Tag: texas

Nov 28, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning warms up before a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Report: Texas QB Arch Manning out of boot, will be limited this spring

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas quarterback Arch Manning is no longer wearing a boot and is expected to be available for spring practice in a limited capacity after undergoing minor foot surgery in January, according to an ESPN report.

“He had a lingering thing that he’d been dealing with over a couple of years that we just wanted to clean up,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian told ESPN. “It wasn’t a serious issue at all. It takes time. You do a procedure on a foot, we’re going to be cautious to make sure he’s 100% healthy before he goes.”

Manning, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 class and the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, took over as the Longhorns’ starter last offseason with plenty of weight on his shoulders, leading the top-ranked team in the preseason AP poll and being trumpeted as the likely No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft.

After some early growing pains, Manning came into his own down the stretch of the 2025 season. With 14 touchdown passes, five rushing touchdowns and two interceptions in his final six games, he finished his first season as a starter completing 61.4% of his passes for 3,103 yards, 36 total touchdowns (26 passing, 10 rushing) and seven interceptions in 13 games.

“I think he gained a lot of confidence in the second half of the season, and I think we learned about him, he learned his style of play, and he came back with a really good mindset. This is his team,” Sarkisian told ESPN of Manning ” … In the end, naturally, he wants to go win a championship. The rest of the things will fall into place, but that’s where his mindset is. He’s the ultimate team player, and it shows every day.”

Texas opens the 2026 season at home on Sept. 5 against Texas State.

–Field Level Media

Texas QB Arch Manning has ‘minor’ foot surgery

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas quarterback Arch Manning underwent “minor” foot surgery this week but is expected to take part in spring football practices, the university announced Friday.

The surgery was a “preventative measure to address a previous injury,” per Texas officials. His participation in offseason workouts ahead of spring will be limited.

The university also reported surgery for five additional players, all of whom are expected to be full participants in the 2026 season. They are defensive back Xavier Filsaime (shoulder), left tackle Trevor Goosby (shoulder), wide receivers Emmett Mosley V (ankle) and Ryan Wingo (wrist), and linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith (shoulder).

As a redshirt sophomore in 2025, Manning completed 248 of 404 pass attempts for 3,163 yards with 26 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

In Manning’s first full season as a starter, the Longhorns finished 10-3 and were ranked No. 12 in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll.

–Field Level Media

No. 1 transfer WR Cam Coleman heading to Texas

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cam Coleman, the No. 1 wide receiver in the transfer portal, announced his commitment to Texas on Sunday.

In two seasons at Auburn, Coleman caught 93 passes for 1,306 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound receiver, who was ranked by On3 as the top transfer wideout, also made visits to Alabama, Texas Tech and Texas A&M.

His move to Texas leaves Auburn with its second five-star departure of the day. Earlier, quarterback Deuce Knight announced he was moving on to another Southeastern Conference rival, Ole Miss.

Texas was among the power-conference programs to offer Coleman when he was a player at Central Phenix City High School in Alabama in the 2024 class, but he elected to stay in state at Auburn. The 247Sports composite listed him as the No. 2 wide receiver in the recruiting class with only Ohio State star Jeremiah Smith was ahead of him. He was also No. 3 overall ranked player in the incoming class.

At Texas, Coleman will join the returning Ryan Wingo in forming a mighty 1-2 punch for quarterback Arch Manning. Wingo had 54 catches for 834 yards and seven touchdowns last season.

The Longhorns finished the season with a 10-3 record (6-2 SEC).

–Field Level Media

Arch Manning (4 TDs), No. 13 Texas slam door on No. 18 Michigan

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arch Manning passed for two touchdowns and rushed for two more to lead No. 13 Texas to a 41-27 victory over No. 18 Michigan on Wednesday in the Citrus Bowl at Orlando, Fla.

