No. 5 Texas opens the 2026 season on Saturday against Texas State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, and the first snap already carries more weight than a normal opener. This is the start of the Arch Manning year, the one Texas has been building toward, and it arrives with a ranking high enough to invite expectation and enough uncertainty to make the first game matter.
That is why the matchup is drawing attention now. Texas is a 29.5-point favorite on FanDuel, but the number tells only part of the story. The game also gives Texas its first live test before a marquee matchup against Ohio State the following week, so what happens in Austin on Saturday will shape the conversation around Texas Football before September gets underway.
The roster around Manning looks different from a year ago. Texas added Cam Coleman from Auburn after he entered the transfer portal as the second-ranked player, and he brings more than 1,300 yards and 13 touchdowns over two seasons. The offense also added Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown at running back, Laurence Seymore at left guard and Melvin Siani at right tackle, while Rasheem Biles joins after a 100-tackle season and a reputation as a two-time All-ACC linebacker. Those additions were meant to patch the kind of holes that show up early, especially in an opener.
Steve Sarkisian has not hidden that he expects growing pains, and that is the part that makes Saturday more revealing than the point spread. Texas is trying to blend new pieces quickly while carrying the pressure that comes with being No. 5, and the coaching staff already cut one returning starter, Ty’Anthony Smith, from the squad. That is a clear sign the staff is willing to make hard decisions in pursuit of a cleaner fit, even if the first game shows the seams.
Texas State comes in with Brad Jackson at quarterback, and GJ Kinne, a former Texas quarterback, is on the other sideline. Radio coverage is available on Texassports.com, with broadcasts also on Sirius 132, XM 199 and App Ch. 953, and the forecast calls for sunny skies, 94 degrees and wind from the southeast at 4 mph. By the end of Saturday, Texas will know a lot more about whether the pieces around Manning are ready now, because Ohio State is waiting next week and the margin for a slow start is already thin.
