Texas Longhorns' Arch Manning Gains Key Offensive Lineman with NCAA Eligibility Win
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Arch Manning and the Texas Longhorns were unable to live up to expectations in the 2025 college football season. After starting with the No. 1 ranking in the AP preseason poll for the first time in program history, the Longhorns failed to reach the College Football Playoff.
Texas had a daunting schedule last fall. Facing five teams ranked in the AP top ten, the Longhorns went 3-2 in those matchups, losing to the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Georgia Bulldogs, but beating the Oklahoma Sooners, the Vanderbilt Commodores and their in-state rival, the Texas A&M Aggies. Head coach Steve Sarkisian led his team to a 10-3 overall record, going 6-2 in SEC play. If Texas is going to have a successful 2026 college football season, then protecting its star quarterback will be of the utmost importance.
Laurence Seymore is a 6-foot-2, 320-pound offensive lineman who transferred to the University of Texas in the 2026 transfer portal. Originally the No. 183 overall recruit in the 247 composite rankings, the Florida native has been on an Odyssey for his college football career. He first spent two seasons with the Miami Hurricanes before transferring to the Akron Zips, where he appeared at center and guard.
Seymore spent last season with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, excelling enough to be named to the 2025 All-Conference USA second team. The Longhorns hope the addition of Seymore to their offensive line will help protect their star quarterback. However, Seymore was initially ruled ineligible for the 2026 college football season before the offensive lineman filed for an appeal.
But on Wednesday, Anwar Richardson of Yahoo Sports announced that the offensive lineman won his appeal to the NCAA and was granted another year of eligibility, giving Manning and the Longhorns more depth up front.
“Major news out of Austin: Texas gets a big win up front – former WKU OL Laurence Seymore has won his NCAA appeal, sources tell me. He’s cleared for an extra year and will be on the field this spring.”
Major news out of Austin: Texas gets a big win up front – former WKU OL Laurence Seymore has won his NCAA appeal, sources tell me. He’s cleared for an extra year and will be on the field this spring. pic.twitter.com/NhnezZshA6
— Anwar Richardson (@AnwarRichardson) March 18, 2026
Texas will open its 2026 season with a Sept. 5 home opener against the Texas State Bobcats.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Mar 18, 2026, where it first appeared in the College section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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