Steve Sarkisian enters his sixth season with the same heavyweight expectation hanging over Texas, but the No. 5 Longhorns are also juggling a roster that looks very different from a year ago. With a huge wave of newcomers settling in, Sarkisian says the early work has been about more than learning plays - it’s been about fitting into Texas from the inside out.
Speaking on ESPN this week, Sarkisian said Texas is dealing with 22 or 23 transfers, which he called the most in a single cycle in program history. Add in 26 incoming freshmen, and the Longhorns are asking nearly 50 new players to absorb the system, the structure and the standards before the season opener Saturday against Texas State.
“I thought these guys have done a great job all offseason of learning our system, our style, our organization, our culture, all those things,” Sark added as fall camp comes to a close. “But at the same time, working and competing to be the best players they can become.
“All that has brought this team very close.”
A few of those additions have already drawn Sarkisian’s attention as underrated pieces who fit what Texas wants to be. He pointed to Florida State transfer linebacker Justin Cryer and former Rutgers defensive back Bo Mascoe as players who may not be getting the same buzz as some of their teammates, but could still make a real impact. Sarkisian called both “great additions.”
Cryer is back near his hometown of Katy, Texas, after leading Florida State’s linebackers in tackles last season as a junior.
On the offensive line, Sarkisian highlighted right tackle Melvin Siani, who was graded as one of the best linemen in the ACC last season at Wake Forest.
“We've been fortunate,” the coach said, “As talented as our group is that we brought in, they're great people. They're really good teammates. That's the value of vetting people and making sure they fit culturally with our organization and beliefs and style, and we hit a home run on these guys...”
In Other News...
Texas Has One Clear Edge But A Worry Fans Can't Ignore
Texas enters its matchup with Texas State with one of the more obvious advantages on the field, and it starts at receiver. Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V are back, and the addition of transfer Cam Coleman gives the Longhorns a group that can stretch a defense in different ways and make life easier on the rest of the offense. For a team still settling into the rhythm of a new season, that kind of target talent is a useful place to lean.
The part Texas fans cant quite ignore is the other side of the ball, where linebacker depth has become a real talking point. Defensive coordinator Will Muschamps return has brought a welcome lift to the scheme and the room, but depth questions have only sharpened after recent roster changes. That leaves Texas with a clear edge in one area and a lingering test in another, the sort of imbalance that can look manageable in September and much louder once the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fans Need To See This Change To A Marquee Home Stretch
Texas footballs home schedule is getting a subtle but meaningful shuffle over the next two seasons, with Texas Athletics confirming that four Longhorns home games will be moved up by one week after the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee approved an earlier start to the college football season. The adjusted slate includes 2027 matchups with New Mexico State, Michigan and UTEP, along with the 2028 game against Louisiana Tech, all of which now sit a week earlier on the calendar than originally planned.
For fans, it is the kind of change that can quietly alter the feel of a fall in Austin, especially with marquee opponents like Michigan still anchoring the home schedule. Texas also has the edge of history against each of those programs, which only adds to the anticipation whenever those dates come into view. The bigger question now is how the new timing will shape the flow of those seasons and the atmosphere around a home stretch that already had plenty of appeal. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Opener Could Decide Which Longhorns Earn Real Roles
The Longhorns still have a few jobs up for grabs as they head into the season opener against Texas State, and the first game should give Steve Sarkisian and offensive line coach Kyle Flood a real look at who is ready for more than a spot duty role. Among the players in that mix are Sikorski, Cojoe and Bishop, all of whom are trying to turn preseason competition into something more concrete once the games count.
Texas is using the opener as an evaluation point, especially for players looking to carve out meaningful snaps as the season moves along. Black is another name in that conversation after making a switch and trying to force his way into a bigger defensive role, while the staff will be watching closely to see which of these battles start to settle and which ones remain open well beyond Week 1. [Read more 🡒]