1. Texas doesn’t have elite weapons for Arch Manning
In a story published in July 2025, The Athletic’s Matt Baker reported Texas’ average revenue for the three preceding seasons for football was $183M, the most among Power Four teams. So where did all that money go? Did the program blow it on the Lamborghinis for recruiting visits?
“I was expecting more,” a coach said of Manning’s supporting cast, via ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg. “People are looking at Texas, like: ‘Where did they put their money?’ They’re a good team, but it wasn’t like, ‘Oh my gosh,’ like some of the better Ohio State teams.”
No. 1 Ohio State (5-0) features wide receivers Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate, who have combined for 59 receptions, 898 receiving yards and 10 touchdown catches in five games. Meanwhile, Ryan Wingo and Parker Livingstone — the top Longhorn WRs — have combined for 30 receptions for 542 yards and seven TD catches.
The Longhorns’ transfer portal additions haven’t helped Manning, either. Through five games, former California tight end Jack Endries is averaging a career-low 21.6 receiving yards per game. WR Emmett Mosley V — a Stanford transfer — missed five games because of a lower-body injury. In a 29-21 Week 6 road loss to Florida, he had two receptions for 40 yards.
2. Texas Longhorns have subpar offensive line
This offseason, the Longhorns lost four of their five starting O-linemen to the NFL, including 2024 first-team All-American left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. (now with the New Orleans Saints). Guard DJ Campbell was the lone returning starter.
Their replacements have failed to jell. Per Pro Football Focus, Manning has been pressured on 42.8 percent of his dropbacks, the 12th-highest figure in the FBS (minimum 41 dropbacks).
During his Monday news conference, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said he believes the unit will improve. It’d better do that soon. Entering Saturday’s game at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET), Oklahoma (5-0) leads the FBS in sacks per game (five).
3. Texas Longhorns have lousy running game
Watching the Longhorns ground game should make Texas fans miss former star RB Bijan Robinson (now with the Atlanta Falcons) even more.
Texas ranks 55th in the FBS in rushing yards (172.6). In the loss to Florida, running backs Quintrevion Wisner and Christian Clark combined for 11 yards on nine carries.
Wisner and RB CJ Baxter Jr. have battled hamstring injuries throughout the season. Sarkisian said these injuries have led to him “rolodexing running backs,” hampering the rushing attack.
A coach told Rittenberg that Manning — who leads the team in rushing yards (160) — can use his legs to help the team win more games. Still, he can’t continue to be Texas’ primary runner.
4. Texas Longhorns don’t put enough pressure on QBs
Texas’ rush has left meat on the bone this season. Texas is tied for 76th in the FBS in sacks per game (1.8) after finishing 20th (2.8) last season.
Linebackers Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill Jr. and Ethan Burke have generated little pressure, contributing to the pass-rushing woes. Through five games, Simmons has 1.5 sacks, while Hill and Burke have zero.
The numbers of Hill and Simmons should come as a big surprise. Both were named 2025 preseason first-team All-Americans.
5. Are the unranked Texas Longhorns complacent?
In a story published in August, Sarkisian told The Athletic’s Ralph D. Russo his team has no “room to be complacent because we haven’t won the [national championship] yet.”
His players may have forgotten that — and who could blame them? After making consecutive College Football Playoff semifinal trips over the past two seasons, they had plenty of reasons to revel in their success. However, some players seemed to think that success would guarantee them a national championship in 2025.
Before the season, Simmons told 247Sports’ Chip Brown, “This year is going to be a movie.” Given how things have gone, it looks like a box-office flop. As of Thursday, ESPN’s Football Power Index gives Texas a 2.8 percent chance to win the rest of its games this season.
