Texas football is a religion, and honestly, the answer to who is winning the Texas game depends entirely on when you're asking. If you are looking for a live score right now on January 16, 2026, the short answer is: nobody. We are deep in the heart of the offseason. The pads are off. The stadium lights at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium are dimmed. But if you’re asking who is winning the broader "Texas game"—the recruiting wars, the NIL battles, and the fight for SEC dominance—the answer is clearly Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns.
Texas is winning. They've been winning since they made the leap to the SEC and proved they weren't just a "big name" brand, but a legitimate powerhouse that could go toe-to-toe with the likes of Georgia and Alabama.
People get obsessed with the scoreboard, and rightfully so. But in the modern era of college football, the "game" is played 365 days a year. It’s played in the transfer portal. It’s played in donor boardrooms. It’s played in the weight room during these grueling winter months. When you look at the trajectory of the program compared to where it was a few years ago, the "winning" isn't just about a single Saturday afternoon in Austin; it’s about a complete cultural overhaul.
Why the Longhorns are currently dominating the landscape
Sarkisian has built something that finally feels sustainable. For a decade, Texas was the laughingstock of "is Texas back?" memes. Not anymore. They’re winning because they’ve stabilized the quarterback room. Whether it was the era of Quinn Ewers or the transition into the Arch Manning chapter, the Longhorns have managed something most programs fail at: a seamless succession plan.
Think about the depth. Most teams lose a starting quarterback and their season goes off the rails. Texas loses a guy and plugs in a five-star prodigy who looks like he was born to play in this system. That is how you win the long game. They aren't just winning games; they are winning the perception battle. When a recruit looks at Texas now, they don't see a "sleeping giant." They see a giant that is wide awake and currently eating everyone else's lunch.
The SEC factor and the shift in power
The move to the SEC was supposed to be a wake-up call for Texas. Critics said they weren't physical enough. They said the trenches would be their undoing. Instead, Texas went into Tuscaloosa and Athens and proved that they could out-physical the most physical teams in the country.
Winning in the SEC isn't just about talent. It's about depth. You need three deep at every position because the attrition in this league is brutal. Texas has used the portal effectively—not as a crutch, but as a scalpel. They find the exact piece they need—a twitchy edge rusher, a reliable deep-threat wideout—and they slot them in.
Understanding the "winning" metrics beyond the score
If we look at the 2025 season stats that just wrapped up, the efficiency ratings were off the charts. Texas finished near the top of the country in offensive EPA (Expected Points Added). Their defense, once a liability, turned into a unit that suffocated opponents in the red zone.
But honestly, the real win is the NFL Draft. Look at how many Longhorns are now hearing their names called in the first two rounds. That is the ultimate recruiting tool. If you want to know who is winning the Texas game, look at the Sunday rosters. When you see former Longhorns dominating at the next level, high school kids notice.
- Recruiting Rankings: Consistently top 5 nationally.
- NIL Valuation: Among the highest in the country, thanks to a massive, wealthy alumni base.
- Coaching Stability: Sarkisian has become one of the highest-paid and most secure coaches in the sport.
The "Texas game" is also a reference to the internal battle for the state. For a while, Texas A&M had the momentum. They had the 2022 recruiting class that everyone talked about. But momentum is fickle. Texas reclaimed the throne by winning on the field. The head-to-head matchups and the overall records have tilted heavily back toward Austin.
The Arch Manning effect
You can't talk about who is winning without mentioning the Manning family. Having Arch on campus changed the gravity of the program. It brought a level of professional scrutiny and media attention that most college kids couldn't handle. But the way the staff managed the "quarterback controversy" that never actually became a controversy was a coaching masterclass. They kept everyone happy. They kept the locker room focused.
That’s a win. Managing egos in the NIL era is harder than calling a play on 3rd and 9.
What to look for in the coming months
Since there is no actual game on the field today, the "win" is happening in the dark. It's the 5:00 AM workouts. It's the film sessions.
The next big "Texas game" will be the Spring Game. That’s when we get the first look at the new enrollees. We get to see which freshmen have actually put on the "SEC weight" and who is still playing like they're in high school. Expect the media circus to be at an all-time high.
There’s also the schedule to consider. The SEC isn't getting any easier. Every week is a gauntlet. To keep winning, Texas has to avoid the "trap game" mentality that plagued them during the late Big 12 years. They used to play down to their competition. In the SEC, if you play down, you get buried.
Actionable steps for the dedicated Longhorn fan
If you want to stay on top of who is winning the Texas game throughout the 2026 offseason, you can't just check ESPN once a week. You have to be more granular.
- Monitor the "Inside Texas" and "247Sports" boards. This is where the real info on spring practice injuries and standout performers leaks out.
- Follow the strength and conditioning progress. Keep an eye on the social media clips coming out of the weight room. Look for the guys who are transforming their frames—this is usually the best indicator of who will break out in the fall.
- Track the Transfer Portal windows. The spring window is crucial. If Texas loses depth at linebacker or offensive tackle, that’s a "loss" in the offseason game. If they snag a disgruntled starter from another SEC powerhouse, that’s a massive win.
- Secure your tickets early. With the way the program is trending, the secondary market for 2026 home games is going to be astronomical. If you aren't already on the season ticket waitlist or checking the donation requirements, you're going to be priced out by August.
The reality is that Texas is currently the gold standard for how to transition into a new era of college football. They’ve embraced the chaos of NIL, the pressure of the SEC, and the weight of massive expectations without folding. As of right now, in the grand scheme of college football, Texas isn't just winning the game—they're changing how it's played.
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Stay tuned to the spring practice reports starting in March. That is when the next chapter of "winning" truly begins to take shape on the grass. Keep an eye on the offensive line development specifically; that will be the unit that determines if Texas stays at the top of the mountain or slips back into the pack.