Texas is sitting on a schedule that looks built for a run, and the Longhorns have the kind of profile that can turn September into a launchpad. They are No. 1 in the country, Arch Manning has the second-best odds to win the Heisman Trophy, and the road ahead has opened up in a way that makes Austin believe bigger things are coming.
That belief looked shaky at times, especially after Texas trailed Ohio State 23-3 in the fourth quarter. Manning also found himself in the middle of an awkward moment involving Holly Rowe and head coach Steve Sarkisian. Even with those bumps, the Longhorns still have the pieces to chase both the Heisman and a national title.
There is one more off-field issue hanging over the program, too. Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Johnny Nansen was arrested on DWI charges in Austin on Wednesday evening.
Multiple reports said the 52-year-old was involved in a three-car crash in west Austin and showed signs of impairment. He was charged with a Class B misdemeanor.
Still, the bigger football picture hasn’t changed.
Texas will leave the state only once before November, and as things stand now, the Longhorns are expected to be favored in every remaining game. The real test arrives in November, when they hit the road for ranked SEC games at Missouri, LSU and Texas A&M.
Here is how the rest of the schedule lines up, along with the projected odds:
Sept. 19 UTSA -30.5
Sept. 26 at Tennessee -4.5
Oct. 10 Oklahoma (Dallas) -6.5
Oct. 17 Florida -7
Oct. 24 Mississippi -4.5
Oct. 31 Mississippi State - 8.5
Nov. 7 at Missouri -6
Nov. 14 at LSU - 2.5
Nov. 21 Arkansas - 7.5
Nov. 27 at Texas A&M - 3
That doesn’t mean Texas is walking into a string of easy wins. But the oddsmakers clearly like the Longhorns’ chances, and the numbers back up the idea that this team has a favorable path.
The one thing left to settle is what happens after the regular season, when the College Football Playoffs come into view. Texas did not even qualify last year, a point that still lingers for some observers.
For now, though, the road is there. The Heisman chase is there.
The title chase is there. And the path to perfection is in play.
In Other News...
Texas Heads Into SEC Play With One Big Offensive Concern
Texas wrapped up its non-conference slate with a 30-6 win over UTSA, and the bigger takeaway for Steve Sarkisians group was that it came out healthy ahead of SEC play. The defense did what a No. 1 team should do, holding the Roadrunners to 143 total yards, while the offense found enough bursts to keep control of the game and move on to the next challenge.
The passing game, though, still looked like the area most likely to test Texas once the league schedule begins. Arch Manning had a productive line, but the rhythm never really settled in, even as the Longhorns got a boost from freshman Derrick Cooper Jr. in the backfield, where he gave Texas another meaningful option alongside the more established pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Has One Clear Priority Against UTSA Before SEC Play
The Longhorns head into their matchup with UTSA with momentum and a chance to clean up a few more details before the schedule gets a lot less forgiving. Texas has looked the part through its first two games, and oddsmakers are expecting a comfortable night against a Roadrunners team that has struggled to hold up defensively. With conference play looming, this is the kind of game the Longhorns want to control early and use to sharpen themselves for what comes next.
A win would push Texas to 3-0 and give the program another chance to build rhythm before SEC competition arrives. The bigger question is not whether the Longhorns should win, but how complete they can look while doing it, especially against an opponent whose defensive issues have already been exposed. For Texas, the priority is clear: handle business, stay healthy, and leave no doubt before the real tests begin. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Major Defensive Concern Before Tennessee
Texas defensive front already had a big enough week ahead with Tennessee on the schedule, and now the edge-rusher rotation has become a little harder to read. Colin Simmons, one of the key pieces off the edge, was spotted on the sideline against UTSA in street clothes, which immediately raised eyebrows for a defense that has leaned on its pass rush to set the tone.
Steve Sarkisian did not offer an update on Simmons at halftime, and there has been no official word since, leaving the Longhorns with an open question at a position where they had added depth this season. With Tennessee coming next week, Texas can at least point to that added insurance, but how much of it gets tested may depend on whether Simmons is available. [Read more 🡒]