Category: Texas longhorn

 

Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte told reporters on Wednesday night that he expects the Longhorns to continue scheduling marquee out-of-conference games in the future.

 

The SEC is said to be considering moving to a 9-game league schedule. And in the immediate aftermath of last season’s College Football Playoff selection — when Alabama, Ole Miss, and South Carolina were notably excluded — plenty was made about the role schedule strength would play in the future. Alabama’s athletic director, Greg Byrne, said the Crimson Tide would need to “evaluate” their nonconference schedule going forward.

 

Texas leadership sang a different tune on Wednesday.

 

“Our brand should play the greatest brands in college football because we are the best,” Del Conte said, per Inside Texas.

 

The Longhorns are scheduled to play Ohio State on the road in 2025. The Buckeyes will make the return trip to Austin in 2026. After that, Texas hosts Michigan in 2027, has a home-and-home series with Notre Dame in 2028 and 2029, and a home-and-home series with Arizona State in 2032 and 2033.

 

Texas has played a marquee nonconference game every year under coach Steve Sarkisian so far. The Longhorns traveled to Michigan in 2024. They played a 2-game series with Alabama in 2022 and 2023. And they played at Arkansas in 2021.

 

Excluding the COVID-impacted 2020 season, Texas has played at least 1 out-of-conference game against another power conference opponent every year since 2009. In some seasons, Texas played multiple power conference teams prior to the start of league play. At least recently, the Longhorns have been unafraid to schedule exciting games.

 

Next season’s matchup between Texas and Ohio State in Columbus could very well be a matchup between the top teams in the AP poll. Ohio State is the defending national champion. Texas will be coming off a second straight CFP semifinal appearance and opening the Arch Manning era. The 2025 matchup will kick off the new season on Aug. 30. Ohio State is a 3.5-point favorite in that game, according to an early lookahead line from bet365.

 

 

After joining the Texas Longhorns in 2023, quarterback Arch Manning instantly became one of the biggest names in all of college football.

Whether it was for his play or his relation to NFL legends Peyton and Eli, Arch Manning was the top prospect in the class of 2023 (247Sports).

In an online interview with Sprung that was posted on TikTok, Arch Manning revealed some problems he has been dealing with on campus.

He was then asked if it might be different at smaller schools before the quarterback admitted that he had to reject a “visit” to Alabama due to his popularity.

He received many different offers from major college football programs across the country, but the top three contending teams came down to Texas, the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Arch Manning is now anticipated to take over under center to start the 2025 season after Quinn Ewers left for the 2025 NFL draft, which has further increased his popularity and the buzz about him.

Arch Manning remarked, “It’s like my friends who travel to Alabama want me to come visit.”

“I’m not sure whether that’s the right course of action.

Tuscaloosa. Austin is pleasant, though.

There are areas where you can sort of escape, and no one is aware of football. You’re merely another man.

Ultimately, Arch Manning chose Texas over Alabama and Georgia, crediting coach Steve Sarkisian for helping him come to a decision. “I can relate to [Sarkisian] because he’s younger,” Arch Manning told 247Sports in 2021. “It seems like we’re friends almost.

I like him a lot. He’d be a cool guy to get to play for.

Hopefully, he doesn’t get too many job offers and stays there. He’s a good guy.

I really like everyone I’ve met and have enjoyed building relationships and meeting different guys.”

The Longhorns’ Cotton Bowl rematch against the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday, August 30, will mark the start of the Arch Manning era.

 

This week marks the start of the NFL Combine, and additional draft projections on the future of three-star Longhorns have emerged.

One more spoof Ahead of the NFL Combine starting on Thursday, the 2025 NFL Draft has been released, and this one comes directly from On SI. SI contributors predicted that three Texas Longhorns will be selected in the first round come April, out of a program-record 14 who were invited to the Combine.

In his second mock draft of the year, Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network is the most recent to project Banks to the Windy City.

“The Bears need to devote their offseason to upgrading the group playing in front of Caleb Williams,” Jeremiah stated.

“Banks has the skill set to play tackle or guard.”

In recent weeks, there has been increased interest in the possibility of Banks switching to guard in the NFL. He is capable of doing so, and this season he was named the greatest interior lineman in the country, earning him the Outland Trophy. Banks wasn’t the only Longhorn to be selected in the first round, as is sometimes the case in these mock selections.

The second Texas player off the board in this instance is standout defensive back Jahdae Barron, who is selected by the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 17 overall.

Barron is too amazing to ignore, but I’m sure the Bengals would take a defensive tackle into consideration here

. Additionally, when Cincinnati is on the clock in Round 2, there will still be skilled defensive tackles available.

