Throughout the past couple weeks of practice leading up to the Citrus Bowl, Steve Sarkisian and the rest of the coaching staff was able to get a much-needed look at their less-experienced players such as WR Kaliq Lockett, RB Michael Terry III, and LB Elijah Barnes.
Now, they undoubtedly have a much better feel for what they actually need to address in the transfer portal over the next two weeks. For example, Christian Clark showed that he can handle a larger volume of carries as he toted the rock 20 times against the Wolverines. He already showed off his pass-catching prowess during the regular season but it was always a mystery when it comes to his ability as a full-time runner.
This is just one of a handful of observations from the game, and here's an updated list of team needs after Texas' final game of 2025.
1. Offensive line
Despite playing fairly well against Michigan, the Longhorns still need to attack and revamp the entire offensive line room except for possibly offensive tackle. Hopefully, Trevor Goosby will make his 2026 NFL Draft decision today or tomorrow so Texas will be able to know whether or not they have to make a move there.
If he decides to return, an offensive tackle duo of Goosby and Brandon Baker would probably be just fine going forward, but offensive guard will need to be addressed early on. There are quite a few above-average interior linemen in this year's portal class and it wouldn't be surprising to see them bring in a few new players there.
2. Running back
Yes, Christian Clark proved to be a viable option this season and 5-star recruit Derrek Cooper is on his way to Austin, but the team still needs to add another talented player or two at running back.
This year's RB class in the transfer portal is chock full of top-notch players like Jacksonville State's Cam Cook, NC State's Hollywood Smothers, and North Texas' Caleb Hawkins. There's a very good chance that Texas spends a good amount of money on one of the top-tier ball-carriers early on in the process.
3. Linebacker
Ty'Anthony Smith and Elijah Barnes stepped up in a big way against Michigan yesterday, but losing Anthony Hill Jr., Liona Lefau, and Trey Moore won't be easy to remedy in 2026.
Jonathan Cunningham has shown some promise from time to time in 2025, but linebacker could be the position that new Texas DC Will Muschamp wants to add the most bodies to in the portal. Muschamp loves to utilize linebackers in various ways to make life hard for opposing offenses, and the Longhorns' 2026 defensive outlook could hinge on their ability to bring in three to four players in the portal here.