Longhorns’ future looks bright: Texas college football round-up

August 26, 2025 by Staff

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With the season about to get underway, Texas college football is heating up, with players doing their final training and coaches getting their playbooks together.  Let’s take a look at some of the biggest stories to come out of the gridiron in the Lone Star State’s college programs recently.

A good season predicted for the Longhorns

First up, the Texas Longhorns seem to be one of the best picks for college football glory this coming season.

With a strong squad, many pundits are tipping the Longhorns to do well. This could be considerably propped by bettors using the latest Texas sportsbook promos to boost the chance of winning regardless of the team’s performance.

Fans and analysts appear to be honing in on the Austin side’s miserly defense, with safety Michael Taaffe, edge rusher Colin Simmons, and Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. all making the Associated Press’s prestigious pre-season all-star team.

With the Longhorns set to start their second season in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), having previously been long-standing members of the Big 12 - a championship they last won in their final 2023 season - Texas supporters will be keen to see how their side fits in with a newer series of opponents.

Sarkasian seeks revenge on Buckeyes but praises the QB

Under the leadership of coach Steve Sarkisian, the team will be aiming to get some revenge when they take on Ohio State in the season’s opening game on August 30.

The Buckeyes are college football’s reigning champions, and used the Longhorns as a stepping stone by dealing them a 28-14 defeat in last year's semifinal Cotton Bowl game.in last year’s Cotton Bowl.

However, the Buckeyes have seen some drastic backroom changes in the close season, while the Longhorns have seen some strong staff consistency, with Sarkasian in his fifth season in charge of the program.

And one of the Ohio State newcomers is someone the Longhorns coach is very familiar with.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin, who was nearly picked by the Longhorns, will be starting the game for the Buckeyes.

Sarkasian, who will be starting his own new quarterback in the shape of Arch Manning - the nephew of two-time Superbowl winning QB’s Peyton and Eli Manning and grandson of former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning -, had tried to bring the California native, who previously played for the Alabama Crimson Tide, to Texas.

The coach, who said Sayin was an “elite” passer, also said his team were in great shape, praising the conditions of wide receiver Parker Livingstone, lineman Connor Stroh, linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith, defensive tackle Alex January, tight ends Spencer Shannon and Jordan Washington, and defensive backs Wardell Mack and Kobe Black.

Longhorns players to watch

While the Longhorns defense has, rightfully, won a lot of plaudits, there’s some excitement about their offense.

As well as the debut of Manning, the side will feature up-and-coming left guard Neto Umeozulu.

The 6’4 325lb player was praised by his coach for his physicality and intensity, and fans will be hoping he can serve as a strong bodyguard to his QB.

Meanwhile, Longhorns fans will be hoping for some impact from the likes of right tackle Brandon Baker, wide receiver DeAndre Moore Jr and running back CJ Baxter, who will be joined by reliable tight end Jack Endries, a transfer from the California Golden Bears.

Del Conte signs new deal

The program’s Athletic Director, Chris Del Conte, has reportedly signed a new contract with UT. Del Conte, who previously served at Rice University and Texas Christian University, is credited with taking the entire Texas athletic program out of the doldrums it was in in the mid-2010s and making it one of America’s stand-out sporting colleges, winning the Director’s Cup four times since the 57-year-old New Mexico native took charge.

The deal is reported to be worth at least $2.9 million a year and will extend Del Conte’s tenure until 2036, when he will be paid $4.25 million.

Del Conte’s extended contract will need to be approved by the university’s board of regents before it can become fully official, however.

Starting QBs picked at Rice and NT

Moving on from the DKR–Texas Memorial Stadium, Arch Manning isn’t the only starting quarterback of note in the Lone Star State’s college programs. At Rice, Chase Jenkins is the new first pick for the Owls, while Drew Mestemaker will be the starting QB for the North Texas Mean Green.