Steve Sarkisian and Texas will be once again in the spotlight in the 2026 season, with Arch Manning set to lead the team. Texas failed to live up to the massive expectations surrounding it last year, and the Longhorns must fix several key areas if they want to be seriously considered a national title contender in the upcoming season.
Analyst Shares Reality Check for Steve Sarkisian as Critical Weakness Threatens Texas’ Title Run
Rece Davis appeared on the “See Ball Get Ball With David Pollack” podcast hosted by David Pollack to talk about several topics in college football. Pollack asked Davis whether Texas should be viewed as one of his leading contenders to win the national championship. Davis agreed that Texas belongs in that conversation, but he pointed to one major concern- the Longhorns’ offensive line.
“Going to need to see the offensive line,” Davis said (22:41).“So, the offensive line’s got to be a lot better.”
Davis’ worry about the Texas offense is understandable, as the Longhorns entered the 2025 season as the preseason No. 1 team but struggled offensively throughout the year. The unit allowed 23 sacks, ranking 62nd nationally, which was an improvement from 2024, but the gap to the top 10 is huge.
The running game also took a step back, as Texas recorded its lowest yards per carry since Sarkisian became head coach, and by most measures, it was the program’s weakest rushing attack in at least five seasons.
The Longhorns finished 90th in the country in rushing offense, averaging only 137.8 yards per game. They ended the year with a C+ grade and a 79.9 score in the PFSN College Football Offense Impact Metric, ranking No. 38 nationally.
Sarkisian, who designs the offense and calls plays on game day, was quick to take responsibility for the struggles after the October game with Kentucky, when Texas managed just 179 total yards and scored only one offensive touchdown.
“I’ve got to do a better job,” Sarkisian said. “I look in the mirror first. That’s why I got hired. I think being a play caller on offense is one of my strengths. Some may disagree. That’s OK.”
Manning was sacked 23 times during the season and faced consistent pressure, encountering defenders on 165 dropbacks and posting a passing grade of 58.7 when under pressure. He also had multiple games with a completion rate below 50%, with his accuracy declining when forced out of the pocket.
After several key players departed in the draft, the rebuilt offensive line struggled at times with combo blocks and handling defensive stunts. Fixing those issues will be crucial if Texas hopes to move past the frustrations of the 2025 season.
However, Sarkisian and his staff have already taken steps during the offseason to improve the offense. The Longhorns added potential starters through the transfer portal and reshuffled returning players along the line. Targeting experienced talent was a central focus of Sarkisian’s offensive rebuild, which could help the school address many of last season’s problems.
