Longhorns receive top-five preseason AP ranking for third straight season

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Longhorns receive top-five preseason AP ranking for third straight season originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Associated Press released its 2026 preseason Top 25 poll Monday afternoon, and the Texas Longhorns landed at No. 5, with only Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, and Notre Dame ranked ahead of them.

The ranking comes a year after Texas opened the 2025 season at No. 1 before finishing the regular season 9–3 and missing the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2022.

Texas brings back several key pieces, including quarterback Arch Manning and edge rusher Colin Simmons, while also reloading through the transfer portal. The Longhorns added several offensive playmakers, including star wide receiver Cam Coleman from Auburn and running backs Hollywood Smothers (N.C. State) and Raleek Brown (Arizona State). Defensively, linebacker Rasheem Biles (Pittsburgh) and cornerback Bo Mascoe (Rutgers) headline a group of new additions.

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Texas also enters the season following a significant off-season coaching change, with Will Muschamp replacing Pete Kwiatkowski at defensive coordinator. This will be Muschamp’s second stint with the Longhorns after previously helping them reach the 2009 BCS National Championship Game during his time in Austin from 2008–2010.

With one of the most talented rosters in the sport and sky-high expectations, head coach Steve Sarkisian and his program will look to bounce back from their 2025 stumbles and return to the College Football Playoff in 2026.

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The Longhorns will open the 2026 regular season on September 5 against the Texas State Bobcats, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN.

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