Manning completed 21 of 34 passes for 221 yards and rushed for 155 on nine attempts as the Longhorns (10-3) set aside their frustrations over not reaching the College Football Playoff by delivering a strong performance.

Christian Clark took over the ball-carrying duties with four Texas running backs opting out of the contest and he rushed for 105 yards and one touchdown on 20 carries.

Ty’Anthony Smith had two fourth-quarter interceptions, and Wardell Mack also had a pick for Texas. Kaliq Lockett and Jack Endries caught touchdown passes for the Longhorns.

Bryce Underwood completed 23 of 42 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns, the three interceptions and rushed for 77 yards and a score for Michigan (9-4). Kendrick Bell and Andrew Marsh had scoring receptions, and Bryson Kuzdzal gained 82 yards on 20 carries for the Wolverines.

Biff Poggi served as Michigan interim coach after Sherrone Moore was dismissed on Dec. 10 for having an improper relationship with a female football staffer. Former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham has been hired as the Wolverines’ new head man.

The Longhorns took a 24-20 lead when Manning scored on a 23-yard touchdown run with 5:38 remaining in the third quarter.

The Wolverines moved ahead by three when Underwood scored on a 5-yard run in which he hit the pylon with the football with 10:56 left in the game.

Just over four minutes later, Manning threw a 30-yard strike to Lockett to give Texas a 31-27 lead.

Smith then intercepted Underwood for the first time and the Longhorns had the ball on their own 40. On the first play, there was a huge gap in the center of the field and Manning rushed through and sprinted to a 60-yard touchdown to give the Longhorns an 11-point advantage with 5:06 left.

Two Michigan offensive plays later, Smith again picked off Underwood with 4:33 left. That one set up Mason Shipley’s 51-yard field goal to make it a 14-point margin with 3:38 to play.

Texas outgained the Wolverines 456-373.

Underwood tossed two first-half touchdowns passes in a game that was tied at 17 at the half.

Shipley kicked a 43-yard field goal for the Longhorns to cap the game’s first drive. Michigan answered later in the quarter on Dominic Zvada’s 53-yard field goal.

Underwood threw a 19-yard scoring pass to Bell to give the Wolverines a 10-3 lead with 3:15 left in the first quarter.

Texas knotted the score early in the second on Clark’s 3-yard scoring run.

Michigan took a 17-10 advantage on Underwood’s 4-yard touchdown throw to Marsh.

The Longhorns tied it up when Manning connected with Endries on a 17-yard score with 7:41 remaining in the half.

–Field Level Media

Steeped in drama, Michigan, Texas get back to football in Citrus Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Before the College Football Playoff bracket was complete, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian delivered a strong rebuke of the process, well aware the Longhorns weren’t in position to make the 12-team field.

That drama turned out to be minor compared to Michigan’s stunning firing of Sherrone Moore for having an improper relationship with a female football staffer and the coach’s subsequent arrest.

The No. 13 Longhorns and the No. 18 Wolverines are surely happy to see the calendar turn to 2026 but first they fittingly ring out the current year together on Wednesday at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Fla.

Both teams went 9-3 in the regular season before their campaigns were overshadowed by outside factors. Biff Poggi is serving as Michigan’s interim coach for the bowl game.

Sarkisian lobbied for his team’s inclusion into the playoffs after a 27-17 victory over then-No. 3 Texas A&M on Nov. 28.

He pointed out the team’s three top 10 wins and a season-opening loss to then-No. 3 Ohio State, and even threatened to remove the Buckeyes from the 2026 schedule to make his point. But it was an early October setback against Florida that sank his team.

While the anger has dissipated, disappointment lingers at Texas over a spot in the Citrus Bowl.

“A lot of the other guys see it as a chance to compete, prove ourselves, especially being in (the CFP) last year, not being in this year, we get a chance to prove the committee wrong,” Longhorns guard Luke Hutson said. “So I’m really excited for that, and I think it should be really awesome.”

