Texas football with Steve Sarkisian is surfing a wave that’s half swagger, half substance. The burnt orange faithful are abuzz, and not merely due to the on-field pyrotechnics. Sarkisian, who was once a name spoken in doubt, is now a headliner. ESPN recently ranked him No. 5 among college football coaches, and some inside the game even ranked him as high as No. 2. Sarkisian has redefined the culture from the inside out. The team recently achieved a program-best 3.31 GPA, a wide contrast to the 2.33 average upon his arrival. Every player achieved a minimum of a 3.0. Sarkisian isn’t merely constructing for the present; he’s building the foundation for Texas to be a perennial powerhouse, one class at a time.

Sarkisian’s recruitment game is blazing. He’s bringing in blue-chippers straight out of high school and expertly navigating the transfer portal, adding depth and talent at each spot. The 2026 recruiting class? Early reports have it as another top-class pickup, with Texas already generating headlines with offers to elite prospects like four-star running back Carsyn Baker. It’s also how Sarkisian is building for the future. Consider, for instance, the hiring of Dia Bell, the much-ballyhooed 2026 quarterback from Florida.

If you tuned in to that recent “On Texas Football” interview, you would know that Dia’s not all about his own game. “Most of the time, for me up there now it’s more recruiting-based,” says Dia Bell. “I hang out with the guys that we would like to get there along with me, and I’d like to play with them. So, um, I mean I learn little stuff throughout practice,” he adds. Taking on a voice of leadership, and that’s carrying over into recruitment.

Dia straight-up told us that when he comes to Austin these days, it’s not so much about getting to know the campus and more about getting to know guys Texas wants to recruit; he’s recruiting the guys he wants to play with. That’s top-shelf buy-in.

Dia mentioned how he’s been in constant chat with other top prospects, like Germaine Bishop (the elite slot receiver who just committed), Chris Stewart, Max Wright, and more. “I’ve always been a big fan of Germaine’s. You know, we’ve talked for a long time now, and I’ve always been recruiting him pretty heavily.”

He also adds, “You know, we’re trying to build it off of that to win national championship.” Dia’s not a bystander; he’s in their ears, hyping the vision for Texas, talking about constructing a No. 1 recruiting class, and pursuing national titles. He even mentioned getting the feeling Bishop was committing before it was public, which speaks volumes about how plugged in he is.

What’s even better? Dia wrote that Texas has “cool school” status again. Florida (and the rest of them) guys are talking about the Longhorns, and a lot of that is due to the SEC move and the buzz around the program. But having a five-star quarterback as the face of the class and recruiting with the coaches is a total game-changer.

Arch Manning’s proven production

From the way Dia Bell is already influencing the 2026 recruiting class, let’s discuss the other major storyline in Austin: Steve Sarkisian making life miserable for Arch Manning. And believe me, it’s not just your typical “QB1 pressure”-it’s Texas-sized. Arch Manning, the golden son with that famous last name, through 10 games in 2024, has completed 939 yards and 9 touchdowns, with only 2 interceptions, completing almost 68% of his attempts.

Manning finally has the keys to the Longhorns’ offense after two seasons of waiting in the wings behind Quinn Ewers. The hype’s been crazy, but Sarkisian isn’t simply turning it over to him and letting him ride. Nope, Sark’s new message was unmistakable: Manning needs to be a leader, not only a playmaker.

And the schedule? There’s Ohio State in Columbus, first. That’s baptism by fire if there ever was one. The national media are already sniffing around, waiting to determine if Arch is the real thing or just another hype job name. Sarkisian’s testy about more than numbers; he wants to watch Arch take charge of the huddle, motivate the team, and come through in the clutch like Ewers did last season.