Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says the Longhorns’ 2027 non-conference game against Michigan is still on the books.
That comes as plenty of Texas fans have spent time questioning whether the matchup should stay on the schedule at all, especially with the way the 2025 opener against Ohio State played into the bigger conversation around the College Football Playoff. The basic argument from the skeptics is straightforward: if Texas had chosen a softer start to the 2025 regular season, would the Longhorns have been left out of the CFP’s 12-team field?
That debate has been loud enough to make the 2027 Michigan date a talking point, but Sarkisian’s recent comments point to the game remaining in place for now.
The reporting on Texas also notes that the program is still looking ahead to other storylines around the roster, including whether the Longhorns could use more freshmen in 2026 under new rules that make that easier than before.
Around the program, the focus remains split between the present and the future. Texas opens the season against Texas State, and there are already questions about where Arch Manning can take another step in 2026. There’s also buzz around a Texas freshman who is pushing for playing time.
On the recruiting side, the Longhorns are tracking several developments, including Easton Royal’s LSU visit this weekend, the fall visit schedule for Top247 2028 wide receiver Derrell Hines Jr., Noah Roberts’ decision to become a Longhorn after Texas’ season-opening win, and elite 2029 quarterback Khayel Sam Fong-Talia being set to play in the 2028 adidas Polynesian Bowl. Texas is also in the mix with Dillon “Superman” Mitchell, who is preparing for Texas vs Ohio State, and Sierra Canyon’s next star is expected to visit soon as the California pipeline continues to grow.
One Texas take also singled out a 10-2 season as the pick, with championships still described as attainable at that mark.
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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
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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 🡒]