The Texas Longhorns entered the 2026 season with a mix of optimism and uncertainty after missing the College Football Playoff for the first time in three years, finishing 10‑3 but falling short of the national championship game.
A New Coaching Landscape
Head coach Steve Sarkisian, now in his fifth year at the helm, responded by overhauling his staff and roster, bringing in veteran defensive coordinator Will Muschamp to replace Pete Kwiatkowski and injecting a transfer class that finished third in 247 Sports’ offseason rankings.
The newcomers include running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers, wide receiver Cam Coleman, and a host of linemen such as Trevor Goosby, Melvin Siani, Laurence Seymour and Dylan Sikorski, all of whom earned all‑conference honors at their previous stops.
Quarterback Arch Manning will again be the face of the offense, but he will not be alone; second‑year signal‑caller KJ Lacey is expected to claim the No. 2 spot behind him, while veteran backup MJ Morris provides depth.
On defense, Muschamp’s aggressive philosophy shifts from a cover‑four scheme to press coverage, aiming to disrupt short completions. The pass rush will lean on Lance Jackson, Zina Umeozulu, Colton Vasek, five‑star freshman Richard Wesley and the emerging talent of Colin Simmons, while cornerback Kade Phillips looks to build on a promising sophomore season.
Special teams also receive attention, with new kickers Mac Chiumento, Gianni Spetic and Trey Dubuc tasked with restoring reliability after a series of freshman missteps.
Questions That Remain
The biggest questions revolve around whether Brown and Smothers can replace the production of departed backs Tre Wisner and CJ Baxter, how Coleman’s deep‑ball skill set will translate against Big 12 defenses, and whether the revamped line can finally give the offense the consistency it lacked last year. Health concerns among the pass rushers and the chemistry of a unit that includes both returning starters and high‑priced transfers add another layer of uncertainty as the Longhorns open the season against Texas State.