Texas will walk into Baton Rouge on Nov. 14 with national title expectations hanging over the program, but LSU is bringing a roster full of new faces that could make that trip a lot harder than it looks on paper.
The Longhorns still have to prove they can live up to the preseason hype after last season fell short of those standards. By the time they get to Death Valley, they should have a better read on what kind of team they really are. LSU, meanwhile, has rebuilt through the transfer portal and has several players Texas fans need on their radar.
One of the biggest names is linebacker Harold Perkins Weeks, who is trying to get back to the level that made him one of the SEC’s most feared defenders. Injuries limited him to eight games last season, but in 2024 he piled up 120 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles while earning All-SEC honors. If he gets back to that form, he can make life miserable for Arch Manning and the Texas offense.
Up front, former Colorado left tackle Jordan Seaton is a major addition for LSU. He did not allow a sack last season and has already established himself as one of college football’s best young offensive linemen. LSU is counting on him to steady a rebuilt line, and his matchup with Colin Simmons and the Texas pass rush should be one of the game’s best trench battles.
LSU’s offense also has a new vertical threat in Kansas State transfer Jayce Brown. He averaged 17.4 yards per catch last season, finishing with 41 receptions for 712 yards and five touchdowns.
Ten of those catches went for at least 30 yards, which is exactly the kind of production that can change the feel of a game in a hurry. Brown should give quarterback Sam Leavitt a legitimate downfield weapon and could quickly become LSU’s top perimeter receiver.
On the other side of the ball, Texas’ receiver talent will test LSU cornerback DJ Pickett, who earned SEC All-Freshman honors after a strong debut season. He finished with 37 tackles, three interceptions, three tackles for loss, two sacks and three pass breakups. With Texas featuring Cam Coleman, Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley, Pickett could be staring at one of the biggest assignments of his young career.
Another LSU edge threat to know is Patrick Payton Umanmielen, who followed Kiffin from Ole Miss and arrives after a season that included 44 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, nine sacks and an interception. His power and ability to overwhelm blockers give LSU another dangerous presence off the edge, and if Texas’ offensive line has trouble holding up, he could make Manning uncomfortable all afternoon.
In Other News...
Sarkisian Suddenly Has A Real Shot At A Huge Receiver Win
Monshun Sales has spent most of his recruitment tied to a familiar heavyweight mix of Indiana, Ohio State and Alabama, but Texas has worked its way into the conversation in a way that now feels more than incidental. The Longhorns under Steve Sarkisian have been gaining traction with the highly ranked 2027 wide receiver, and the timing matters after Texas picked up Ismael Camara to give its class another lift.
If Texas can keep that momentum going, Sales would be the kind of addition that changes the look of the board in a hurry. His commitment could push the Longhorns back toward the top three nationally, and it would also give Sarkisian a valuable buffer if current commit Easton Royal ends up looking elsewhere, which is exactly why this recruitment has become one of the more important ones to watch. [Read more 🡒]
Arch Manning Just Got Hit With Serious Preseason Disrespect
Arch Mannings preseason buzz just took a hit from a place that usually tries to be as objective as possible. Pro Football Focus slotted the Texas quarterback ninth on its list of the best college players entering the new season, a placement that lands him well outside the top tier and adds a little more heat to a name that already carries plenty of it in Austin.
The eyebrow-raising part for Longhorns fans is that Manning was also judged behind two other quarterbacks, even after he finished last season on a surge and showed the kind of dual-threat production that made him one of the sports most watched players. It is a ranking that runs counter to the way some draft evaluators already talk about him, with a few viewing Manning as a potential No. 1 overall pick, which only makes the gap between preseason perception and long-term upside feel even wider. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Sarkisian Faces A Texas Pressure Test Before SEC Media Days
With the 2026 opener against Texas State still on the horizon, Steve Sarkisian is heading into SEC Media Days with the kind of questions that tend to follow a program with championship expectations. Texas has added transfers and recruits, and the Longhorns will spend plenty of time this summer sorting out how those pieces fit, especially on an offensive line that still has spots to settle and a defense that needs to look sharper under Will Muschamp.
Arch Manning will be at the center of the conversation, as always, with the bigger question being whether he has taken the next step into the national elite. Sarkisian also figures to face a steady stream of roster talk, from which newcomers can help right away to whether the defensive improvement Texas wants to see has truly begun, but those answers will have to wait until the team gets back on the field. [Read more 🡒]