Texas was the first team left out of the 2025 College Football Playoff.

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After a bumpy 2025 season with a 10-3 record, along with a 7.60 BiteScore ranking them 14th in the nation, the first full season of Arch Manning fell short of preseason expectations. The Longhorns just missed their first playoff appearance since the 2023-24 College Football Playoffs while sending six players to the 2026 NFL Draft, including linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. 

Can a second full season of Manning at quarterback and head coach Steve Sarkisian lead the Longhorns back to national postseason prominence?

Manning showed flashes of elite talent in 2025, finishing the season with a 7.92 BiteScore that ranked sixth in the nation at quarterback. The former five-star threw for more than 3,100 yards and 26 touchdowns while adding 10 rushing scores, but struggled with completion percentage at 61.4 percent. That being said, Texas added some impressive talent this offseason, including Auburn wide receiver Cam Coleman and Arizona State running back Raleek Brown. It’ll look to put more points on the scoreboard this season after averaging 30.5 points per game in its last campaign, which is the lowest in the Sarkisian era. 

The Longhorns also added more offensive protection this offseason with transfers of offensive tackle Melvin Siani from Wake Forest and offensive guard Laurence Seymore from Western Kentucky. Siani appears to be a day-one starter next season alongside key returner Trever Goosby, who has a chance to be a first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. 

Defensively, things will look slightly different following the firing of defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, who’s now replaced by former South Carolina head coach Will Muschamp, who will try to turn this defense around after Texas’s defense surrendered 18.1 points per game in the past three seasons. 

Junior safety Jelani McDonald led the team last year in total tackles with 80, along with three interceptions. He’ll look to continue his strong career with the Longhorns.

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