Despite Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase having stellar seasons, Cincinnati’s defense was nothing short of terrible this season, and it was the primary reason the team missed the playoffs aside from NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson.

It would greatly benefit the team as a whole to acquire Barron, the nation’s best defensive back and this year’s Jim Thorpe Award winner.

A third Longhorn, typically wide receiver Matthew Golden, is selected in the third round in many mock drafts, but Jeremiah only had two this time.

Still, Steve Sarkisian’s group was well represented.

 

 

 

Following Quinn Ewers’ decision to enter the draft, the Texas Longhorns are set to start Arch Manning as their quarterback for 2025.

 

Manning is entering his third season with Texas. At 19, the six-foot-four, 225-pound athlete has thrown for 969 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions and rushed for 115 yards and four touchdowns.

 

Manning will be eligible to enter the 2026 draft, but he could postpone his NFL plans until 2027 after starting multiple seasons for the Longhorns.

 

In June, Texas earned the commitment of a quarterback who will compete for the job when Manning heads to the pros.

 

Per On3, Dia Bell ranks No. 5 for the 2026 class and earned a five-star grade.

 

“From an arm talent perspective, Texas commit Dia Bell is as good as anyone in the 2026 cycle,” Charles Power, On3’s director of scouting and rankings, wrote. “He’s the definition of a natural thrower.

 

“His ability to manipulate the football and throw consistently catchable footballs from multiple arm angles is a treat to watch. He can dice up defenses on Friday evenings and makes special throws. He’s someone that has tons of upside especially as he develops and fills out his frame down the line.”

 

American Heritage Patriots quarterback Dia Bell (3).

American Heritage Patriots quarterback Dia Bell (3). Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Dia Bell is the son of former NBA player Raja Bell. He plays high school football and basketball for American Heritage High School in Plantation, Florida.

 

Dia Bell threw for 2,597 yards, 29 touchdowns and six interceptions in 2024. He added 561 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

 

 

Today ended the Texas Longhorns women’s basketball team’s more than 20-year-long stretch of being ranked first in the AP Poll.

With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Longhorns are ranked #1 for the first time since February 16, 2004.

Texas has defeated nine opponents in the Top 25 this season, including a run of victories in February against teams ranked in the Top 10, including No. 2 South Carolina, No. 8 Kentucky, and No. 5 LSU.

South Carolina’s 57-game winning streak in the regular season—one of the longest in sports—was ended by the Longhorns’ victory over the Gamecocks.

During that time, the Moody Center has sold out twice, prompting superstars like Kevin Durant to call out players like Madison Booker who are advocating for Austin to become a WNBA basketball destination.

During the last three games, Booker, a sophomore sensation, has averaged 18.3 points per game, 9.7 rebounds, and made 17 of 19 free throws.

She was the first freshman to win the Big 12 Conference’s Player of the Year honor the previous season, and she came in as ESPN’s No. 12-ranked recruit in the class of 2023.

Before the end of her sophomore year, she became one of only four players in Texas history to surpass 1,000 points in her career.

Following a season-ending injury last year, Rori Harmon returned as a fifth-year senior and was recently included to the watchlists for both the Nancy Lieberman Point Guard of the Year and the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year awards.

Eight more points would make her the first player in Texas women’s basketball history to reach 1,200 points and 600 assists.

Under longstanding coach Jody Conradt, that 2004 squad possessed a comparable amount of star power.

It included Tiffany Jackson-Jones, the 2004 national freshman of the year, who was selected by the New York Liberty in the first round of the 2007 WNBA draft.

Additionally, the club included two WNBA third-round selections: Jamie Carey (2005, Phoenix Mercury) and Stacy Stephens (2004, Houston Comets).

After reaching the Final Four the previous year, they lost 71-55 to LSU in the Sweet Sixteen, disappointingly falling short of expectations.

Texas has only advanced to the final four three times, in 1986, 1987, and 2003, and hasn’t taken home a national title since 1986.

But under head coach Vic Schaefer, it has had frequent participation in the NCAA tournament, including three trips to the Elite Eight in 2021, 2022, and 2024—something it hadn’t done since 2016 prior to his hiring.

 

 

Arch Manning (Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via

After working his way up the depth chart at Texas, it’s officially Arch Manning’s time to shine. With Quinn Ewers heading to the NFL, the former Five Star Plus+ prospect will officially get the keys to Steve Sarkisian’s offense.

 

The hype built around Manning ever since he stepped foot on Texas’ campus in Fall 2023. But as fans clamored for the son of Cooper and nephew of Peyton and Eli to get more playing time, he instead worked to earn not only the trust of his coaches, but also his teammates.

 

Along the way, Sarkisian said Manning didn’t cut any corners or do anything different because of his last name. The young quarterback went about business as usual.

