Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) talks to receiver Cam Coleman (8) during practice on fan day at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
For the Texas football team, this is a game week. Finally.
Last week, however, was a mock week. When it came to its schedule and practices, Texas acted as if a game was happening. The team even stayed in a hotel Friday and went through its pregame routine Saturday.
Article continues below this ad
MORE: Subscribe to the Statesman’s Texas sports newsletter
The concept of a mock week isn’t new, but it may have served a greater purpose for the Longhorns this season. As head coach Steve Sarkisian pointed out Monday as UT prepared for Saturday’s opener against Texas State, the Longhorns welcomed nearly 50 newcomers into their program this offseason.
“When you look at 48 scholarship additions on our roster, how we go about a game week is new to them. It’s foreign to them,” Sarkisian said. “I thought the mock week was very important.”
Two of the newcomers that partook in their first mock week at Texas were transfer receivers Cam Coleman and Sterling Berkhalter. The same could be said for freshmen pass catchers Jermaine Bishop Jr., Kohen Brown and Chris Stewart.
Article continues below this ad
NO. 5 TEXAS VS. TEXAS STATE
When/where: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Royal-Memorial Stadium
TV/radio: ESPN; 1300 AM, 98.1 FM.
Those fresh faces in the Texas receiving corps will look to emerge in a passing attack that returns a Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Arch Manning. Ryan Wingo, who led the Longhorns with 54 receptions, 834 receiving yards and seven touchdown catches is back. The Longhorns also retained the services of Emmett Mosley V after his 28-catch season that included a game-winning touchdown at Mississippi State.
Texas, though, still needs to replace 57.4% of last season’s receptions. That’s where someone like Coleman, an Auburn transfer and possible first-round draft pick, is expected to emerge.
MORE: Arch Manning hosted Texas football WRs in New Orleans. Here’s where they ate
Article continues below this ad
Coleman and his fellow newcomers, however, will head into the opener without an established connection with Manning. Sure, there have been practices — Manning was limited during the spring as he recovered from foot surgery — and a trip the receivers took to see their quarterback in New Orleans this summer, but that’s different than a game.
On Monday, Sarkisian was asked what’s the key to a quarterback developing a rapport with a new receiver. A former quarterback himself who transferred to BYU before his junior year, Sarkisian insisted that off-field work is as important as on-field reps.
“Ryan and Arch and Emmett and Arch, they’ve got banked reps,” Sarkisian said. “Cam, I give him a lot of credit, he’s been very intentional to be close to Arch, and I think Arch has been intentional with him as well because they know they’ve got some ground to make up. I think their rapport is really good. I would say time on task (is important), physical and non-physical time on task of just being with one another.”
Texas wide receiver Cam Coleman (8) catches a pass while running drills during Longhorns football practice at Frank Denius Fields in Austin, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.
Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman
Texas QB Arch Manning: ‘Cam wants to be great’
When asked the same question as his coach, Manning later echoed Sarkisian’s sentiments. “(It’s) definitely really important building rapport,” he said. Manning later told reporters that Coleman responds well to criticism, which is something he learned while spending time with the receiver during the offseason.
Article continues below this ad
“Cam wants to be great, which is a good thing,” Manning said. “He takes coaching well. I can yell at him. I can also say whatever I want to him. He doesn’t care. He wants to be great. So it’s nice having that.
MORE: Traffic, parking and cowboys? What these new Texas Longhorns think about Austin
What’s something that Manning has learned about Coleman off the field?
Article continues below this ad
“He’s really just a really normal, nice guy. Treats everyone with respect,” Manning said. “His brother (Bobby) is also a quarterback. He’s going into his senior year, I think he’s committed to Georgia State. He comes from a good family, and I’m excited to see what he can do this year.”
The connection that UT has tried to establish this offseason will be on display when Texas hosts Texas State. Last season, the Bobcats ranked 61st nationally with the 218.1 passing yards they allowed per game.