2026 College Football Preview: Texas Longhorns

The most advanced NFL and college football statistics — player grades, WAR, TIPP, and more. Filter by position, team, season, and snap count.

Texas entered 2025 with the first preseason No. 1 ranking in program history but missed the College Football Playoff after a three-loss season. It marked the first time since 2022 that the Longhorns failed to reach the CFP semifinals.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian has responded by assembling arguably the most complete roster in the country. Texas is the only team in our rankings with a top-10 unit at every position group, including both a top-five offense and defense entering 2026.

 Notable Transfer Portal Additions

• WR Cam Coleman (Auburn)
• LB Rasheem Biles (Pittsburgh)
• RB Hollywood Smothers (NC State)
• RB Raleek Brown (Arizona State)
• OT Melvin Siani (Wake Forest)

  Notable Transfer Portal Losses

• WR DeAndre Moore Jr. (Colorado)
• RB Tre Wisner (Florida State)
• WR Parker Livingstone (Oklahoma)
• LB Liona Lefau (Colorado)
• RB CJ Baxter (Kentucky)

Biggest strength: An offense with huge potential

Texas enters 2026 with our No. 2 offense in college football, led by projected No. 1 overall pick Arch Manning at quarterback. He is surrounded by our No. 2 receiving corps, No. 3 offensive line and No. 6 running back unit, giving the Longhorns one of the most complete offenses in the country.

With that level of talent at every position, Texas should be able to score with any team in America.

Biggest question mark: Will the transfer additions spark the run game?

Texas struggled to establish the run last season, averaging just 4.3 yards per designed carry, 107th in the nation. Arch Manning accounted for 10 rushing touchdowns, while the rest of the team combined for only seven.

The Longhorns addressed the problem by adding Melvin Siani from Wake Forest and Laurence Seymour along the offensive line, but the backfield additions are even more intriguing. Former Arizona State running back Raleek Brown ranked third in the Big 12 with an 88.0 rushing grade last season, while NC State transfer Hollywood Smothers ranked third among ACC running backs with 24 explosive runs.

With upgrades both up front and in the backfield, Texas’ rushing attack has a chance to take a significant step forward in 2026.

Quarterback: Arch Manning

Manning spent much of last season under the microscope, and early on, the pressure appeared to affect his play. He settled in as the season progressed, though, earning an 89.5 PFF grade from Week 9 onward, the sixth-best mark in the nation over that span.

Manning has all the tools to contend for the Heisman Trophy and lead Texas to a national championship. Improving the inconsistent ball placement he showed last season could be the key to reaching that ceiling.

Offensive Player Spotlight: WR Cam Coleman

Coleman is our No. 5 receiver in the country after transferring from Auburn to Texas. His 70.9 career PFF grade doesn’t jump off the page, but that number comes with important context. The Tigers ranked 63rd in team passing grade during Coleman’s true freshman season in 2024 and fell to 111th last year.

Despite Auburn’s struggles at quarterback, the former top-five recruit led the SEC with 13 receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons. At 6-foot-3 and 201 pounds, Coleman is also an elite athlete, posting a PFF Game Athleticism Score above 99 in each of his first two years.

Now paired with a top-three quarterback in Arch Manning, Coleman is positioned for a massive junior season and has the talent to emerge as a top-10 NFL draft pick.

Defensive Player Spotlight: EDGE Colin Simmons

Simmons is one of the best edge defenders of the PFF College era. His 89.6 PFF grade is the seventh-best mark by an edge defender across his true freshman and sophomore seasons. All six players ahead of him eventually became first-round picks, including five top-three selections.

Simmons generated 59 pressures last season while leading the SEC with 12 sacks, and he was effective against the run, as well. His 77.2 PFF run-defense grade ranked 11th among qualified SEC edge defenders.

On a loaded Texas defense, Simmons stands out as the unit’s best player.

Bottom Line

With one of the most talented rosters in the country, there are no excuses for Texas in 2026. The Longhorns have the talent on both sides of the ball to compete with anyone and a strong chance to capture their first national championship in more than two decades.