2026 or Bust: Texas Has 8 Weeks to Save Its Title Window

[Steamboat Willie]

Texas has to thread the needle between high-school recruiting and the portal, and the margin for error is thin:

We must fix the OL with multiple proven guards.

We must add a real RB1 from the portal.

We must grab starting-level help at CB, S, and LB.

And we still have to keep taking smart, long-term OL projects in HS.

The portal won’t be cheap, and the staff can’t pretend high school and NIL/portal pools are separate anymore — they’re pulling from the same bank account.

Think of it this way:
Ohio State won last year’s title in December.
Texas lost this year’s run the same way.

If Texas is serious about winning a national title in Arch’s final season, this offseason is where it happens. No excuses. No “we ran out of NIL.” No half-measures.

This is the fix the roster or waste the window moment.

[IslandHornFTH]

110%. I don’t think anyone can deny there was some mismanagement of the roster. Yeah, we’re operating under new rules and guidelines, but other teams have figured it out just fine. I believe Sark and crew will make the necessary changes. We got money to hit the portal. Let’s get to work. 

[davideowens]

Willie…..you’ve been reading Eric!

[antcan95]

Who is in charge of roster construction? It’s freaking horrendous. Wisner is not a starting RB in the SEC. We don’t have a KC Concepcion. Our guards were awful. The DB room is awful. How did this roster collapse from 23-24???

[Jeff05]

Took an article from another site and ran it through ChatGPT for short summary and came here and posted it as your comment 

[ArizonaLonghorn]

10 minutes ago, Jeff05 said:

Took an article from another site and ran it through ChatGPT for short summary and came here and posted it as your comment 

Saved the rest of us from subscribing to another site!  ChatGPT for the win baby ... that's what the multi-billion dollar investment in AI is all about, right?

[Steamboat Willie]

Texas either:

Buys a real SEC offensive line

Buys a grown-man running back who can create yards without a séance

Buys multiple DBs, including a starting-caliber safety who actually takes clean angles and plays the ball

And attacks the portal like a blue-blood, not a bargain hunter…

…or 2026 becomes “Arch Manning: A Documentary About Running for Your Life.”

The championship window isn’t creeping open.

It’s open right now — wide, bright, and waiting.

Either we jump through it…
or the SEC slams it shut.

[GoHorns1]

2 hours ago, antcan95 said:

Who is in charge of roster construction? It’s freaking horrendous. Wisner is not a starting RB in the SEC. We don’t have a KC Concepcion. Our guards were awful. The DB room is awful. How did this roster collapse from 23-24???

Hit the portal troll dude

[Doc Strangemood]

3 hours ago, Steamboat Willie said:

We must add a real RB1 from the portal.

That is immune from injury.   Just get an Earl Campbell.  Oh wait.

[SchoolColors]

6 hours ago, Jeff05 said:

Took an article from another site and ran it through ChatGPT for short summary and came here and posted it as your comment 

Do you disagree with the premise?

 

@Steamboat Willie good post btw. Would be a travesty to waste Arch skill next year 

[horns96]

Y'all fantasy portal people are funny.

[FootLaw]

...technically next season is Arch's last so wouldn't it kind of have to be the year to win with Arch? By default lol

[LILP]

6 hours ago, antcan95 said:

Who is in charge of roster construction? It’s freaking horrendous. Wisner is not a starting RB in the SEC. We don’t have a KC Concepcion. Our guards were awful. The DB room is awful. How did this roster collapse from 23-24???

Wisner led the SEC in rushing last year. 

[SchoolColors]

1 minute ago, LILP said:

Wisner led the SEC in rushing last year. 

Last year isnt this year and next year isn’t this year. 

Edited 16 hours ago by SchoolColors

[DanielOnorato]

13 minutes ago, LILP said:

Wisner led the SEC in rushing last year. 

He was third in sec rushing last year but the best returning back based on productivity. 

Dylan Sampson for Tennessee had 1491 yards and Jarquez Hunter of Auburn had 1201 rushing yards. Wisner had 1064 in 15 games which was good for 8th in the SEC in rushing yards per game at 70.9.

[DocHorn]

I think Trey is a good solid back but he’s not special like Bijohn was , man to have him in 23 or 24.  We might have gotten a NC

last yr Trey was better because Blue stepped in as a change of pace and he was great at creating explosive plays

this yr RB room just isn’t as good without Blue.  We will need a couple of guys to step up for next yr.    

[Steamboat Willie]

No one’s dunking on Trey, but he ain’t Bijan, and asking him to cosplay as Bijan behind an interior line that blocks like a bunch of athletically challenged 50 yr old men playing Twister is just cruel. Last year Sark had Blue keeping defenses honest and ripping explosives. This year it’s Trey versus the world, and the world is winning by committee.

And yeah, imagining Bijan in ’23 or ’24? That’s the kind of pain that makes you stare out the window like you’re in a sad country song.

Bottom line: Trey can be part of the answer next year, but he can’t be the whole answer. Somebody in that room has to take a leap, or we need to drag a fully grown man out of the portal, one who doesn’t need perfect blocking to get five yards and can make a DB question his life choices.

Arch can’t be the run game and the escape artist and the savior. 

[Roysterr]

15 hours ago, LILP said:

Wisner led the SEC in rushing last year. 

He also played in more games then any back. Look at his yard per carry. He had great games against OK & Aggy.