The Texas Longhorns may have found their answer at left guard sooner than expected.
That spot was one of the few real questions hanging over Texas entering the 2026 season, with the rest of the offensive line already settled and two transfers duking it out through fall camp. Western Kentucky transfer Laurence Seymore looked like the safer bet because of his experience, but Oregon State transfer Dylan Sikorski was the one who earned the start in the season opener against Texas State. He kept that role in the comeback win over Ohio State, and Steve Sarkisian’s latest comments suggest the job may already be his.
Seymore’s spring absence and a minor injury late in fall camp helped open the door for Sikorski, but the bigger story is what happened once the games started. After Texas’ 24-23 win over Ohio State on Monday, Sarkisian said the original plan was to rotate the two guards against the Buckeyes. That never happened because Sikorski played too well to come off the field.
"I thought our offensive line had a very good football game. I thought Dylan Sikorski, the plan initially was to rotate he and Laurence," Sarkisan said.
"The way the first half went, I just wasn't comfortable or ready to switch them out. And then Dylan was playing so good, we just kind of let it go."
Sikorski backed that up with production. He posted an 89.5 pass-blocking grade against Ohio State, according to Pro Football Focus, and Arch Manning had plenty of clean pockets throughout the game. Texas also leaned on that side up front in a 141-yard rushing effort against the Buckeyes, with Sikorski helping drive the offense forward.
That kind of performance is a big shift from the way many viewed him before the season. Sikorski was widely seen as a younger depth option who might grow into a starting role in 2027. Instead, he may have already grabbed the spot.
Seymore still matters for Texas’ offensive line this season, but Sarkisian’s remarks made it clear Sikorski has made a strong impression on the staff since arriving on campus. He’ll still need to keep proving it, but for now the left guard battle looks a lot closer to settled than anyone expected.
Trevor Goosby, who lines up right next to Sikorski at left tackle, has seen the edge firsthand.
"Dylan, he brings that tenacity. I love my guy Dylan," Goosby said.
"Brings that tenacity, and he's just a guy that's wanting to go put his face on people. So, he's willing to get physical, which I love about him."
In Other News...
Steve Sarkisians Two ESPN Interviews Have Texas Fans Saying The Same Thing
Steve Sarkisian left Columbus with a marquee win and, for Texas fans, a couple of television moments that were almost as memorable for how they unfolded as for what was said. During the Longhorns comeback against Ohio State, ESPN caught Sarkisian in two awkward sideline spots, first at halftime with Laura Rutledge and then again after the game with Holly Rowe, giving viewers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how chaotic a big road win can feel in real time.
The halftime interview never really got going because of technical issues, and Rutledge later clarified what went wrong while noting Sarkisian handled the delay patiently. The postgame exchange took a different turn, ending abruptly when Sarkisian shouted and headed off to celebrate with his team, leaving Rowe with a visibly different reaction and plenty of attention on the contrast between the two interviews. [Read more 🡒]
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The timing only added to the unease around Texas after a viral AI-generated video depicted Steve Sarkisian slapping Rowe, coming on the heels of a real postgame moment when Sarkisian walked away from an interview with her. Arch Manning was asked about the controversy during a press conference and later apologized for his reaction, a reminder of how quickly an ugly online moment can spill into the wider conversation around the Longhorns. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Suddenly Has A Coaching Issue Hanging Over UTSA Week
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Nansen was not at practice after the arrest, and his status for the upcoming game remains unsettled. For a defense already in game-week preparation mode, the uncertainty adds another layer to a week that was supposed to be focused on cleanup and rhythm, not staffing questions on the sideline. [Read more 🡒]