"Texas is Spiderman."
That's what college football analyst J.D. PicKell said when he was breaking down his expectations for the Texas Longhorns' upcoming season. Yes, he literally compared the Horns to a superhero.
"With great power comes great responsibility," PicKell said. "Hey, Sark, Arch, with great roster talent comes great responsibility."
This offseason, Sarkisian used his recruiting prowess and the transfer portal to turn an already good roster into an absolutely monstrous one.
Texas 🤝Spider-Man pic.twitter.com/68DmCOpj84
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) July 16, 2026
"What excuse do you have this year, if you're Texas, to not win the SEC? To not win a National Championship," PicKell said. "What excuse is there for Texas? There isn't one... That's how it should be at Texas every year."
Longhorns are out of excuses to not win a National Championship
Between adding running backs Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown, wide receiver Cam Coleman, offensive linemen Laurence Seymore and Melvin Siani, linebacker Rasheem Biles, and cornerback Bo Mascoe, the Longhorns gained depth and talent unlike ever before.
Even the special teams got shiny new tools with punter Mac Chiumento, kicker Gianni Spetic, long snapper Trey Dubuc, and kick returner Raleek Brown joining the fold.
Not to mention the fact that stars like Arch Manning, Colin Simmons, Hero Kanu, Ryan Wingo, Jelani McDonald, Trevor Goosby, and more are back for another year on the 40 Acres with another season of experience under their belts.
Sarkisian even reshaped his support staff, firing defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski and bringing on Will Muschamp to fill the role.
There are seemingly zero gaps on the Longhorns' roster. The coaching staff is the best it has been in a very long time. The team is experienced and hardened. Texas looks like a National Championship-caliber program.
"With the brand power, with the resources, with the way that Steve Sarkisian has pushed Texas back to tier one in terms of relevance in college football," PicKell said. "That's how it should be."
Texas even has an incredible strength of schedule to propel the team in the College Football Playoff, even if the Longhorns lose a game or two in the regular season.
The Horns' 2026 campaign begins on Sept. 5, with a home matchup against the Texas State Bobcats. What should be an easy win. Then, it gets a little tricky with the Buckeyes coming to town, but then Texas will host the UTSA Roadrunners in what should be another easy victory.
Even in SEC play, Texas gets to duck the Georgia Bulldogs and Alabama Crimson Tide, but does have the opportunity to play (and very likely beat) the Tennessee Volunteers, LSU Tigers, and Texas A&M Aggies on the road.
Beyond that, the Horns just need to get through the Oklahoma Sooners, Florida Gators, Ole Miss Rebels, Mississippi State Bulldogs, Missouri Tigers, and Arkansas Razorbacks, most of whom Texas will play at home.
There are no excuses. PicKell is right. Texas has everything it needs. It is time for the Longhorns to bring home their first-ever SEC Championship and their first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship.
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