Texas is poised to thrive in the years ahead.
Joel Klatt is confident that the Texas Longhorns football program is poised for sustained success under head coach Steve Sarkisian. Reflecting on the team’s impressive performance over the past two seasons, Klatt stated that Texas is “back” and firmly established as a powerhouse that isn’t fading away anytime soon.
During his show following the College Football Playoff (CFP) semifinals, Klatt praised Sarkisian and the Longhorns for their recent achievements. “What a year for Texas. It really was,” Klatt said. “Sark is not going anywhere, and this program is not going anywhere.” His confidence in Texas stems from three main reasons: their recent playoff appearances, their strong debut in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), and the promising future of their quarterback position.
Over the past two seasons, Texas has reached the CFP semifinals twice, compiling an impressive overall record of 25-5. While the team has yet to advance to the championship game, Klatt highlighted their consistent ability to contend on college football’s biggest stage. “That is two straight trips to the national semifinal,” Klatt emphasized. “Last year, they narrowly lost to Washington in a tight game, with a late opportunity inside the ten-yard line. This year, it was a similar story another close loss in the semifinal.
For a program that spent the better part of the past decade outside the national title conversation, these back-to-back postseason appearances mark a dramatic turnaround and reaffirm their place among the elite programs in college football.
Texas transitioned to the SEC this season, widely regarded as the most competitive conference in college football, and immediately proved they belonged. The Longhorns posted a 7-1 conference record and earned a spot in the SEC Championship game, an impressive feat for their first year in this new environment.
“They’ve positioned themselves as one of the top teams in the SEC,” Klatt noted. “While they didn’t win the SEC title, they’re right there at the top in their first year. I don’t see them taking any steps backward in the SEC anytime soon.
Looking ahead, the Longhorns have even more reasons for optimism, particularly with the arrival of highly touted quarterback Arch Manning. Manning’s potential as the team’s future leader has generated considerable excitement among fans and analysts alike. Klatt also addressed the possibility of current starting quarterback Quinn Ewers declaring for the NFL Draft, a move that could clear the path for Manning to step into the spotlight.
“It looks like Arch is the guy moving forward,” Klatt said. “There’s talk of Quinn Ewers heading to the NFL, and with Arch waiting in the wings, Texas is in a great position at quarterback.
The Longhorns have now posted back-to-back double-digit win seasons, a feat they hadn’t achieved since their dominant run at the end of the 2000s. Klatt sees this recent success as a sign of what’s to come for the program. With a solid foundation under Sarkisian, a strong presence in the SEC, and a future star in Arch Manning, Texas appears to be on a trajectory that could sustain their return to prominence for years to come.
In Klatt’s words, Texas is no longer just “back” they’re here to stay.
