... and people still want to act like Texas is just a flash in the pan in the SEC based on one good season. ESPN drops their Future Power Rankings through 2027 and the Longhorns are sitting right there in the mix with the blue bloods and nobody wants to talk about it. The formula is simple when you break it down. Texas finished 4th in SP+ last season and that was with a roster that had to replace a first round pick at quarterback. The infrastructure is set. Sarkisian has this program recruiting at a top 5 level every single year and the 2026 class with the 5-star QB and the edge rusher is just the latest example of sustained talent acquisition.
The real story that nobody is connecting is the defensive trajectory. Texas finished 6th in the SEC in yards per play allowed last year but the underlying numbers tell a different story. The havoc rate was elite. The pressure numbers without blitzing were top 15 nationally. This defense is getting younger and more athletic at every level and the scheme is built to create negative plays. The secondary is young and growing. The front seven has multiple bodies that can win one on one matchups. That is how you build a defense that travels in the SEC.
People want to crown Georgia and Alabama every year based on history but the metrics are converging. Texas has a top 10 SP+ roster projection for 2026. The schedule sets up favorably. The quarterback situation is settled with a guy who has been in the system for two years now. The offensive line returns experience. The defensive backfield might actually be deeper than it was last season. This is not hope. This is math.
Mark my words: Texas finishes top 3 in the SEC in defensive SP+ in 2026 and nobody will be surprised by December. The foundation is already laid.