The Texas Longhorns are closing in on the 2026 season, and with expectations hovering high, Steve Sarkisian has a few major calls to make before Texas takes the field against Texas State on September 5.
That opener is still under two months away, but the pressure already sits squarely on Texas. Fans and analysts alike are treating the Longhorns as a team to beat in the SEC and beyond, which means Sarkisian’s margin for error is thin. If Texas is going to get back to playing deep into December and stay in the national championship conversation, several things have to click.
The first and most obvious issue is the offensive line. It was a question mark going into 2025, and the doubts proved justified when the group struggled for much of the season.
Texas does have a better base to work from this time around, with Trevor Goosby at left tackle, Connor Robertson at center and Brandon Baker sliding over to right guard. Even so, two starting spots remain open, and the Longhorns are still sorting through options in right tackle Melvin Siani and left guard Laurence Seymore.
Both are talented, but both are also new to Sarkisian’s system, which means the adjustment has to happen fast. Texas already learned what a shaky front can do to an offense, and Sarkisian has to settle on his best five.
The next challenge is finding the right way to use a freshman class that may be too talented to keep on the sideline. Wide receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr. was one of the standout names from spring practice, showing off the kind of skill set that can change an offense if he gets a chance.
Sarkisian does not rotate his receivers much, but Bishop Jr. could still carve out a role. Running back Derrek Cooper is another freshman who could force his way into the mix, bringing a north-south style and power element that could help Texas in the run game.
On defense, linebacker Tyler Atkinson may be ready to play right away because of the changes in the linebacker room, while edge rusher Richard Wesley could compete for a rotational role in the new defense under Will Muschamp.
Then there’s the backfield, where Sarkisian spent the offseason trying to fix a ground game that had its worst season during his Texas tenure in 2025. Texas added Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers, giving the room a much-needed jolt.
The task now is figuring out how to split the work between two backs who are similar in some ways but different in how they attack defenses. Brown is the big-play threat, the kind of runner who can score from anywhere.
Smothers is still explosive, but he brings more balance. After last season’s dip, it would be hard to see Texas repeat that kind of production on the ground, but Sarkisian still has to make sure the two backs are used the right way.
Those are the kinds of decisions that will shape Texas long before the season starts. The talent is there. Now Sarkisian has to put the pieces in the right spots.
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Texas Just Lost A Blue Chip Commit Fans Thought Was Safe
Texas 2027 recruiting push took a hit when four-star safety Greedy James changed course after originally pledging to the Longhorns in December. The move came after weeks of speculation, and it is the kind of flip that can sting even when a class is still sitting near the top of the national board.
Even with James gone, Texas is not exactly scrambling to recover. The Longhorns still own a highly regarded 2027 group that remains among the best in the country and near the top of the SEC, which is why this one feels more like a warning sign than a collapse. But losing a blue-chip defender who had been viewed as part of the foundation is the sort of development that keeps a recruiting staff busy long after the headlines fade. [Read more 🡒]
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Spears Jr. picked Texas over Arizona, Kentucky and LSU, a win that matters well beyond one signing. The Longhorns have already put together a strong recruiting class and added transfers, and this is the sort of addition that can change the way a roster looks in the seasons ahead, especially in a league where size and depth are never optional. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Fans Wont Believe What A Rival Coach Said About Sarkisian
Big 12 Media Days usually bring their share of sharp edges between in-state rivals, but Joey McGuire took a different tone when the conversation turned to Steve Sarkisian. The Texas Tech coach made it clear he respects what Sarkisian has built in Austin, pointing to the kind of sustained success that has been hard to find at Texas for a long stretch.
For Longhorn fans, the praise lands with extra weight because it comes from across the Red River rivalry line and arrives after Texas has put together consecutive College Football Playoff trips while also navigating the move to the SEC. McGuire acknowledged how difficult the rebuild has been, which is part of what makes the compliment stand out even more, especially with the two programs still operating in the same heated conference landscape. [Read more 🡒]