Paul Finebaum says Texas must play for the national title in 2026 as Steve Sarkisian bets big on Arch Manning, the portal and Will Muschamp.
The Texas Longhorns, Steve Sarkisian and Arch Manning are entering the 2026 college football season with nowhere to hide.
ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum has already delivered the verdict that Texas must compete for the national championship, or the year will be remembered as a massive disappointment.
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That’s a brutal standard. It’s also becoming increasingly difficult to argue against it.
Texas hasn’t built a roster designed merely to reach the College Football Playoff.
The Longhorns have assembled a team intended to survive the SEC, beat college football’s biggest brands and play deep into January.
Sarkisian has pushed nearly every available chip into the middle of the table.
Texas reportedly spent more money on transfer-portal talent than any other program in the country, adding experienced players to a roster that was already loaded with NFL potential.
Sarkisian also brought former Auburn head coach and accomplished defensive coordinator Will Muschamp back to Austin to oversee the defense.
Then there’s Manning.
Few college quarterbacks have carried this much attention before becoming a full-time national championship contender.
His famous last name guarantees headlines, but the expectations surrounding him are about more than family history.
Manning has the arm talent, mobility and supporting cast to become one of the defining players of the 2026 season.
That’s exactly why Finebaum’s declaration carries some weight.
Texas can’t sell patience anymore. Not with Manning under center. Not after attacking the transfer portal. Not with a roster that could potentially produce four top-10 NFL Draft selections.
And certainly not after hiring Muschamp to strengthen a defense expected to compete with the best units in the SEC.
This isn’t a rebuilding project. It’s a championship operation.
But calling Texas the most talented team in the country doesn’t erase the minefield waiting on its schedule.
The Longhorns must travel to face Texas A&M, Tennessee and LSU. They’ll meet Oklahoma in Dallas and host Ohio State in another matchup with major playoff implications.
There are no comfortable stretches and very few Saturdays on which Texas can afford to look ordinary.
That schedule should provide Sarkisian with some protection against the ridiculous belief that a championship-caliber team must go undefeated.
Texas could lose twice, survive the SEC race and still emerge as a legitimate national title threat.
But there’s a difference between losing difficult games and wasting an elite roster.
Nobody should be talking about firing Sarkisian if Texas reaches the playoff and loses a competitive quarterfinal or semifinal.
College football’s expanded postseason creates too much volatility for a championship to become the only acceptable outcome.
Still, Finebaum’s larger point is impossible to ignore.
Texas has spent like a champion. It has recruited like a champion. It has promoted its quarterback like a champion. At some point, the Longhorns must actually become one.
Winning nine games and appearing in a respectable bowl would be a failure. Sneaking into the playoff before getting exposed would feel hollow.
Even another encouraging season ending with promises about “taking the next step” would test the patience of a fan base that has heard enough long-term plans.
Sarkisian doesn’t necessarily have to lift the trophy to prove Texas is moving forward. He does, however, need the Longhorns to look capable of winning it from September through the postseason.
Texas wanted the SEC spotlight. It recruited the famous quarterback, collected expensive reinforcements and assembled one of America’s most intimidating rosters.
Now comes the uncomfortable part. The Longhorns have to win.
