The Texas Longhorns didn’t punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff in 2025, but don’t let that 10-3 record fool you-this was a team brimming with elite talent. Wins over four ranked opponents, including playoff-bound rivals Oklahoma and Texas A&M, showed just how dangerous this squad could be when firing on all cylinders.
And while the season opened with a tough road loss to No. 3 Ohio State, Texas closed strong, rattling off three straight wins to finish the year on a high note.
That late-season surge was powered by a core of standout performers, four of whom earned spots on Pro Football Focus’s list of the top 101 players in college football for 2025. Let’s break down what made each of them special-and why Texas fans have every reason to be excited heading into 2026.
Michael Taafe (#48 overall) - The Heart of the Secondary
Michael Taafe was a stabilizing force on the back end of the Longhorns’ defense all season long. He finished second on the team with 70 tackles and added two interceptions, but his impact went well beyond the box score.
PFF gave him an overall grade of 88-sixth-best among all safeties in the country-and his 89 coverage grade ranked seventh nationally. That kind of production and consistency earned him a trip to the Senior Bowl on Jan. 31, where he’ll get a chance to showcase his skills in front of NFL scouts.
Taafe’s football IQ and range made him a difference-maker in a conference loaded with high-powered offenses.
Arch Manning (#50 overall) - The Face of the Future
From Week 9 on, Arch Manning looked every bit like the quarterback Texas fans were promised. He earned an 89 grade from PFF over that stretch, leading the Longhorns to five wins in their final six games while accounting for 19 total touchdowns and just two interceptions. That kind of efficiency and poise down the stretch is what separates good quarterbacks from great ones.
Despite throwing for over 3,000 yards and totaling 36 touchdowns on the year, Manning didn’t land All-SEC honors-a snub that’s sure to fuel his fire heading into 2026. With most of the conference’s top signal-callers moving on, Manning enters next season as the SEC’s premier returning quarterback and a legitimate Heisman contender. His growth in the pocket, decision-making under pressure, and ability to elevate the offense down the stretch were all signs that the next chapter of his career could be something special.
Colin Simmons (#65 overall) - A Nightmare Off the Edge
Colin Simmons didn’t just make plays-he wrecked game plans. The edge rusher tallied 43 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, 15 quarterback pressures, and three forced fumbles.
That’s the kind of stat line that gets offensive coordinators sweating. Simmons earned first-team All-SEC honors and received a 91.7 pass-rushing grade from PFF, making him one of the most disruptive defenders in the country.
What made Simmons so effective was his explosiveness off the line and his relentless motor. Whether it was collapsing the pocket or setting the edge in the run game, Simmons brought it every snap. He was the tone-setter for a defense that had its moments of dominance, and his presence alone changed how teams approached their protection schemes.
Trevor Goosby (#68 overall) - The Anchor Up Front
Trevor Goosby was the unsung hero of the Longhorns’ offense, quietly putting together one of the best seasons of any offensive tackle in the country. He played 775 snaps and allowed just three sacks while committing only four penalties-remarkable efficiency for a full-time starter in the SEC. Goosby earned first-team All-SEC honors and finished with an overall PFF grade of 83, with both his pass-blocking and run-blocking grades topping 80.
Goosby’s technique, footwork, and awareness made him a rock on the edge, giving Arch Manning the time he needed to operate and helping pave the way for the ground game. With Goosby returning next season, Texas has a foundational piece in the trenches-always a critical component for championship-caliber teams.
The Longhorns may have missed out on the playoff this time around, but the pieces are in place for a serious run in 2026. With Arch Manning leading the charge, Goosby protecting his blind side, Simmons terrorizing quarterbacks, and Taafe setting the tone in the secondary, Texas has star power at every level. The late-season momentum was real, and now the mission is clear: bring a national title back to the Forty Acres.