oklahoma, where the Longhorns were flagged eight times for 61 yards and watched several drives get undercut by avoidable mistakes. For a team trying to play cleaner in big moments, it was the kind of game that reminded everyone how much small errors can shape a rivalry result.
Steve Sarkisian said the discipline issues remain the biggest thing Texas has to fix, and the frustrating part is that they have not all come from the same place. Some have been effort plays, others simple mental lapses, and even with fewer penalties per game than last season, the Longhorns are still giving away too much in situations where every snap matters. [Read more 🡒]
Loreal Sarkisian Gave Texas Fans A Rare Bright Spot Saturday
Even in a loss that stung, one of the more memorable scenes from Saturdays Red River Rivalry came from the sideline stands. Loreal Sarkisian showed up at the Cotton Bowl in a couture cowgirl look that drew plenty of attention and even earned a mention during ESPNs broadcast, giving Texas fans a rare bit of lighter conversation on a day when the football result went the wrong way.
The Longhorns fell to Oklahoma for their first loss of the 2026 season, which made the fashion moment stand out even more against the backdrop of disappointment. Loreal and Steve Sarkisian reportedly reconciled after filing for divorce in July 2024, and the couple welcomed a son in April 2025, adding another layer of personal interest to a storyline that had Longhorns fans talking for reasons beyond the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Must Reshuffle Its Frontcourt Before The Preseason Even Starts
Texas womens basketball has already run into a frontcourt problem before the preseason even gets going, with senior forward Jada Bediako sidelined by a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. Bediako transferred to Texas this offseason and was expected to bring veteran presence and stability inside, the kind of experience that can help settle a group when roles are still being sorted out.
Now the Longhorns have to adjust their early lineup plans without her, which puts more pressure on the other frontcourt options to absorb minutes and provide the interior balance Texas had been counting on. The timing makes the setback especially disruptive, because it forces the staff to rethink how it wants to piece together the front line before the first real tune-up work even begins. [Read more 🡒]