ESPN has shifted where they had the Texas Longhorns in way too early 2026 College Football Top 25
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The Texas Longhorns began the offseason with a ton of hype heading into the 2026 season. ESPN just updated its opinion on the team following spring practice.
We are nearly at the end of the spring practice period of the offseason, and now it feels like an appropriate time to reassess each team, including the Texas Longhorns. Head coach Steve Sarkisian, quarterback Arch Manning, and the team head into the 2026 college football season with a ton of hype.
That included being ranked No. 2 in the country in ESPN’s initial top-25 ranking. In their updated piece, written by Mark Schlabach, Texas fell to the No. 5 spot in their ranking. It was an interesting descent to watch, now sitting behind Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, and Notre Dame. Here is what Schlabach wrote about the Longhorns and their place on the list.
5. Texas Longhorns
2025 record: 10-3, 6-2 SEC
Previous ranking: 2
Key players lost: WR DeAndre Moore Jr., S Michael Taaffe, LB Anthony Hill Jr., DE Trey Moore, CB Malik Muhammad, CB Jaylon Guilbeau, RB Quintrevion Wisner
Key additions: WR Cam Coleman(Auburn), RB Hollywood Smothers (NC State), RB Raleek Brown (NC State), LB Rasheem Biles (Pittsburgh), CB Bo Mascoe (Rutgers), OT Melvin Siani (Wake Forest), DE Richard Wesley (high school)
2026 outlook: After missing the CFP, the Longhorns are going all-in for 2026, which might be quarterback Arch Manning‘s final college season. The Longhorns added Coleman, the No. 1 receiver in the portal, to start opposite Ryan Wingo. After ranking 90th in the FBS in rushing in 2025, the Longhorns have to become more physical on offense. Getting star tackle Trevor Goosby back will help, while Brown and Smothers might be upgrades in the backfield. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian fired defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and brought in former UT coach-in-waiting Will Muschamp, who was instrumental in helping Georgia win back-to-back CFP national titles in 2021 and ’22.
Why you should buy into Texas
Whenever you have a quarterback like Arch Manning returning for his second year as a starter, everyone should be excited. After a slow start to the 2025 season, the 6-4, 220-pound passer had a strong ending to the year. He has plenty of talent to work with at wide receiver, and he could have the best duo in the country with Ryan Wingo and Auburn transfer Cam Coleman.
Texas is also returning wide receiver Emmett Mosley V, offensive tackle Trevor Goosby, pass rusher Colin Simmons, safety Jelani McDonald, and cornerback Graceson Littleton. There is always going to be a ton of talent under Sarkisian. If the group is able to mesh, the Longhorns have a chance to be special.
What could hold the Longhorns back?
The offensive line in 2025 was an underwhelming group for Texas. They attacked the transfer portal by adding Melvin Siani and Laurence Seymore. With Goosby returning, there is a hope that the unit will be a lot better. There is also a lot of hope for an improved running back room led by transfer additions Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown.
The Longhorns also welcomed new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp. That group is always going to have a ton of talent. They, along with the offensive line, will determine just how good Texas will be in 2026.
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