Michigan formally introduced new coach Kyle Whittingham on Sunday, something nowhere on the radar when the month began.

Moore’s arrest changed everything.

After being informed of his firing on Dec. 10, he allegedly confronted the woman at her home and was arrested. Two days later, he was charged with felony home invasion and two misdemeanors (stalking and breaking and entering).

The incident and Moore’s meltdown left the Michigan program swirling in chaos.

“I was kind of stunned for a while,” Wolverines linebacker Cole Sullivan said. “I didn’t know what to think. But at the end of the day, we’re still the same team. One person doesn’t define who we are. I’m not going to let what happened define me. And I know the rest of the team isn’t also going to let that happen.”

Whittingham is focused on preventing a mass exodus and met with freshman Bryce Underwood on Sunday as speculation swirls that the No. 1 recruit of the 2025 class is considering his options.

Underwood has passed for 2,229 yards and nine touchdowns against six interceptions while adding five scores on the ground.

He said he’s looking forward to playing in the Citrus Bowl.

“Playing football is our fun,” Underwood said. “Us playing our game, and in any way possible we can be good, that’s what we’ll do.”

Defensive end Derrick Moore (team-high 10 sacks), linebacker Jaishawn Barham (10 tackles for loss) and guard Giovanni El-Hadl have opted out of the game. Linebacker Ernest Hausmann (68 tackles) wasn’t in Orlando over the weekend and his status is unclear. Running back Justice Haynes (857 yards, 10 touchdowns) is bothered by a foot injury.

The Longhorns had more than a dozen opt-outs. Four running backs headed to the transfer portal. Leading rusher Quintrevion Wisner (597 yards) opted out late last week to join CJ Baxter, Jerrick Gibson and Rickey Stewart Jr. on the departure list.

Texas’ main ball-carriers against Michigan will be freshmen Christian Clark (131 yards, one TD) and James Simon (122 yards).

All-American safety Michael Taaffe (70 tackles) isn’t playing so he can start preparing for the NFL Draft. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (69 stops) declared for the draft and is skipping his senior season. Another linebacker, Liona Lefau (69 tackles), entered the transfer portal.

Quarterback Arch Manning confirmed Sunday that he will indeed return for the 2026 season. He has thrown for 2,942 yards and 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions and added eight scores on the ground.

“I felt like I developed a lot this year, especially toward the back half,” Manning said Sunday. “I want to keep it going. There’s no reason to leave. I think I’ve got a lot more football left to play, and I’m excited to still be a part of this team.”

Texas has won both previous meetings against Michigan, including a 31-12 victory last season in Ann Arbor.

–Field Level Media

Texas’ leading rusher Tre Wisner entering portal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Leading rusher Tre Wisner is the latest Texas running back planning to enter the transfer portal, his agent confirmed to ESPN on Friday.

The junior has rushed for 597 yards and three touchdowns and caught 22 passes for 146 yards and one score in nine games this season.

Wisner saved his biggest moments for the Longhorns’ biggest rivals, gaining 128 yards from scrimmage in a 23-6 win against Oklahoma on Oct. 11 and rushing for 155 yards in a 27-17 win against Texas A&M on Nov. 28.

No. 13 Texas (9-3) finishes the season against No. 18 Michigan (9-3) in the Citrus Bowl next Wednesday in Orlando.

Wisner also topped Texas with 1,064 rushing yards in 2024. In three seasons in Austin, he accumulated 2,191 yards from scrimmage with 11 touchdowns in 38 games.

Other Longhorns running backs linked to the transfer portal include C.J. Baxter, Jerrick Gibson and Rickey Stewart Jr. The portal officially opens on Jan. 2.

Texas hired Florida associate head coach and running backs coach Jabbar Juluke on Dec. 12 to replace fired running backs coach Chad Scott.

Standout Gators running back Jadan Baugh, an All-SEC choice in 2025 with 1,170 rushing yards, could potentially follow Juluke to Texas if he decides to leave Gainesville.

