First review from the press box on the 2026 Texas Longhorns?
Not bad. Not bad at all.
Steve Sarkisian will take an opener like this all day long. Texas played up to its ranking at times and if we can say that this time next week, the Horns will be on to something.
The good news is the No. 5 Horns have plenty of room for improvement after the 59-7 blowout of the neighboring Texas State Bobcats.
Quarterback Arch Manning looked miles better than the kid who struggled in his first real at Ohio State in 2025. He completed 20 of 27 passes for 305 yards and four touchdowns. He looked in command of the position and did a commendable job of spreading the ball around to his bevy of weapons, including veteran wideout Ryan Wingo who caught seven passes for 121 yards and a score. Manning did stub his biggest foot by throwing into double coverage for an interception at the end of the first half but that was the only blip.
In true Arch fashion, he bounced back with a deep throw to Wingo to open the third quarter followed by a 20-yard TD pass to high-priced import Cam Coleman while taking a wicked shot to the head. Overall, he did nothing to dim the spotlight that will be on him on and Ohio State starter Julian Sayin for that delicious top-five matchup at DKR next week
The run game wasn’t a world beater but serviceable at 4.4 yards per carry. That said, newcomer Hollywood Smothers is an absolute terror in the passing game. He grabbed three aerials for 28 yards and a touchdown. I could see him catching upwards of 60 passes out of the backfield this fall. The Horns haven’t had this versatile of a back since 2024 when Jaydon Blue caught 42 passes for 368 yards and six touchdowns.
Will Muschamp’s defense starred
What about Will Muschamp and that newfangled defense? It was what Dr. Sarkisian ordered. Any time you can hold a team that ranked fifth nationally to a single touchdown and over 150 yards under last season’s total, it’s a win. Game balls go out Alex January, who batted down a fourth-down pass in the early going, Graceson Littleton, who put a charge into the sellout crowd with a 60-yard fumble return for a touchdown and dynamic duo Colin Simmons and Rasheem Biles, who came up with a fumble recovery and interception, respectively. Biles’ strip also set up Littleton’s scoop and score.
New kicker Gianni Spetik tacked on a 48-yard field goal for a nice debut.
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Ohio State looms next
Now America can turn its attention to the renewal of a hot nonconference rivalry, that is, if we’re counting Texas’ wins over Ohio State in the 2005 and 2008 seasons. The Buckeyes have had the better of it lately. They kept the Longhorns out of the national championship game in 2024 then handed them a 14-7 loss in last season’s opener.
In case you’re wondering, the last time the two met in Austin, the top-ranked Buckeyes routed No. 2 Texas 24-7 back in 2006 in young quarterback Colt McCoy’s first big test as the starter in place in Vince Young.
But enough history for now.
The Horns are searching for some new memories.
This was a nice start.
This article originally published at Texas football, Will Muschamp’s defense draw raves in Texas State blowout | Golden.
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