Texas Longhorns 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Texas Longhorns 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Texas Longhorns roster and what to expect in the SEC this season. Is Steve Sarkisian on the hot seat at 32-20 with a 7 out of 10 rating? Can Arch Manning take the next step after a 3,163-yard, 37-touchdown 2025?
Can offensive coordinator Kyle Flood lift an offense that ranked 41st in scoring and 70th in total offense? Will new defensive coordinator Will Muschamp fix a pass defense that sat 97th in the country? How does Arch Manning build on a 61.4 completion percentage in year two as the starter? Can Texas survive an opener against Ohio State and the Red River rivalry with Oklahoma? Which SEC road trips to LSU, Missouri and Texas A&M swing the season? And where’s the betting value on the Texas Longhorns win total, SEC odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
Steve Sarkisian And The Texas Longhorns Hot Seat
The Texas Longhorns 2026 preview opens on the man calling the shots. First, Steve Sarkisian enters the year at 32-20 in Austin. Then the guys weigh that mark against a program that expects titles. Because the deck slaps a 7 out of 10 hot seat rating on him, the pressure is real. Meanwhile his 5-18 record against top 10 teams hangs over every big spot. So the crew debates whether year six finally clears that bar. They also map the exact games that decide his fall.
The 2025 season is where that debate really heats up. To begin, Texas went 10-3 and beat Michigan in the bowl game. From there the guys dig into whether that record flattered the Longhorns. Because close calls over Kentucky and Mississippi State needed overtime, the resume looks shaky. Then came the playoff snub that still stings the fan base. Next the crew grades the year against all the preseason hype around Arch Manning. Finally they set the table for what a real bounce-back looks like in 2026.
The Texas Offense And Arch Manning
The offense has real ground to make up in 2026. Last season Texas ranked 41st in scoring and 70th in total offense. First, coordinator Kyle Flood has to turn those numbers around. Then the guys dig into a run game that sat 90th in the country. Because the passing attack graded 44th, the balance was off all year. From there they map how Flood squeezes more out of the returning weapons. They also flag the transfer additions built to raise the ceiling.
At quarterback the guys center everything on Arch Manning. The redshirt junior returns after a 3,163-yard, 37-total-touchdown 2025. First they weigh his 61.4 completion percentage against the sky-high hype. Then the crew breaks down where his game still has to grow. Because Texas returns most of its offensive production, the room does not start over. Next they get into the tough tape against ranked pass defenses last fall. Meanwhile the guys still expect a real step forward in year two. They also stress that his ceiling sets the ceiling for the whole team.
Will Muschamp Takes Over The Texas Defense
The defense gets a new voice for 2026. First, Will Muschamp takes over as coordinator after a stop on Georgia’s staff. Then the guys note he ran this same Texas defense back in the 2000s. Because the unit finished 28th in scoring but 97th against the pass, the fixes are obvious. From there they dig into a secondary that has to tighten up fast. Meanwhile the run defense graded a stout 14th and gives Muschamp a base. So the crew debates how quickly the back end catches up.
The schedule makes that rebuild even more urgent. First the guys weigh 63 percent returning production against a brutal slate. Then they get into the pass-rush and coverage pieces that have to click. Because the SEC throws it around, a 97th-ranked pass defense cannot repeat. From there the crew maps the swing games where the defense decides it. Meanwhile they credit Muschamp’s long track record of building tough fronts. Finally they weigh whether this side of the ball takes the leap Texas needs.
The 2026 Texas Longhorns Schedule And Win Total
The 2026 slate hits hard from the jump. First, Texas opens against Texas State before a massive Week 2 date with Ohio State. Then comes a matchup with UTSA and an SEC opener against Tennessee. From there the Red River rivalry with Oklahoma lands in Dallas. Next the guys hit a stretch of Florida, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Also on the docket are SEC clashes with Missouri, LSU and Texas A&M. Because the SEC grind never lets up, every single week carries weight.
Then they close it out where the betting value lives. The Texas win total sits at 9.5 games on the deck. First the guys weigh a 10-3 team against a much tougher 2026 draw. Then they get into the +310 price to win the SEC. Because the CFP number reads -200, the market already expects January football. From there the crew debates the floor and the ceiling for Sarkisian. Meanwhile they lock in their read on the win total. Finally they hand you the side they trust on the Longhorns.
College Football Previews
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Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
02:02 Welcome To The Texas Longhorns Preview
03:11 Meet The Hosts & Last Year’s Under Bet Recap
05:44 Grading The 2025 Season: Michigan Bowl Win & Playoff Snub
06:53 Is Steve Sarkisian On The Hot Seat?
12:23 The Best Play Caller In The Sport Debate
15:27 Arch Manning’s Rocky 2025 Season
18:00 Sark’s Record Under The Hood
23:10 2026 Offense Outlook: Kyle Flood & Returning Weapons
34:56 Will Muschamp Takes Over The Defense
40:01 Austin Bars, NIL Beer & Barbecue Debate
47:29 Darrell K Royal Stadium, Bevo & The Grass Debate
52:23 Chasing The First Natty In 20 Years
57:23 Week-By-Week Schedule Predictions
1:09:39 Debunking ESPN’s Toughest Schedule Ranking
1:14:41 Sark’s Floor, Ceiling & The Win Total Lock
1:20:09 Future Schedule Wishlist & Sign-Off