–Field Level Media

Texas fires DC Pete Kwiatkowski, brings back Will Muschamp

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Will Muschamp is back as Texas’ defensive coordinator 15 years later as head coach Steve Sarkisian shook up his staff on Thursday.

The Longhorns fired Pete Kwiatkowski, who was the defensive coordinator the past five years, and defensive passing game coordinator Duane Akina, who was in his first year in that role.

Muschamp oversaw the Texas defense from 2008-10 before spending the next four years as Florida’s head coach. He was South Carolina’s head coach from 2016-20 and part of Georgia’s staff for the last five years.

Sarkisian said in a statement, “We appreciate all that Pete Kwiatkowski has done for the program in his five years coordinating our defense and are grateful for Duane Akina’s efforts in returning to the program this past year. …

“But at this time, we just felt it was best for our program to move in a different direction, and having the opportunity to hire Will Muschamp provides us the leadership to take our defense to another level. Will is a guy I’ve known for a long time, always admired and is as good of a defensive mind and coach as I’ve ever coached against. His defenses are relentless; he absolutely gets the best out of his staff and players and is such an extremely well-respected coach.”

Muschamp added in a statement, “This is an exciting day for the Muschamp family. We loved our time in Austin and truly enjoyed everything about working with Texas Football. We’re thrilled to be coming back to a program with one of the richest and proudest histories and traditions in college football.”

In 8 1/2 seasons as a head coach, Muschamp compiled a 56-51 record, leading his teams to six bowl games. In his last year in charge of the Longhorns’ defense, Texas wound up sixth in the country in total defense (300.2 yards per game), a year after the team played in the BCS national championship game.

Kwiatkowski’s defense this season finished 23rd in the nation in opponents’ scoring (19.8 points per game) and 36th in total yards allowed (335.7 per game).

The 13th-ranked Longhorns (9-3) are scheduled to oppose No. 18 Michigan (9-3) in the Citrus Bowl at Orlando on Dec. 31. Texas’ statement made no reference regarding the coaching staff for that game.

–Field Level Media

QB Arch Manning to return to Texas for 2026 season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Arch Manning will return to Texas for the 2026 season, his father informed ESPN late Monday night.

“Arch is playing football at Texas next year,” Cooper Manning wrote in a text to the network.

The nephew of Super Bowl MVPs Peyton and Eli and grandson of Archie Manning, Arch is eligible to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft. As a redshirt sophomore, he has two more seasons of eligibility.

The younger Manning was seen as a Heisman Trophy candidate and potential No. 1 overall draft pick in 2026 before enduring a slow start to this season.

He completed 227 of 370 pass attempts for 2,942 yards with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season for No. 13 Texas (9-3), which plays No. 18 Michigan (9-3) on Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. The 6-foot-4 Manning also rushed for 244 yards and eight scores.

“He’s a young man who’s gotten better as the season’s gone on, and not only physically, but mentally, maturity-wise,” Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said at a recent media event in Orlando, Fla. “I would think he’s going to want another year of that growth to put himself in position for hopefully a long career in the NFL. And he’s got some unfinished business of what he came here to do and what he came here to accomplish.

“We had a really good football season. We left some meat on the bone with an opportunity to be SEC champs, national champs, and so ultimately for him, I think the competitor in him is going to say, ‘Man, I sure would like another crack at trying to do those things.’”

–Field Level Media

Texas’ Steve Sarkisian questions why team bothered to play Ohio State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian is questioning why his team played defending champion Ohio State this season with it looking possible his squad will miss the College Football Playoff field.

The No. 16 Longhorns (9-3) upset then-No. 3 Texas A&M on Friday to keep their hopes alive. But losses to then-No. 3 Ohio State, unranked Florida and then-No. 5 Georgia are a problem with several teams with fewer losses also in contention for at-large berths.

