Peyton couldn’t do it at Tennessee. Eli couldn’t do it at Ole Miss. Neither could Archie. As the spotlight is now fixed on a new generation, we ask the question: Can Texas’ Arch Manning become the first in his family to bring home the Heisman Trophy?

The younger Manning teased his potential throughout 2025, his first full season as a starter under center. He threw for 26 touchdowns to seven interceptions and added another 10 scores with his legs. He even caught a TD for good measure. The possible No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft rolls into Austin with tremendous hype. He’s certainly not alone.

Through talent development and the transfer portal, Steve Sarkisian has assembled a roster that aims to conquer the College Football Playoff. Edge rusher Colin Simmons returns after he led the SEC in sacks as a sophomore. Wide receiver Cam Coleman, who joined the Longhorns from Auburn, is The Athletic’s top-ranked transfer. Former Pitt linebacker Rasheem Biles is already on the Butkus Award watch list. If elite offensive tackle Trevor Goosby can stay healthy, Texas should have enough pieces to hang with anyone in the SEC.

Consider this your TV guide to the 2026 regular season. Don’t forget to follow the team on The Athletic, if you’re not already tapped in. Keep up with the sport at large by subscribing to five-star newsletter Until Saturday. And for podcasts, “The Audible with Stew, Bruce & Ralph” is an unstoppable wishbone backfield.

You can watch college football live on Fubo (Stream Free Now).

What makes Arch Manning such a polarizing prospect?

Sam Khan Jr.

Texas’ 2026 schedule
Saturday, Sept. 5 — vs. Texas State, 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CT on ESPN
Saturday, Sept. 12 — vs. Ohio State, 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC
Saturday, Sept. 19 — vs. UTSA, 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT on SEC Network+
Saturday, Sept. 26 — at Tennessee, noon ET / 11 a.m. CT on ABC or ESPN
Saturday, Oct. 10 — vs. Oklahoma, 3:30 p.m. ET / 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC or ESPN (at Cotton Bowl)
Saturday, Oct. 17 — vs. Florida, early window
Saturday, Oct. 24 — vs. Ole Miss, flex window (afternoon or night)
Saturday, Oct. 31 — vs. Mississippi State, night window
Saturday, Nov. 7 — at Missouri, early window
Saturday, Nov. 14 — at LSU, flex window (afternoon or night)
Saturday, Nov. 21 — vs. Arkansas, afternoon window
Friday, Nov. 27 — at Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC

We don’t know the exact start times or TV channels for every game yet, but the SEC has revealed the windows for all its matchups. Early games are set from noon to 1 p.m. ET, late-afternoon games start at 3:30-4:30 p.m. ET, and night games kick off between 6 and 8 p.m ET. A flex window also exists between the afternoon and night slots.

Official broadcasts will be announced no later than six days ahead of kickoff.

In nonconference action, it’s Texas’ turn to host in the home-and-home series versus Ohio State. The Buckeyes beat the then-No. 1 Longhorns 14-7 in Columbus last August. This year, Manning’s squad is No. 5 in the preseason AP poll, while OSU is No. 1 behind Julian Sayin and Jeremiah Smith.

UT jumps right into its conference slate with a tough test at Tennessee, then its famed Red River Rivalry with Oklahoma. Because that game is at a neutral site, Texas plays just one true road contest through the month of October. However, the Longhorns are away for three of their final four games, including the tense Lone Star Showdown on Black Friday. College Station will surely be in the holiday spirit.

SEC TV partners

Main channels: ABC, ESPN, SEC Network
Other channels: ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN+, SECN+

SEC football broadcasts are covered by Disney’s long reach, with an ABC/ESPN deal running through 2033-34. ESPN also operates the SEC Network in partnership with the conference. All 12 of the Longhorns’ regular-season matchups fall on SEC TV partners.

The “ABC Saturday Night Football” centerpiece usually features an SEC brand name, with play-by-play announcer Chris Fowler and analyst Kirk Herbstreit on the call alongside reporter Holly Rowe. The Ohio State game gets that Saturday night treatment on Sept. 12. ESPN’s “College GameDay,” now in its 40th season, will be on campus to build the buzz.

“SEC Nation” is ESPN’s traveling pregame program. New host Matt Barrie anchors a desk with Chase Daniel, Paul Finebaum, Roman Harper and Tim Tebow.

The conference championship game is set for Saturday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m. ET on ABC.

What you’ll need to watch: ABC is free over the air. ESPN, SEC Network and their subsidiaries are included in most pay TV sports packages. They also stream with ESPN Unlimited.

WR Cam Coleman — The former five-star recruit from Phenix City, Ala., caught 56 passes for 708 yards and five touchdowns on an Auburn offense that ranked 15th in the SEC in passing yards per game. Brugler ranks Coleman No. 2 among draft-eligible receivers behind Jeremiah Smith.

Edge Colin Simmons — In two collegiate seasons, Simmons has produced 105 pressures — fifth-most nationally — with 29.5 tackles for loss and 21 sacks. The former five-star recruit has also forced six fumbles, tied for most among FBS defensive linemen, according to TruMedia. Simmons is Brugler’s No. 2 draft-eligible edge rusher and 10th on the Freaks List.

Texas’ last five seasons
2021 — 5-7
2022 — 8-5, lost Alamo Bowl vs. Washington
2023 — 12-2, lost CFP semifinal (Sugar Bowl vs. Washington)
2024* — 13-3, lost CFP semifinal (Cotton Bowl vs. Ohio State)
2025 — 10-3, won Citrus Bowl vs. Michigan

*Texas’ SEC debut season

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