Texas Longhorns Poised for First Real National Championship Run Since 2009 as 2025 Season Begins With Sky-High Expectations
For the first time in over a decade, the Texas Longhorns enter a college football season not just with hope, but with legitimate expectations to win it all. As the 2025 season approaches, the buzz around Austin has reached a fever pitch, and for good reason. This is not your typical Texas team padded with hype and media coverage. This is a fully loaded, battle-tested roster, guided by a stable coaching staff, led by one of college football’s most promising quarterbacks, and focused on bringing the program its first national title since 2005.
It has been 16 years since Texas last played for a national championship. That night in January 2010 against Alabama still looms large in the memory of the Texas faithful. A game that started with so much promise was quickly derailed by an injury to Colt McCoy, and the Longhorns haven’t come nearly as close since. Years of underachievement, coaching turnover, and recruiting inconsistencies followed, leaving Texas stuck in a cycle of mediocrity and frustration. But under Steve Sarkisian, the script appears to be flipping in a big way.
Sarkisian has slowly but steadily rebuilt Texas from the ground up, instilling a new culture of accountability, competition, and professionalism. His vision, recruiting prowess, and play-calling expertise have reinvigorated the program and transformed it into a legitimate title contender. The 2024 season offered a glimpse of that transformation, as Texas reached the College Football Playoff for the first time and reestablished itself on the national stage. They weren’t quite ready to take the final step—but everything is now in place to do exactly that in 2025.
At the heart of this championship push is quarterback Arch Manning. The third-generation star has been groomed for this moment since he first stepped on campus, and now, with Quinn Ewers off to the NFL, the spotlight is his. Manning brings with him not just a famous name, but elite talent, a calm demeanor, and a rare ability to process and lead. By all accounts, his maturity and preparation are already exceeding expectations, and his grasp of Sarkisian’s offense has allowed the staff to expand the playbook and raise the level of execution.
Texas fans have waited patiently for Manning to become “the guy,” and now that time has come. If he delivers on his potential—and all signs from spring ball and summer workouts suggest he’s on track—the Longhorns could field one of the most dangerous offenses in college football. Surrounding him is a deep and explosive group of skill players. The running back room, featuring Cedric Baxter Jr., Jaydon Blue, and highly-touted newcomers, offers a combination of speed, power, and versatility that will keep defenses honest. The wide receiver corps, even without Xavier Worthy, is loaded with talent like Isaiah Bond, Johntay Cook II, DeAndre Moore Jr., and freshman phenom Ryan Wingo, giving Manning multiple elite options on the outside.
The offensive line, a unit that once plagued the Longhorns in big games, is now one of its most dependable assets. Anchored by future NFL talent Kelvin Banks Jr. at left tackle and fortified by experienced returners and elite recruits, this group has the physicality to dominate the trenches and the agility to protect against SEC pass rushers. Depth has also improved significantly, giving Sarkisian and offensive line coach Kyle Flood the ability to rotate and withstand injuries without a noticeable drop-off.
Defensively, Texas has evolved into a top-tier unit under Pete Kwiatkowski. After years of struggling to find a true defensive identity, the Longhorns are now known for their physicality, discipline, and playmaking ability. The front seven is stout and deep, led by returning anchors like T’Vondre Sweat and Vernon Broughton, who are expected to dominate the interior. At linebacker, Anthony Hill Jr. is the centerpiece, a ferocious tackler and emerging leader who has already drawn comparisons to some of the best to wear burnt orange.
In the secondary, Texas has made significant upgrades both in recruiting and development. Malik Muhammad, Terrance Brooks, and Derek Williams Jr. give the Longhorns athletic, instinctive players who can cover sideline to sideline and make plays on the ball. This group will be tested immediately in the SEC, but they now have the tools and the depth to stand up against the conference’s best aerial attacks. And in a league loaded with elite quarterbacks and wide receivers, the importance of strong, consistent secondary play cannot be overstated.
Special teams have also improved, with kicker Will Stone and punter Ryan Sanborn providing stability, and return units showing flashes of explosiveness. In games that will be decided by field position and a few key plays, the third phase could be the hidden factor that elevates Texas above its competition.
But perhaps the biggest difference entering 2025 is the mental toughness and focus that now defines this team. For years, Texas struggled with inconsistency—playing up to strong opponents, but losing to teams they should beat. That inconsistency often pointed to deeper cultural issues. Sarkisian has worked hard to erase that pattern, emphasizing discipline, preparation, and a one-game-at-a-time mentality. Last year’s playoff run taught this team what championship-level focus requires, and the leadership group returning this year has made it clear: the goal is a national title, and anything less will be viewed as a disappointment.
That level of ambition is new, but necessary. The competition in 2025 will be fiercer than ever. With the move to the expanded 16-team SEC, Texas faces a gauntlet of opponents that includes Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, and Texas A&M. Surviving that schedule will take depth, creativity, and a refusal to flinch. But what once would have seemed impossible now feels like a legitimate test the Longhorns are equipped to handle.
The expanded College Football Playoff also changes the equation. With 12 teams now making the field, Texas doesn’t have to be perfect in the regular season—but they do have to be excellent. A 10-2 finish against a brutal SEC schedule might be enough to get in, but to secure a top-four seed and a first-round bye, the Longhorns will need to dominate. Sarkisian knows the margin for error is slim, and his approach this offseason has reflected that urgency.
In interviews, Sarkisian has consistently emphasized that this team is not shying away from the pressure. If anything, they are embracing it. This is why Arch Manning came to Texas. This is why top recruits have continued to flock to Austin. They want to win big, and they believe Sarkisian is the coach to lead them there. The trust between the players and the coaching staff is stronger than ever, and that unity will be tested—and potentially validated—in the weeks and months ahead.
Recruiting momentum also continues to surge, which further cements the program’s long-term trajectory. With several five-star prospects already committed in the 2025 and 2026 classes, Texas is positioning itself not just for a great season, but for a sustained era of excellence. That vision is part of why this year feels so pivotal. A championship run in 2025 wouldn’t just satisfy a hungry fanbase—it would mark the true rebirth of a dynasty that’s been dormant for far too long.
Sixteen years is a long time to wait. Since the heartbreaking loss in the 2010 title game, Texas fans have endured coaching changes, embarrassing losses, and empty promises. But now, the Longhorns appear to be entering a golden window of opportunity—one built on more than hype and history. They have the quarterback, the coaching, the talent, and the mindset. The only thing left to do is prove it on the field.
As the 2025 season dawns, the excitement in Austin is different this time. It’s not based on nostalgia or blind optimism—it’s based on real, tangible belief. This team is ready. The time is now. And if everything clicks, the Texas Longhorns may finally reclaim their place at the top of college football.
