Steve Sarkisian’s Longhorns made a much-needed comeback against Sam Houston this weekend. After throwing 10 straight incompletions against UTEP, Arch Manning finally got his swagger back in this game. Throwing for 309 yards, he completed 18 of 21 passes with 3 touchdowns and even added 2 rushing touchdowns. Now, after getting the much-needed stability, the Longhorns are also eyeing the team’s future, and that’s exactly why they got the No. 2-ranked QB of the class of 2027, Kavian Bryant, into the campus.

Sam Spiegelman talked about Bryant’s inclination towards Texas on the Rivals podcast. The competition is still pretty stiff. “Texas is in search of its 2027 quarterback, and Kavian Bryant is at the top of the list. They offered over the summer and have continued to recruit Kavian at a very high clip. I agree with Steve. I think that Texas Tech right now is probably the favorite to keep Kavian Bryant inside the state, and Florida State made a sizable impression week one of the college football season, and I think they’re right there, besides the Red Raiders,” Sam said.

The Longhorns’ history of bringing in top-tier quarterbacks like Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers, and Dia Bell shows their recruiting dominance, and their elite camp in June also made things much easier for them, but FSU’s win against Alabama and Texas Tech’s strong 4-0 run this season might turn things around for them. But it’s not like Texas is losing its grip on him. As Spiegelman highlights, “Texas has been afloat in this race; at one point, they might have been the favorite before his junior season. There is a lot of confidence about their chances moving forward.”

Missing out on a player like Bryant would be a big blow. The Westwood High School athlete completed his sophomore season throwing for 2,442 yards, 34 TDs, and 146 interceptions on 146 pass attempts. Now, what makes him a perfect fit for the Longhorns’ offense is his dual-sport ability, as he plays both football and basketball, which makes his playmaking ability stronger in both arms and legs. And even his passing game is top-notch, which is a major concern for Manning.

But NIL might take away Steve Sarkisian’s hope. Who wouldn’t want to be part of a team that spends millions on its players? Just take Felix Ojo’s $5.1 million deal. Even Sam’s pointing at the same. “I think the Red Raiders are setting the pace here. I think Texas made a sizable move over the weekend to keep afloat, and he will head to SMU next. SMU has him, if not right at the top, very close to the top of their board for 2027. When I hear Texas Tech leads for anyone, I’ve got to think that NIL is going to be a major player here.” Meanwhile, Steve Sarkisian is already planning to flip a blue-chip recruit from a Big Ten heavy-hitter.

Steve Sarkisian keeping tabs on Jalen Lott

The Texas Longhorns are keeping heavy tabs on one of the top wide receivers in the 2026 recruiting class. Four-star Oregon commit Jalen Lott visited Austin on Saturday for Texas’ non-conference game against Sam Houston, according to Rivals’ Steve Wiltfong. Lott, a product of Panther Creek High School in Frisco, TX, has been committed to the Ducks since July 8, but Texas is emerging as a team to watch as the recruiting cycle moves forward.

This wouldn’t be the first time the Longhorns have beaten Oregon on the recruiting trail in 2026. Earlier this offseason, five-star edge Richard Wesley flipped from the Ducks to Texas after just over two weeks of commitment. Wesley cited both football and academics as reasons for his decision, telling Rivals’ Adam Gorney, “Not only football, but academically. They have great degrees, great business schools, and great schools, and so I felt like the decision was the best of both worlds. I get to play in the SEC, but I also get to walk out with a good degree.”

Lott’s finalist list before Oregon included Texas, Georgia, LSU, and USC, so the Longhorns aren’t strangers to his radar. With them hosting him in Austin and showing serious interest, Texas could land another big-time commit out of Oregon.