SEC Snapshot: Texas Longhorns

Spring practices have ended. The transfer portal has slowed to a crawl. We are entering Summer Radio SZN. As such, let’s get our minds right for the upcoming college football season by taking a 10,000-foot view of every SEC football team.

We’re starting at the top with the new kids in town, Texas. In the Longhorns’ SEC debut, Texas lost in overtime of the SEC Championship Game before advancing to the Semifinals of the CFP. Steve Sarkisian’s squad isn’t slowing down in 2025.

Preseason Rankings

SP+: 7
Returning Production: 103
Andy Staples: 1
ESPN: 2

Who’s the Quarterback?

There’s so much turnover at the most important position in the sport that it can be difficult to track. That’s not the case at Texas. It’s finally time to see the Manning Prince That Was Promised.

Quinn Ewers was an above-average college quarterback who struggled to consistently deliver the goods. That was evident in his final game as a Longhorn. Instead of throwing the game-tying touchdown in the final two minutes, Jack Sawyer got a strip-sack that resulted in a score for the Buckeyes. Ewers led the SEC in passing touchdowns (31) and interceptions (12).

Sark was able to keep the Arch Manning grumbles to a dull roar. There’s no slowing down this Hype Train in 2025. He looked the part in ten games last fall, completing 68% of his passes for just shy of 1,000 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions. In his only SEC start against lowly Miss. State, Manning went 26-31 for 325 yards and two touchdowns. Not only can he sling it, this Manning has wheels.

ARCH MANNING TAKES IT 67 YARDS TO THE HOUSE WITH HIS LEGS 😱

It's the longest rush by a Texas QB since Vince Young in 2005. pic.twitter.com/AjU9uSli2c

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 15, 2024

Main Storyline: Texas must be Back

Is Texas Back? It became a punchline through the ebbs and flows of the post-Mack Brown era. Sam Ehlinger isn’t walking through that door. Instead, they have a $40 million roster.

Tre Wisner is fresh off a 1,000-yard rushing season where he also caught 44 passes for 311 yards. The defense is a murderer’s row of elite talent at all three levels. EDGE Colin Simmons was outstanding as a true freshman and will be a force in the pass rush this fall. LB Anthony Hill is entering his third year as a starter, fresh off an All-American campaign. The Horns also have three safeties who will be All-SEC contenders. To put it bluntly, this roster is loaded

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Biggest Question: Does Arch Have Enough Weapons?

If there is one position with question marks, it’s an important one: wide receiver. Tennessee Titans TE Gunnar Helm led the Longhorns in receptions last fall. The next leading receiver, Matthew Golden, was a first-round draft pick by the Green Bay Packers. The next two top pass-catchers were running backs.

Sark proved in 2024 that he can scheme up a passing game, particularly the screen game, to all three position groups. Even so, a high-flying offense can’t take off without uber-talented wide receivers (See: Ohio State). Ryan Wingo fits the billing from an athletic standpoint, but the true sophomore missed almost the entire spring. Former Louisville commit DeAndre Moore Jr. is an exceptional field-stretcher, but for this offense to reach its potential, Wingo must be the man.

We won’t have to wait long to see the Horns’ passing attack put to the test. They open the season with a CFP rematch against Ohio State in Columbus.

Texas Football Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location
Aug. 30	Ohio State	Away
Sept. 6	San Jose State	Home
Sept. 13	UTEP	Home
Sept. 20	Open Date
Sept. 27	Sam Houston	Home
Oct. 4	Florida	Away
Oct. 11	Oklahoma (Dallas)	Neutral
Oct. 18	Kentucky	Away
Oct. 25	Mississippi State	Away
Nov. 1	Vanderbilt	Home
Nov. 8	Open Date
Nov. 15	Georgia	Away
Nov. 22	Arkansas	Home
Nov. 29	Texas A&M	Home

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