As the college football season looms on the horizon, all eyes are once again on the Texas Longhorns. With quarterback Arch Manning stepping into his second year, and a roster stacked with talent, the anticipation in Austin is palpable.
The stakes are high for Texas this season. Anything less than an SEC championship or a shot at the national title would likely be seen as falling short for a team brimming with potential.
Junior wide receiver Ryan Wingo is well aware of these expectations. After a recent meet-and-greet in Austin, he shared his thoughts with the media, making it clear that the Longhorns have their sights set on the ultimate prize. "I know what the real goal is this year, and that’s a national championship, so we gotta go get it," Wingo stated.
Wingo emphasized the importance of staying grounded amid the hype. "I think we're just taking it day by day this year," he explained.
"We don't want to look ahead, and I think that's the best thing about this team. Just trying to stay where our feet are."
This approach could be crucial for a Texas team that struggled under similar expectations last season. Despite starting 2025 ranked No. 1 in the AP preseason poll, the Longhorns faltered, losing their opener to Ohio State and facing challenges throughout the SEC schedule. Key losses to teams like Florida and Georgia derailed their playoff ambitions.
As 2026 kicks off, the Longhorns face a tough road ahead. They start the season against Texas State, followed by a high-stakes matchup with Ohio State in Week 2. The SEC schedule is no cakewalk either, featuring trips to Tennessee, LSU, and Ole Miss.
Yet, Wingo is confident in the team's ability to rise to the occasion. "It's a lot of healthy competition," he noted. "I think we'll be able to accomplish a lot."
Wingo is poised to take on a bigger role in the offense this year, after a promising sophomore season. Alongside transfer Cam Coleman and slot receiver Emmett Mosley, he provides Manning with one of the most formidable receiving groups in college football.
Texas has also been proactive in addressing last season's weaknesses, utilizing the transfer portal to bolster the roster at key positions like receiver, running back, and offensive line.
If the pieces fall into place, the national championship that Wingo and his teammates are eyeing could be within reach.
In Other News...
Arch Mannings Locker Room Music Pick Will Get Texas Fans Talking
Arch Mannings offseason has had the usual Texas quarterback mix of football work, family time and the kind of attention that comes with being one of the sports most watched players. During the Manning Passing Academy, he also offered a small glimpse into life around the Longhorns, saying he recently played music in the locker room and giving fans a little more reason to wonder what the mood around the team is like when the pads come off.
The song choice came from Olivia Dean, the British soul singer-songwriter, which is the sort of detail that tends to travel fast in Austin once a quarterback with Mannings profile mentions it. As he heads into his second season as Texas starter, the expectations around him are only getting heavier, with a potential CFP push and NFL draft buzz looming, so even a locker-room playlist choice is enough to become part of the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Just Landed Another Secondary Piece Fans Have Wanted
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Montre Jacksons commitment gives Texas more momentum in a class that is already sitting near the top of the national conversation, and it keeps the staffs focus squarely on adding more length and athleticism to the back end. The Longhorns are still chasing several other cornerback prospects, including Joshua Dobson, Rasheem Floyd and Jacob Whitehead, so this part of the class may not be finished getting stronger any time soon. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Be Bracing For A Key Staff Loss Behind The Scenes
Texas could be facing a familiar kind of offseason worry off the field, with deputy athletic director and chief operating officer Shawn Eichorst drawing attention for a possible move back into the Big Ten. Eichorst has been part of the Longhorns athletic department since 2018, and his background already includes high-level stops at Nebraska and Miami, along with an earlier deputy athletic director role at Wisconsin.
The timing makes the situation worth watching for Texas because Wisconsins top job opened when Chris McIntosh moved on to become deputy commissioner for strategy for the Big Ten. Eichorst has enough experience at major programs to be a natural fit for a search like this, and his ties to Madison could make the possibility feel even more real as Texas monitors whether one of its most seasoned behind-the-scenes administrators is on the move. [Read more 🡒]