 

“At the end of the day, I think one of the things a quarterback has to do – and I think it goes kind of unnoticed at times,” Sarkisian told Kay Adams on Up and Adams. “A quarterback’s real job is to instill belief in his teammates, instill belief in the coaches, instill belief in an organization and then, instill belief in a fan base. And Arch does all those things. Like, hey, here he is.

 

“Again, it’s not because of the name. It’s who he is on a regular basis.”

 

After Manning arrived at Texas, Sarkisian made it clear the recruiting process was as “normal” as any he’d seen. But that sense of “normalcy” didn’t stop when he signed his National Letter of Intent. It continued through Manning’s freshman season as he tried to earn his stripes and build relationships with his coaches and teammates.

 

All the while, though, he also made sure to compete. With elements of his relatives in his game – notably his grandfather’s athleticism – Manning held his own.

 

 

After joining the Texas Longhorns in 2023, quarterback Arch Manning instantly became one of the biggest names in all of college football.

 

Whether it was for his play or his relation to NFL legends Peyton and Eli, Arch Manning was the top prospect in the class of 2023 (247Sports). He received many different offers from major college football programs across the country, but the top three contending teams came down to Texas, the Georgia Bulldogs and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

 

Now, with Quinn Ewers leaving for the 2025 NFL draft, Arch Manning is expected to take over under center to begin the 2025 season. This has only raised his popularity and the hype surrounding him.

 

Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning.

Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning. Jerome

In an online interview with Sprung that was posted on TikTok, Arch Manning revealed some problems he has been dealing with on campus. He was then asked if it might be different at smaller schools before the quarterback admitted that he had to reject a “visit” to Alabama due to his popularity.

 

“It’s like my buddies who go to Alabama, they want me to come visit,” Arch Manning said. “I don’t know if that’s the best idea. Tuscaloosa. But Austin is nice. You can go to parts of it where you can kind of get away, and nobody knows about football. You’re just another guy.”

 

Ultimately, Arch Manning chose Texas over Alabama and Georgia, crediting coach Steve Sarkisian for helping him come to a decision.

 

“I can relate to [Sarkisian] because he’s younger,” Arch Manning told 247Sports in 2021. “It seems like we’re friends almost. I like him a lot. He’d be a cool guy to get to play for. Hopefully, he doesn’t get too many job offers and stays there. He’s a good guy. I really like everyone I’ve met and have enjoyed building relationships and meeting different guys.”

 

The Arch Manning era for the Longhorns will begin on Saturday, August 30, when they face the Ohio State Buckeyes in a Cotton Bowl rematch.

 

 

 

Arrest records from Grayson County, Texas, show that Cook has been arrested for possession of marijuana of less than two ounces. On3 Sports was the first to report. The incident comes 10 days after Cook was arrested in Fort Worth on property theft charges and interference in public duties.

 

Cook and the Longhorns mutually parted ways last fall after he failed to stand out among a crowded receiver room. The pass-catcher entered the transfer portal, where he landed with Washington at the beginning of the winter window.

 

The Huskies expected Cook to compete for a starting job immediately as the program had lost receivers Giles Jackson and Jeremiah Hunter to graduation and Keith Reynolds to the transfer portal. Instead, Cook left the program not even a month later.

 

A 2023 signee out of DeSoto High School, Cook was rated as a five-star prospect by the 247Sports composite after a stellar high school career that saw him win a state championship. He caught eight passes for 136 yards as a freshman. He then appeared in six games for the Longhorns in 2024, tallying eight receptions for 137 yards and two touchdowns.

 

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With Longhorns starting quarterback Quinn Ewers declaring for the 2025 NFL draft, Arch Manning’s Texas career is about to take a significant turn. Although Manning has played in a number of games over the last two seasons, he acknowledged that the transition from high school football to college football was difficult, at least in the weight room.”

The workouts were no joke,” Manning confirmed to GQ. ”

It was challenging! A player advised me to make sure I lift and exercise a lot before I arrived in town during one of my visits. I was quite prepared because I took that seriously, but they are not simple. The hardest element, in my opinion, was the intensity and frequency of [our] practice.

We’ll go outside in the summer atManning inked a big contract with Red Bull as he gets ready for his debut season as a starting quarterback in the NCAA levels.

Manning, “I really like this partnership,” remarked. “My family and I have had great treatment from everyone at Red Bull, and I am eager to get things started.

In addition, I enjoy a Red Bull in the cup. We need some energy because we have early meetings. In an interview with Red Bull, the future Longhorns starting quarterback was also asked to choose the “Great of All Time” in a variety of categories.

He hinted at his celebrity obsession by naming the movie section “Wolf of Wall Street” and omitting Margot Robbie’s name.