Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian entered the offseason riding as much momentum as any program in the country. A strong finish to the year, a stacked transfer portal haul, and the continued rise of Arch Manning had Longhorns fans dreaming big. That momentum, however, hit a small but notable speed bump this week.
Arch Manning’s Health Key to Texas’ 2026 Success
College football analyst Chris Hummer reported that Texas announced Arch Manning underwent a “minor foot surgery” to address a previous injury. The procedure will limit Manning during offseason workouts, though he is expected to be fully cleared and back for spring practice.
Texas announced that Arch Manning underwent a “minor foot surgery” this week that will limit him in off-season workouts. It was to address a previous injury.
He is, however, expected to be back for spring practice. pic.twitter.com/F6LWGp7i8N
— Chris Hummer (@chris_hummer) January 23, 2026
While this is far from a worst-case scenario, it’s still not something Sarkisian wanted to hear. When a program finishes strong and aggressively reloads through the transfer portal, the goal is to let that energy carry straight through the offseason. Losing your star quarterback for an early chunk of offseason work disrupts that rhythm, even if only temporarily.
That said, there’s a silver lining. If Manning needed to address the issue, now is the best possible time to do it. Getting the surgery done early ensures it doesn’t linger into spring ball or, worse, fall camp, when timing, chemistry, and live reps matter most. From that perspective, Texas can afford to be patient now to protect its long-term goals.
Steve Sarkisian Needs Texas Offense to Start Fast
Health is especially important given where this program stands offensively. From 2021 to 2024, Texas never graded outside the top 15 in PFSN’s CFB offensive impact grades. Last season, however, the Longhorns slipped to 38th, a drop that was still somewhat encouraging considering how sluggish the offense looked early in the year. The bigger takeaway is clear: starting slow can’t become a trend.
Heading into 2026, the emphasis must be on starting fast and sustaining success throughout the season. That begins with a fully healthy Arch Manning. Texas has built an offense designed to help him succeed, especially as he works his way back from injury.
The Longhorns added serious talent to the backfield with transfer running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown. Brown graded inside the top 15 of PFSN’s CFB running back impact grades with an impressive 86.6, giving Texas a reliable option to take pressure off Manning early. A strong ground game will be critical as Manning eases back into full action.
The weapons on the outside are just as impressive. Texas landed top portal wide receiver Cam Coleman from Auburn, who joins an already talented room that includes Ryan Wingo. With that kind of firepower, the offense looks loaded and well-equipped to help Manning regain rhythm without asking him to do too much too soon.
MORE: Lane Kiffin Makes Major Move to Steal 2027 No. 1 WR from Steve Sarkisian’s Texas
Still, talent alone doesn’t guarantee success. Chemistry and continuity are built through reps, and missing early offseason work makes that process more challenging. That’s where Sarkisian’s pressure comes into play. Fair or not, expectations in Austin remain sky-high. If Texas stumbles out of the gate again as it did in 2025, the noise around Sarkisian’s job security will return, regardless of context.
For now, the priority is simple: get Arch Manning healthy. Everything else flows from there. If Texas can manage this setback, build chemistry quickly, and hit the ground running once spring practice begins, the Longhorns still have all the pieces to live up to their potential. But in a program where patience is always in short supply, even a minor setback can carry major implications.
