Texas may have one of the nastiest defensive groups in college football, but On3’s latest rankings still left the Longhorns with something to prove.
J.D. PicKell slotted Texas fifth in his 2026 top 10 defenses, putting the Horns behind Oregon, Oklahoma, Notre Dame and Georgia.
That alone would sting. What really jumps off the page is that two SEC teams - Oklahoma and Georgia - landed ahead of Texas.
That’s a tough pill for a defense loaded with returning pieces and fresh talent. Colin Simmons, Hero Kanu and Jelani McDonald are back, and the Longhorns also added Rasheem Biles, Ian Geffrard and Bo Mascoe through the portal. With Will Muschamp back in charge of the defense after Pete Kwiatkowski’s departure, Texas has the look of a unit built to bully people.
Still, the ranking says fifth, not first.
And for Texas, the Oklahoma placement is the one that really grates. The Longhorns have controlled the Red River Rivalry over the last two meetings, shutting out the Sooners in the touchdown column and holding them to just nine combined points across those games. That kind of recent dominance makes being ranked behind OU feel like a direct shot.
Georgia being ahead of Texas adds another layer, too. The Bulldogs have had the upper hand since Texas entered the SEC, but the Longhorns’ recent defensive work has been hard to ignore.
Texas held Ohio State to 14 points in a loss and limited Texas A&M to 17 in a win. On average in 2025, Longhorn opponents were held under 20.5 points.
The numbers from last season back up the eye test. Teams averaged just 4.9 yards per play against Texas, the same figure Georgia allowed.
The Longhorns piled up 41 sacks for 258 yards, only four fewer than Oklahoma and 21 more than Georgia. They also forced 17 fumbles and recovered seven, while Oklahoma forced 15 fumbles with four recoveries and Georgia forced 11 fumbles with four recoveries.
So no, Texas hasn’t been crowned the nation’s top defense yet. But with this much production returning and Muschamp steering the ship, the Horns clearly have the kind of unit that can spend this season making the rankings look foolish.
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For Texas, that matters because the debate is not just about governance in the abstract. A conference-driven model could change how member schools are governed, how media rights are handled and how access is sorted out in the postseason, all while the SEC continues to press for clearer enforcement and consistency. The league also has concerns about language in the bill that could affect how conferences pool media-rights agreements, leaving the Longhorns and the rest of the conference watching a negotiation that could reshape the sport around them. [Read more 🡒]
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The context matters because offensive line rankings are built on more than reputation. Brockermeyer weighed returning experience, injuries and coaching or transfer changes, and Texas checked enough boxes to be viewed as a legitimate strength rather than a lingering concern. With Georgia at the top and Ohio State also in the mix, the Longhorns are at least in the conversation with the sports elite up front, which is a notable shift for a team trying to make the most of Mannings talent and avoid the kind of pressure that can derail a season. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Sarkisian Weighs In As Texas Waits On Cole Hutson Twist
Texas is watching a familiar name and a fresh legal wrinkle at the same time. Former Longhorns offensive lineman Cole Hutson has taken his case to court in an effort to keep playing, and the issue now sits in the NCAAs lap while Steve Sarkisian and his staff monitor how it plays out. For Texas, it is not just a paperwork matter. It is tied to a player who has already been through the program, knows the system and could still have a place on the roster if the eligibility door opens.
Hutsons argument is centered on the NCAAs bylaw and the way it affects his eligibility, scholarship chances and NIL earning potential. Texas also has a practical reason to pay attention, with the SECs scholarship increase creating room that did not exist before. If the legal fight lands in Hutsons favor, the Longhorns would suddenly have to sort out where he fits in a crowded interior line picture, even as the bigger question remains unresolved for now. [Read more 🡒]