Texas Longhorns defensive back Jelani McDonald (4) celebrates a turnover on downs in the third quarter of the Texas Longhorns’ game against the Sam Houston State Bearkats at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Sept. 20, 2025.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
AUSTIN — While I got ya, here are nine things and one crazy prediction:
1. Good, but Sark wants better
Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian talks with Dallas Cowboys Head Coach Brian Schottenheimer during Texas Longhorns pro day on campus at the University of Texas, March 24, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Steve Sarkisian was very encouraged by Friday’s scrimmage but wasn’t thrilled with Tuesday’s spring football practice and said, “We can be a little bit better than we were today.” That’s about as strong as the sixth-year Texas head football coach ever goes in criticizing his team’s workouts. At the same time, he singled out specific players like strong safety Jelani McDonald, wide receiver Ryan Wingo and freshman defensive back Samari Matthews and his team’s ability to make explosive plays on both sides of the ball. With only five practices remaining, including the final practice April 18 that is open to the public, Sarkisian gave an overview so far. “We’ve got two weeks to go, and we got to keep pushing,” he said in a 30-minute session Tuesday with the media. “We got to keep going. That was kind of the message to the team. We had a really good scrimmage Friday night. We got to keep pushing to get better and we can’t settle. I was proud of their work, but I think we can be a little bit better. I want more.” … Texas will not hold a full Orange-White spring game on the final day but the public will be able to see “some drill work” and a scrimmage portion. I just think we’re at a point right now, especially at the line of scrimmage, where it’s hard to field two teams. But we’ll have plenty of competition, we’ll move the ball and we’ll tackle some on that day.” … When I asked him what areas the team has improved the most, Sarkisian said, “From an offensive perspective, our ability to create explosive plays is showing up. We’ve got real playmakers that know how to make people miss in the open field. We’ve got guys that can make plays on the ball. We’ve got versatile players that can do multiple things that challenge the defense that way. So that’s been very encouraging for me. On the flip side of that defensively, we’ve gotten better from week one. Our middle safeties are breaking on the ball. They’re making plays on the ball down the field. Our corners are making plays, whether that’s Kade Phillips, Samari, Jelani, who had a great interception today. Our ability to go get the football is going to be important for us.”
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Texas wide receiver Ryan Wingo hauls in a 29-yard touchdown reception against Texas A&M during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
Jason Fochtman/Houston Chronicle
2. Invisible man
When I asked Sarkisian if there was one or two MVPs of spring ball, he was hesitant to pick any. But he went out of his way to single out Wingo, who was a second-team All-SEC pick despite a team-high seven drops. “I feel like we’ve forgotten about Wingo. He had over 850 (834 actually) yards last year. We all loved Xavier (Worthy) when he was here. Xavier’s sophomore year, he had like 700 yards and all of a sudden it’s like we forgot about Ryan Wingo. He’s a really good player, and we’re fortunate to have him to go along with Cam (Coleman) and Emmett (Mosley V) and all the guys over there. As Ryan has been coming back into the field, it’s like, wow, this guy’s really good, and he continues to get better from where he was his freshman year.” Those three should be electric in ’26. … With the presence of Coleman, Texas should be able to avoid as many double-teams, and if opponents go to split safeties to complete coverage on both receivers, that should open up more running lanes on the second level. … Sarkisian said he had mixed feelings about the possibility the SEC championship game could go away if the College Football Playoff field expands to 16 teams or more and necessitates another round of playoffs. Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne has said the title game may have to be ended. “I’ve been fortunate to win a couple SEC titles at my previous spot (Alabama) and it’s a special moment. The idea that we could be moving away from not having that game seems a little odd because of the history of that game. I’m a big college football fan, so the idea we might be moving away from that is a little disappointing, but I understand it, too. If we continue to grow from a playoff perspective to 16 or 24 teams, it might not be the best thing to do.” The SEC game’s got to go. … Sark said he believes the Longhorns are “very athletic” at linebacker. He called Rasheem Biles “a real playmaker with great ball skills, great instincts and (great) pass coverage. His ability to rush the passer show ups. Justin Cryer is a real in-line linebacker. A tough, inside linebacker you like to have. Brad Spence has given us versatility at multiple spots. And Ty’Anthony Smith’s just starting to come back.” … Finally, Sark added that Arch Manning isn’t doing full team workouts but said he “threw some beautiful passes when we were doing good-on-good seven-on-seven. It was like wow. Coach (Blake) Gideon actually joked, ‘I thought that guy’s supposed to be out. He’s in a green jersey. So I’m seeing progress in Arch, too.”
