Texas football’s 2026 schedule is already drawing attention, and not for the usual reasons. With a returning starting quarterback named Manning and big expectations circling the program, the Longhorns are still staring at a brutal regular season slate that Phil Steele now ranks as the toughest in the country.
Steele’s breakdown makes the challenge plain. Texas is set to play six preseason ESPN Top 25 teams across 10 power-conference games, a list that includes No.
1 Ohio State, at No. 25 Tennessee, vs.
No. 13 Oklahoma in Dallas, vs.
No. 9 Ole Miss, at No.
11 LSU, and at No. 10 Texas A&M.
That kind of schedule leaves little room to breathe for Steve Sarkisian’s team, even with the buzz surrounding the roster heading into 2026. The Longhorns will be tested early and often, and the opponent list is loaded with ranked matchups that could shape the season from the start.
Around the Texas program, there’s plenty else to keep an eye on as well. Sarkisian recently addressed Cole Hutson’s eligibility lawsuit, while Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer said at SEC Media Days that he’s eager to take on Texas again when healthy. Tennessee’s quarterback battle also took center stage at SEC Media Days.
There’s been no shortage of offseason chatter around the Longhorns’ roster, either. Questions remain about how young Texas’ roster is on average, and the program’s new indoor practice facility is nearing completion. There’s also movement to track in the transfer portal, with updates on where former Texas players are headed.
On the recruiting side, the attention keeps coming. Recent coverage has focused on standouts from the 305Sports Invitational 7-on-7 Tournament, USC wide receiver commit Quentin Hale continuing to hear from other programs, and what Texas high school coaches are saying about Will Muschamp after THSCA.
Elsewhere in the SEC picture, there’s plenty of crossover with Texas’ future opponents and league storylines. John Mateer is still a major talking point in Oklahoma, the Texas and Oklahoma move to the SEC remains a major realignment reference point, and there’s been discussion about what really matters at SEC Media Days. Eli Drinkwitz expects Ahmad Hardy back, Will Stein praised former Longhorns CJ Baxter and Bo Barnes at SEC Media Days, and there are updates around Ahmad Hardy, LSU’s canceled home-and-home series with Arizona State, and Kentucky football’s Big Blue Wall.
The broader football conversation is busy, but for Texas, the headline is simple: 2026 is shaping up to be a grind.
In Other News...
Texas May Finally Need This Former Five-Star To Deliver
The Longhorns are heading into 2026 with a defense that already has a clear headliner in Colin Simmons, but the next layer of production could come from a familiar name. Lance Jackson arrived in Austin with five-star expectations, and after a limited first season, Texas is preparing to give him a much larger platform as it reshapes the front and leans into more depth up front.
Will Muschamps plan is part of what makes Jackson so interesting. Texas wants to use his versatility in different spots, including some work inside and some on the edge opposite Simmons, and the addition of Ian Geffrard gives the staff more flexibility to sort out those roles. If Simmons commands the attention he usually does, Jackson may be the one with the clearest path to turning promise into something the Longhorns can count on. [Read more 🡒]
Texas May Have An Unexpected Answer In Its Biggest Line Battle
Laurence Seymore arrived at Texas as a transfer with real starting experience, and he has quickly become part of the conversation in a position group that still has some sorting out to do. After starting every game last season at Western Kentucky, the guard has drawn praise from Steve Sarkisian for the way he has handled the offseason program and for the way his body has already changed since joining the Longhorns.
That matters because Texas is still waiting on clarity around a few key pieces up front, and Seymore is in the mix for one of the starting guard jobs as the staff pieces together the best combination. With uncertainty lingering around availability elsewhere on the line, his progress has given Texas an unexpected option in a battle that could shape how stable the offense feels once the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Will Muschamps Return Has Texas Fans Believing In This Defense Again
Steve Sarkisians decision to move on from Pete Kwiatkowski and bring back Will Muschamp gave Texas a familiar name to rally around on defense, and the early buzz has been hard to miss. Muschamp already knows the program from his previous run as the Longhorns defensive coordinator from 2008 to 2011, and his recent appearance at the Texas High School Coaches Association convention only added to the sense that he remains a major presence in the states football circles.
Since returning to Austin, Muschamp has drawn praise from players and coaches alike, which is exactly the kind of reception Texas was hoping for when it made the change. The optimism is real, but so is the pressure, because the Longhorns will find out quickly whether the hire can translate into the kind of defense fans remember, with a demanding stretch of games waiting to test it early. [Read more 🡒]