Texas’ comeback win over Ohio State may have done more than light up the scoreboard. It could also have pushed in-state offensive tackle R’Monie Edwards closer to a future in burnt orange.
Edwards, a four-star prospect from Cy Ranch High in Cypress, was in Austin this past weekend for an unofficial visit and saw Texas rally past Ohio State in memorable fashion. Not long after getting home, the momentum around his recruitment picked up fast, with multiple predictions coming in for him to eventually commit to the Longhorns.
Rivals logged expert predictions from @SWiltfong_ and @samspiegs for Texas to land the elite offensive tackle, a major development for Steve Sarkisian if he closes the deal.
Edwards has been on Texas’ radar for a while, and the Longhorns have clearly made a strong impression. At the same time, Texas A&M has been pushing hard too, with Baylor, Nebraska, Oklahoma and others also involved. But the two Texas SEC programs have been the loudest voices in the race.
That’s not exactly new territory for Edwards, either. He has already taken several trips to College Station, and Mike Elko has been working to secure his pledge. Still, Texas now appears to be out front.
The timing of the Longhorns’ win only helps. Texas entered the fourth quarter down 20-3, a spot that looked bleak to plenty of observers.
Then Arch Manning and company flipped the game in the final 15 minutes and completed the kind of comeback that leaves an impression on recruits. The weekend also had 5-star commit Easton Royal among those who came away impressed.
Edwards was one of the prospects who left Austin feeling good about what he saw. At 6-foot-5 and 310 pounds, he is rated by the 247Sports Composite as a four-star, the No. 5 offensive tackle in the 2028 class and the No. 4 player overall in Texas. For Sarkisian, keeping that kind of homegrown talent in state is always the mission - and right now, Texas is sitting in a strong position to do exactly that.
In Other News...
Arch Manning Added To Texas Wildest Postgame Controversy Yet
The aftermath of Texas 24-23 comeback win over No. 1 Ohio State did not stay focused on the field for long. Steve Sarkisians postgame interview became a talking point after he cut off reporter Holly Rowe, and the moment quickly spilled into the kind of strange, over-the-top discourse that follows a marquee victory when the stakes are already sky high. The result itself mattered plenty, lifting Texas to No. 1 in the updated AP poll, but the tone around the celebration shifted almost immediately.
Arch Manning soon found himself dragged into the chatter after weighing in on an AI-generated video that falsely showed Sarkisian slapping Rowe. His reaction made clear he was not treating the situation with much gravity, even as the clip added another layer to an already messy postgame scene. For Texas, the football part of the night was the headline it wanted, but the strange side story around its coach and quarterback is the one still hanging in the air. [Read more 🡒]
Steve Sarkisian's Awkward Ohio State Moment Took A Strange Turn Online
Steve Sarkisians postgame exchange with Holly Rowe after the Ohio State game was already unusual enough to draw plenty of attention, with Texas fans and onlookers replaying the moment as soon as it hit social media. The Longhorns coach abruptly cut off the ESPN interview and sprinted away, turning a routine TV hit into one of the first viral oddities of the season for a program that tends to live under a microscope.
The story took an even stranger turn when Arch Manning said he had seen AI-generated videos making it look as if Sarkisian slapped Rowe, a fabrication that quickly circulated online after his comments. It was a reminder of how fast a bizarre real-life clip can get distorted once the internet grabs hold, and how little room there is for nuance once a strange moment from a marquee Texas game becomes meme material. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Gets One Last Real Test Before Big 12 Play
TCUs final tune-up before Big 12 play brings a familiar face to Fort Worth, with Arkansas State visiting for what should be a useful barometer for both teams. The Red Wolves have shown a balanced offense so far, leaning on multiple running backs and receivers, while mixing in enough defensive looks to keep an opponent honest. For a Horned Frogs team trying to sharpen itself before the conference grind begins, its the kind of late-September game that can reveal more than the matchup on paper suggests.
The most interesting wrinkle is under center, where Arkansas State is being led by Trey Owens, a transfer quarterback with Texas ties and a chance to settle in after a bumpy start to his career path. The Red Wolves also bring a strong secondary and a defense that changes structure, but their run defense has been a vulnerability through the first two games, which gives TCU a clear area to press. Before Big 12 play arrives, this one offers the Horned Frogs a final look at a team with enough moving parts to make the afternoon matter. [Read more 🡒]