Texas Longhorns Poised for Breakout Season Around Arch Manning

Talented roster additions and Manning's growth have the Longhorns primed for a playoff run in 2026

Jan. 30, 2026 at 3:23pm

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The Texas Longhorns are entering the 2026 season with high expectations, led by sophomore quarterback Arch Manning. After a rocky start to his freshman campaign, Manning finished the year strong, and the Longhorns have bolstered the roster around him through the transfer portal. The additions of wide receiver Cam Coleman, running backs Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers, along with Manning's continued development, have the Longhorns poised to compete for a College Football Playoff berth.

Why it matters

The Longhorns have struggled to live up to their lofty expectations in recent years, but the arrival of Arch Manning and the supporting cast assembled around him have the program optimistic about a return to national prominence. A successful 2026 season could put Texas back on the map as one of the top programs in college football.

The details

Arch Manning, the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, had an up-and-down freshman season, but showed flashes of his immense potential. The Longhorns have added several key pieces through the transfer portal, including wide receiver Cam Coleman from Auburn, and running backs Raleek Brown from Arizona State and Hollywood Smothers from NC State. These additions, combined with Manning's continued growth, have the Longhorns feeling confident about their chances in 2026.

  • The Longhorns open their 2026 season on September 5 against the Texas State Bobcats.
  • Manning's breakout performance came in the season finale against Texas A&M and the bowl game against Michigan.

The players

Arch Manning

The highly touted sophomore quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, and nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning.

Cam Coleman

A wide receiver transfer from the Auburn Tigers, who is expected to be a key addition to the Longhorns' offense.

Raleek Brown

A running back transfer from the Arizona State Sun Devils, who will help bolster the Longhorns' ground game.

Hollywood Smothers

A running back transfer from the NC State Wolfpack, who will also contribute to the Longhorns' backfield.

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What they’re saying

“The excitement to me is what's around Arch now in Austin. As well as he played down the stretch, you're still watching a couple of those games thinking, 'Hey, if we can get some guys that can secure some of those catches,' like the Georgia game is a great example, whether they catch the ball or not in these instances probably doesn't change all that much, but there were three massive drops.”

— J.D. PicKell, On3 Analyst (The Paul Finebaum Show)

“I just feel Texas has the legitimate firepower that Steve Sarkisian is used to having. I'm getting excited about the system as well as Arch Manning's progress from where he was last year, carrying over to 2026.”

— J.D. PicKell, On3 Analyst (The Paul Finebaum Show)

What’s next

The Longhorns will look to build on their strong finish to the 2025 season and carry that momentum into their 2026 campaign, which opens against the Texas State Bobcats on September 5.

The takeaway

With the addition of key transfer portal acquisitions and the continued growth of star quarterback Arch Manning, the Texas Longhorns are poised to make a serious run at the College Football Playoff in 2026. If the supporting cast can step up and make plays, the Longhorns have the talent to compete with the nation's elite programs.