The Texas defense has the kind of star power that can change the whole feel of the 2026 season.
There’s plenty of buzz around Arch Manning and an offense that should have no shortage of weapons, from Ryan Wingo and Cam Coleman to a rebuilt running back room and an experienced offensive line. But if Texas ends up meeting the expectations that come with Steve Sarkisian’s program, the defense may be the side that pushes it over the top.
At the center of that conversation is Colin Simmons. He already led the Longhorns with 12 sacks last season, and he enters his junior year with the look of a player who can wreck a game on his own.
Over his first two seasons, Simmons has piled up 21 sacks and six forced fumbles. He also has a shot at the SEC’s all-time sack record if he can get to 14 this year.
Now he’ll work under new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, back in Austin and tasked with getting the most out of a loaded front. How Muschamp deploys Simmons will be one of the more interesting parts of Texas’ defensive setup, because Simmons is exactly the kind of edge threat offenses have to account for snap after snap.
Texas also added Arkansas defensive tackle Ian Geffrard, a move that could matter a lot in Muschamp’s scheme. If Geffrard can command attention inside, that should help create more one-on-one chances for Simmons to attack.
The Longhorns also brought in linebacker Rasheem Biles from the transfer portal. He arrives after posting 100 total tackles and 4.5 sacks at Pitt last season, giving Texas a defender who can chase the quarterback and stay on the field in coverage.
There’s also a straightforward reason the defense could look even better: the offense may finally help it out more often. Last season, too many Texas drives bogged down in the red zone, which put extra strain on the defense. If Manning and the offense can finish drives and score quickly, Muschamp can be more aggressive and let players like Jelani McDonald hunt for a big play.
That’s the formula Texas is chasing. A disruptive star in Simmons, support at every level, and an offense that keeps the defense out of long stretches of pressure. If Simmons puts together the kind of year his track record suggests, this unit has a real chance to reach a very high level in 2026.
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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 🡒]
Marcus Spears Jr. Just Gave Sean Miller A Huge Texas Moment
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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 🡒]