As Longhorn Nation already knows, and most have even predicted, Arch Manning is officially returning to Texas for the 2026 season according to his father.
His return triggers an enormous sigh of relief for the Longhorns, as he's undeniably the face of Steve Sarkisian's offense. Unlike how it was this year, if Arch Manning is going to come out firing on all cylinders from the get-go in 2026, the team has to bring in additional weapons and protection via the transfer portal.
The coaching staff made a huge mistake in 2025 by not attacking the offensive line in the offseason, and we see how that ended up playing out. With Manning 100% committed to Texas for the 2026 season, and seeing how 2025 went, it wouldn't be surprising to see Steve Sarkisian and Co. go "all out" in the transfer portal this season on two to three main position groups.
Offensive line
If Trevor Goosby ends up declaring for the upcoming NFL Draft, it'll mean that the Longhorns have to replace three starting offensive linemen from 2025. LT Goosby, LG Cole Hutson (out of eligibility), and RG D.J. Campbell (declared for NFL Draft).
There should be plenty of starting-quality offensive linemen in this year's transfer portal cycle, and Texas could basically have their pick of the litter. If they do things correctly, they'll probably bring in three to four players via the portal in 2026. At least two offensive tackles and two offensive guards would be ideal in combination with what they have returning.
Wide receiver
DeAndre Moore is shockingly expected to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, and the overall production from the wide receiver room in 2025 wasn't the best. Dropped passes plagued the passing game for the entire season, and some could even say it's reason why they lost a third game.
If the Longhorns want to supercharge their offense in 2026, then finding a couple more playmakers for Arch Manning to utilize is going to be vital moving forward.
Linebacker
It's no secret that the offense relies on the defense, and the defense relies on the offense in football. With Anthony Hill Jr. and Liona Lefau both officially leaving the team, it's crucial that Pete Kwiatkowski finds a couple more experienced linebackers to come in and help out in Texas' nickel-heavy defensive scheme.
As of right now, only one returning linebacker for 2026 has played over 24 defensive snaps. That's absolutely insane and will have to be addressed through the transfer portal. It wouldn't be surprising to see Texas bring in two to three "big name" players here.