Texas quarterback Arch Manning watches his former teammates during Texas Longhorns pro day on campus at the University of Texas, March 24, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
3. Way out on a limb
The Athletic couldn’t have gone further out on that limb when on Tuesday it picked Texas women’s basketball as its preseason No. 1 team to win it all next year. Uh, not so fast. That website was a little too fast on the draw because it wrote that “first-team All-American Madison Booker returns alongside rising juniors Justice Carlton and Jordan Lee plus senior center Breya Cunningham. Aaliyah Crump had a fantastic finish to her freshman season, and the Longhorns bring in three top-50 recruits.” Uh, Carlton and Crump are reportedly headed into the transfer portal although not yet officially entered, and some wonder if Lee and Cunningham will remain. The loss of Carlton and Crump would put a serious crimp in those expectations, but Vic Schaefer certainly will find more additions than the three McDonald’s All-Americans he has signed. He doesn’t really like relying on freshmen, however. … The Athletic rightfully wrote that “there is a core here that knows how to win, and especially knows how to defend, led by a fantastic No. 1 option. Even if Texas has disappointed in the last two national semifinals, if the baseline for the Longhorns is making it to the Final Four then they deserve the top ranking heading into next season.” Because I have so much faith in the stability and consistency of Schaefer’s program, I’d consider his Longhorns a top-five preseason team until proven otherwise. But I occasionally wonder if Schaefer will ever win one. It came as no surprise that Carlton, the sophomore power forward from Seven Lakes, was considering leaving since she made her future plans very clear in the locker room in Phoenix after Texas lost to UCLA in the Final Four semifinals. And Crump never seemed all that joyful on the court. Schaefer was particularly hard on Carlton for defensive lapses and occasional shot selection. Too hard, in my mind. I never really understood it because she has so much upside and plays with such fearlessness that Schaefer should have done everything in his power to keep her. He’s often mentioned her fearlessness and physicality. But you can now expect to see her at another SEC program, maybe Vanderbilt or LSU. Until they leave, Texas should counter with big NIL money. … Now we all know Texas is hardly the only program that loses players to the portal. Heck, Tennessee’s women’s team lost so many — eight in total — the Lady Vols have only one player left on Kim Caldwell’s roster. … But it doesn’t speak well of the program that both Carlton and Crump are thinking about leaving a team that came within eight points of playing for a national championship. Schaefer just may be too tough on this team. Saying how proud he was of the team and how special they are doesn’t necessarily mean they are happy. Apparently some were not. … I feel confident, however, in saying Schaefer will find a way, and he’ll have Texas back in the Final Four again if not multiple more times. But this was admittedly his best team packed with experience, weapons and a defensive mindset that was the best in the country. He told us minutes after his team lost to UCLA in the semifinals that this defeat would probably haunt him “until the day that I die.” I can’t help but wonder if his own stubbornness gets in his way at times. Like benching Rori Harmon for entire fourth quarters in losses to LSU and Vanderbilt — the same Harmon whom he chastised the media for excluding from All-American honors. Like pulling Carlton for the fourth quarter against the Bruins after her three buckets in the third had closed the gap and put Texas back in the game, and barking at her on the bench. Like not playing Crump more. Listen, he’s an elite coach. There’s no denying that. But he hasn’t been able to get it done yet and still finds him on the outside of that exclusive club of just four active women’s basketball coaches with a national championship. And that has to kill him.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer talks to forward Justice Carlton (11) during the NCAA Final Four game against UCLA at the Mortgage Matchup Center on Friday, April 3, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
4. Speaking of that club …
Geno Auriemma did such a disservice to Dawn Staley and South Carolina, to UConn and to the game by going on a rampage and confronting one of the game’s brightest stars (and maybe a threat to his own rule) in a heated exchange during the postgame handshake line. Then, in his half-baked apology, he never mentioned Staley by name. And it was a statement, not comments. Did the university make him apologize? Sounded like it. So 12 national titles weren’t enough for him? Where’s the humility? When he was winning a dozen crowns, don’t you think some of the coaches he beat felt the Huskies got favorable officiating calls? His poor display of unsportsmanlike conduct was reprehensible. Was glad to hear the two have since spoken, but Staley’s always going to take the high road.