“Why did we even play Ohio State?” Sarkisian said on SiriusXM on Tuesday of the 14-7 loss. “Because if we’re a 10-2 team right now that played four top-10 ranked opponents with three top-10 wins, we’re not even having a discussion right now. So, my point is: Why the hell am I going to play that game next year? For what? What good does it do?”

The Buckeyes and Longhorns are slated to meet in 2026 in Austin, so perhaps next time Texas notches a big victory and isn’t in a similar position.

Then again, Sarkisian says the CFP guidelines make it feel like there is no need to play a team like Ohio State.

“I’m looking at the principles of the CFP,” Sarkisian said. “I’m looking at the sheet of paper right now. The first two bullet points say strength of schedule and head-to-head competition. That’s the frustrating part. So, to me, when you talk about future scheduling — and we don’t get in? — what’s the point in playing them. There’s no benefit to that.

“And we’re going to nine games in the SEC next year. I get it, there’s going to be a network (ESPN) upset if we don’t play that game, because there’s probably going to be 15 to 16 million viewers that would watch that game. But I get no benefit from playing the game. It does nothing for me. I have a responsibility to the University of Texas and our players to put them in the best position.”

Prior to Tuesday night’s reveal of the latest CFP rankings ahead of championship weekend, Texas has head-to-head victories over three Southeastern Conference programs ranked in the top 10 at the time in which the teams played — No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 9 Vanderbilt and No. 3 Texas A&M. The Longhorns lost to No. 5 Georgia and didn’t face Ole Miss or Alabama.

The big blow is the 29-21 loss to Florida on Oct. 4, a team that fired coach Billy Napier 15 days later.

No. 12 Miami of the Atlantic Coast Conference is one of the other teams facing the same uphill climb as the Longhorns. And the two coaches exchanged barbs on Monday.

Sarkisian criticized Miami coach Mario Cristobal on Monday for the Hurricanes scoring a touchdown with 41 seconds left to pad the victory margin in Miami’s 38-7 win over Pitt on Saturday.

“There’s teams that are ranked in front of us that haven’t played any top-10 ranked teams,” Sarkisian said on SEC Network. “My point to everybody is, is this about what your record is at the end? Or is this about beating quality teams and showing how good of a team you really are by beating quality teams on the field. Or is it don’t play good teams, put up a bunch of yards, put up a bunch of points and make it look good. Throw fade route touchdowns with 38 seconds to go when you’re ahead 31-7 so that the score looks better.

“Is the committee watching the games or are they looking at a stat sheet at the end of the game to say, ‘Oh, well they won by this many points, they must’ve played really good.’”

Cristobal was only too happy to return serve and use Florida (4-8) as an example, a common opponent of both teams. The Hurricanes beat the Gators 26-7.

“I get it, everybody’s trying to posture themselves for their programs and whatnot. The great part about stuff like that when coaches try to speak about themselves like that, they also gotta take a look at the common opponent between us and that particular coach,” Cristobal said on Canes In Sight. “Seeing that we had the opportunity to really dominate that opponent while that opponent dominated them.”

Miami played one top-10 team, beating Notre Dame 27-24 in its season opener.

–Field Level Media

5-star WR Easton Royal commits to 2027 class for Texas

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Easton Royal, a blue-chip wide receiver in the Class of 2027, committed to Texas on Saturday.

The 247Sports composite lists him as a five-star prospect, the No. 3 wide receiver in the class and No. 12 overall player.

He had numerous offers from Power 4 programs and chose the Longhorns over schools such as LSU, Ole Miss and Oregon.

Royal was on hand Friday night to watch the No. 16 Longhorns come from behind to defeat No. 3 Texas A&M, 27-17.

The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Royal attends Brother Martin High School in New Orleans. This fall, he caught 53 catches for 1,151 yards and 17 scores, per ESPN.

He is the first member of the Texas recruiting class in 2027. Its 2026 class is ranked No. 8 overall by the 247Sports composite.

–Field Level Media