Texas Longhorns Reload with 40 New Players for 2026 Season

Head coach Steve Sarkisian looks to motivate a revamped roster to reach championship heights.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Texas Longhorns football team is undergoing a major roster overhaul, with 40 new players joining the squad for the 2026 season. Head coach Steve Sarkisian faces the challenge of acclimating these new players to the program, getting them to embrace the Texas brand, and helping them mesh with the returning players. Sarkisian is drawing on past motivational tactics, like the 'embrace the hate' mantra, but acknowledges that inspiring a team with so many new faces is a unique challenge.

Why it matters

Maintaining continuity and team chemistry is crucial for any successful college football program. With nearly half the roster being new additions, Sarkisian must find ways to quickly integrate these players and get them to buy into the Texas culture and championship aspirations. How he navigates this transition could have major implications for the Longhorns' performance in the 2026 season.

The details

The 40 new players on the Texas roster include high-profile transfers like quarterback Cam Coleman and linebacker Bo Mascoe. Sarkisian acknowledges that motivating these new players, who didn't experience the team's past failures, is a unique challenge compared to inspiring returning players. However, he believes focusing the team on the future rather than dwelling on the past is the key to success.

  • The Texas Longhorns open the 2026 season on September 6th.
  • The team faces high-profile matchups against Ohio State and possibly Georgia in the 2026 campaign.

The players

Steve Sarkisian

The head coach of the Texas Longhorns football team, tasked with integrating 40 new players onto the roster and motivating the team to reach championship heights.

Cam Coleman

A high-profile transfer quarterback who is joining the Texas roster for the 2026 season.

Bo Mascoe

A transfer linebacker who is part of the influx of new players on the Texas team for 2026.

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What they’re saying

“I use this analogy with the guys a lot. There's a reason when we get in our car that the windshield is so big and the rear-view mirror is so small. We definitely focus on what's ahead, but that doesn't mean we can't look up in the mirror every once in a while to remind them: how did we get here?”

— Steve Sarkisian, Head Coach (on3.com)

“One of the reasons Texas ended up with players like Coleman, Mascoe, and others like Rasheem Biles is that those transfers 'wanted to be a part of a championship-caliber team.'”

— Steve Sarkisian, Head Coach (on3.com)

What’s next

The Texas Longhorns will look to integrate their new players and build team chemistry during spring and summer practices ahead of the 2026 season opener on September 6th. The team's performance in high-profile matchups against Ohio State and potentially Georgia will be closely watched as indicators of their championship aspirations.

The takeaway

Sarkisian faces a unique challenge in motivating and uniting a Texas roster that has undergone a major overhaul, with 40 new players joining the team. His ability to quickly integrate these new faces, get them to embrace the Texas brand, and mesh with the returning players will be crucial to the Longhorns' success in the 2026 season and their pursuit of a championship.