South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, left, and UConn head coach Geno Auriemma argue after a woman’s NCAA college basketball tournament semifinal game at the Final Four, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Rick Scuteri/AP
5. Wow, is Michigan ever a worthy national champion
Wow. The Wolverines drubbed an outstanding Arizona team and then they held off a tough UConn team despite hitting just two 3-pointers all night and shooting just 38% overall. Of course, going 25 of 28 from the line helps. … And speaking of transfers, Michigan started five transfers, including Most Outstanding Player Elliott Cadeau, who left North Carolina, and became the first team to start all transfers. Of course, now that doesn’t even surprise us. … Love Ian Eagle as a play-by-play broadcaster. He had a terrific line after Michigan’s All-American Yaxel Lendeborg nailed a 3-pointer and said “a triple Yaxel.” … Was also so impressed by Lendeborg’s halftime comments where he called himself “weak” and “soft.” Talk about a winner. … It won’t surprise me if the Wolverines repeat next year. … The Final Four was a bit of a clunker compared to the rest of the tournament, which was fantastic.
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6. Don’t sleep on Sean Miller’s club, either
Yes, we still don’t know if Dailyn Swain or Matas Vokietaitis are returning to Austin. But one source tells me the 6-foot-8 Swain will only leave if the playmaker is considered to be among the top 20 picks in this summer’s NBA draft. If he’s regarded as a first-rounder, I can’t imagine his staying although his perimeter shot and careless turnovers could use some work. Vokietaitis told me and buddy Cedric Golden at the airport a week ago on his way to Las Vegas that he wasn’t sure if he’d come back or not, but that source believes the 7-foot center will be back. If those two do return, coupled with recruits Austin Goosby and Bo Ogden, Texas could be very strong. In fact, ESPN’s early look at next year’s preseason top 25 ranks the Longhorns No. 13, which seems way too high. Sean Miller has to be relieved his team finished so strong, reaching the Sweet 16 and finished ranked 22nd in the Top 25.
7. Things I think I know
I think Jim Schlossnagle will get an extra, uh, warm welcome back at College Station this week. Might want to stay in the dugout all weekend, Jim. … I think Texas and Oklahoma could decide the SEC softball title in their Austin series this week (unless Alabama proves otherwise) and that Longhorn first baseman Katie Stewart will have plenty to say about it. She has 20 home runs on the season for the second year in a row, and Reese Atwood just needs five more to post three straight seasons with 20 dingers. … I think I’m not surprised that former Longhorn and Chicago Bear Hall of Fame Steve McMichael has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy after his death at age 67 last year after a five-year battle with ALS, and I’m proud of the family to donate his brain to further much-needed research. … I think I still love “One Shining Moment” and have since the first time I heard it. The NCAA Tournament wouldn’t be complete without it. … I think the Yankees just might be good after all, especially if Gerrit Cole returns. Allowing eight runs in the first seven games of the season is encouraging. … So are the Astros’ bats. Yordan Alvarez is on the way back.
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Texas starting pitcher Blaire Luna pitches against Tennessee in the first inning of their Women’s College World Series NCAA softball game in Oklahoma City, Sunday, June 2, 2013.
Austin American-Statesman
8. Scattershooting
While wondering whatever happened to Blaire Luna, who once threw a no-hitter for Texas. I learned that last week’s target, former Texas guard Kenton Paulino, is an associate head basketball coach at Wichita State.
9. On the couch
Watched “War Machine” with youngest son, Zach, home for a short visit. The sci-fi combat movie seems almost too real and not all that futuristic to be honest. It stars Alan Ritchson, who plays Jack Reacher and ought to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys. Was pretty good but felt like it ended too soon. Gave it 6 ducks.
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Crazy prediction
Jim Schlossnagle will wear ear plugs, a safety vest and a hard hat at Blue Bell Park.