3 things Texas needs to do to win a national championship in 2026
NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...
The Longhorns are looking to get back to the playoff this fall, and it could be a special year in Austin if a few things come together.
Texas enters this season with national championship hopes once again. While 2025 felt like bluster and overhype, 2026 feels different.
While this team is star-studded, they do need to check various boxes to make a run in the College Football Playoff. In order for this loaded roster to get the job done, these three things need to happen in order for Steve Sarkisian’s team to reach the summit of the college football world.
The offensive line has to protect Arch Manning
The most important factor in Texas’s 2026 title hopes is the offensive line. Manning was sacked 23 times last season, and that number has to drop significantly if this offense is going to reach its ceiling. If Melvin Siani can emerge as a key contributor and help stabilize the unit with new pieces stepping in, I see the entire offense looking different.
Left Tackle Trevor Goosby has the potential to be a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Siani is exactly what Goosby needed opposite of him in order for the unit to play better as a whole.
When Manning has time, he can connect with weapons like Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo. When he doesn’t, the offense stalls. It’s that simple. A better offensive line also takes pressure off Manning’s shoulders by opening up the run game, which leads directly into the second piece of this blueprint.
Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown need to combine for 2,000 scrimmage yards
This might sound like a lofty target, but context matters. When Texas reached the College Football Playoff and lost to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl following the 2024 season, Tre Wisner and Jaydon Blue combined for 2,300 scrimmage yards. Both Wisner and Blue were critical to that Texas team producing splash plays.
Smothers and Brown are both explosive enough in space to be dynamic as runners and receivers. If Sarkisian can get creative with how he puts the ball in their hands, the way he did with Wisner and Blue, the offense will take on another dimension. A productive backfield duo alleviates pressure on Manning and keeps defenses honest against the pass. The formula worked before, and I believe the talent is there for it to work again.
The 2025 recruiting class needs to produce a defensive star
Texas’s defense was already one of the best in the country last season. Turning it into arguably the best unit in college football in 2026 will require young talent to step into larger roles.
Colin Simmons is already established as the best pass rusher in college football. He was a highly touted 5-star recruit who has lived up to the billing. The next wave has to follow his lead. Players like Justus Terry, Lance Jackson, Kade Phillips, and Graceson Littleton were all highly touted in the 2025 recruiting class. If at least one of them can emerge as a legitimate star, Texas’s defense goes from great to potentially dominant.
The Longhorns don’t need all four to break out. They need one to separate himself and give the defensive coordinator another weapon to deploy. The talent and the pedigree are there. Now it’s about development and opportunity.
Texas has every reason to believe 2026 can be a championship season. If the remaining pieces fall into place, then I think a title could be in their sights.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: 3 things Texas needs to do to win a national championship in 2026
© 2026 A to Z Sports.
More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos