If you’re checking the apps to see what ranking is Texas Longhorns right now, you’re probably seeing two very different stories. One story is the final tally of the 2025 season—a year that felt like a wild roller coaster that eventually parked itself in Orlando. The other story is the "Way-Too-Early" hype for the 2026 season that has everyone in Austin checking their pulse.
Honestly, being a Longhorns fan in January is an exercise in patience. The football pads are in storage, the basketball team is grinding through a brutal SEC schedule, and the recruiting trail is basically a high-stakes poker game.
Where Texas Football Landed in the Final Polls
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: the 10-3 record.
Texas finished the 2025 season ranked No. 14 in the AP Poll and No. 13 in the final CFP Rankings. For a team that started the year at No. 1, that might feel like a letdown to some. But look at the context. They finished tied for fifth in the SEC—arguably the hardest conference to breathe in, let alone win.
They capped it all off by beating Michigan 41-27 in the Citrus Bowl. Arch Manning, taking the reins full-time, threw for over 3,100 yards and 26 touchdowns on the season. That bowl win wasn't just a trophy for the case; it was a statement. It showed that even when the "playoff or bust" dreams took a hit after losses to Georgia and Florida, Steve Sarkisian’s squad didn't just fold.
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- Final AP Rank: 14
- Final Coaches Rank: 14
- Final CFP Rank: 13
- Record: 10-3 (6-2 SEC)
The 2026 "Way-Too-Early" Hype is Real
So, why is everyone already talking about next year? Because the early 2026 projections are significantly higher than where Texas finished. Most analysts, including the crew over at Saturday Down South, have Texas pegged as the No. 5 team in the country for the 2026 preseason.
Some people think that's too high. They point to the fact that the defense is losing a massive chunk of its starting lineup to the NFL Draft. It's a fair concern. Replacing elite SEC-level edge rushers and defensive backs isn't something you do overnight.
But then you look at the recruiting.
As of mid-January 2026, the Texas Longhorns football recruiting ranking is sitting at No. 1 overall according to 247Sports’ combined team and portal rankings. They’ve been swapping the top spot back and forth with Notre Dame. They’ve already secured four five-star commits and a slew of four-stars. When you have that kind of talent coming in, the "rebuilding" phase usually looks more like a "reloading" phase.
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Basketball Season: Navigating the SEC Gauntlet
While the football talk is all about "next year," the basketball team is living in the "right now." And right now, it’s tough.
The Longhorns men’s basketball team is currently unranked in the AP Top 25 as of mid-January. They are sitting at an 11-6 overall record and 2-2 in conference play. In a league where Vanderbilt (16-0) and Arkansas (13-4) are suddenly world-beaters, Texas is fighting for its life in the middle of the pack.
The metrics aren't quite as bearish as the polls, though. Their NET ranking—which the selection committee loves—is hovering around the 120s, mostly because their non-conference schedule didn't give them many "quadrant 1" opportunities. They need a big upset win against someone like No. 10 Vanderbilt to jump back into the national conversation.
Current SEC Basketball Standings (Top Tier)
- Vanderbilt (16-0)
- Arkansas (13-4)
- Missouri (13-4)
- Texas A&M (13-4)
- Florida (12-5)
...
10. Texas (11-6)
What the Experts are Saying
Sarkisian has basically built a machine at this point. Even with the defensive departures, the offensive continuity with Manning is the reason the 2026 ranking is so high.
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"I might be the lowest on Texas out of everyone," says one analyst from Saturday Down South, yet they still have them at No. 5. That tells you everything. The floor for this program has been raised. A "bad" year is now 10 wins and a Citrus Bowl trophy. Ten years ago, Texas fans would have traded a lot for that kind of "disappointment."
The nuance here is the SEC schedule. In 2025, the losses to Georgia and Florida were the margin between a CFP berth and Orlando. In 2026, the schedule doesn't get any easier. You've got the Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma (who finished 10-3 themselves) and a massive road trip to face Ohio State early.
The Recruitment Power Shift
It’s interesting to watch how the NIL landscape has solidified things in Austin. The average NIL value for a blue-chip recruit at Texas is reportedly hovering around $178,000. That’s a lot of cheddar. It’s a big reason why they can lose half a defense to the NFL and still sit at No. 1 or No. 2 in the recruiting rankings.
They aren't just getting high school kids; they are surgical in the transfer portal. LSU currently leads the portal rankings, but Texas is right there in the top five.
What You Should Do Next
If you’re trying to keep up with the rankings, don't just look at the AP Poll. It’s a beauty contest.
- Watch the 247Sports Composite: This is the best way to see if the 2026 class stays at No. 1. If they land one more elite defensive lineman, that No. 5 preseason rank is going to look very solid.
- Monitor the NET Rankings for Basketball: If you're wondering if the hoops team will make the tournament, the NET is your best friend. They need to move from the 120s into the top 50 by March.
- Check the Spring Game Date: Usually in April, this will be your first look at the "new" defense. If the young guys look fast, the hype train for a 2026 National Championship run will leave the station.
The Longhorns aren't just a team; they're a brand that's currently trending up, even when the final scoreboards from last year don't show a "1" next to their name.