The Texas Longhorns are entering a pivotal season in Steve Sarkisian’s sixth season in Austin.
The 2026 season will almost certainly be the last one for quarterback Arch Manning before he goes to the NFL, and there are big expectations for Texas.
On Wednesday, college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit had a bold claim about Texas, saying this year’s team is the best Sarkisian has had.
“I feel like Texas is incredibly talented. This will be [Steve Sarkisian’s] best team,” Herbstreit said. “But can they handle week in and week out?”
"I feel like Texas is incredibly talented. This will be [Steve Sarkisian's] best team."
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) July 22, 2026
—@KirkHerbstreit on the future of Texas football 🏈
(via @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/StFDsknSaI
Texas will have a massive test early on against Ohio State on September 12, and the Longhorns are motivated after being left out of the 12-team College Football Playoff this past season.
CBS Sports’ Brad Crawford predicted Texas to go 11-1 this season, with the only loss coming to LSU, which would certainly have the Longhorns as an SEC title favorite.
Texas did well in the transfer portal, adding big names such as Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman, Pitt linebacker Rasheem Biles, and Arizona State running back Raleek Brown.
Steve Sarkisian hired recently fired Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops as a special assistant and brought in Will Muschamp to be the DC once again, which is the same position he held from 2008-2010.
If everything goes well, Sarkisian and Texas should have a realistic path to the College Football Playoff title.
