College football Week 1: Top questions for LSU, Texas football and more | Golden, Bohls
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The Texas Longhorns begin their journey toward what they hope will be a deep College Football Playoff run come the winter but first they navigate a tough regular season schedule that begins with Saturday home opener against Texas State.
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What do the Longhorns need to do to reach those heights? Columnists Cedric Golden and Kirk Bohls are back to share their weekly thoughts on the biggest storylines of the upcoming college football weekend. They also tackle questions such as: Who is a dark-horse Heisman candidate? Which highly ranked team will disappoint this season? Was Marcel Reed smart to trash-talk Texas?
Here's what they said:
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) catches a snap in the first quarter of the Citrus Bowl against the Michigan Wolverines at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, Dec. 31, 2025. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)1. What two areas of Texas football need to improve the most for the Longhorns to have a killer season?
GOLDEN: First, the run game needs to pop like a hot bag of Act II on its second minute in the microwave. And if that happens, quarterback Arch Manning will supply the "butter" in what could be a special season. Texas averaged 4.1 yards per carry last season, which ranked a pedestrian 90th in the country. This roster doesn't house a Bijan Robinson but newcomers Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown will provide the big-play element behind a retooled offensive line.
Speaking of the line, the administrative penalties will have to come way down if Texas is to get back in the playoff and make some serious noise. If Trevor Goosby is good to go, as Steve Sarkisian said in his Thursday media sessio,n and new additions Laurence Seymore and Melvin Siani live up to expectations, the Horns will soar in 2025.
MORE CEDDY: How will the Horns fare in 2026? Check out my predictions
BOHLS: Steve Sarkisian must upgrade his offensive line and be in the top 30 for fewest penalties. Those are the most critical factors entering 2026. The line should be better unless Trevor Goosby's bone bruise is worse than everyone thinks and transfers Melvin Siani, Laurence Seymore III and Dylan Sikorski are less than advertised. All will play Saturday. Texas ranked 132nd in penalties with 108 last year and had 102 the year before. National champion Indiana ranked second and previous champs Ohio State and Michigan ranked 16th and third.
Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian yells instructions during practice on fan day at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Aril 18, 2026 in Austin. (Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman)2. Which Longhorn player will play the biggest role in Saturday's season opener against Texas State?
GOLDEN: Look no further than QB1. The Texas State secondary struggled at times against the pass last season as opposing quarterbacks completing 66% of their passes against the Cats with 23 touchdowns and just nine interceptions. Expect wideouts Cam Coleman and Ryan Wingo to combine for three touchdown catches while Manning goes over 300 yards in a 44-17 win.
BOHLS: It starts at the top. Arch Manning will go off. He has said multiple times this summer he needs to get off to a fast start, unlike last year. So put him down for four touchdowns, one on the ground, in a 45-14 romp over the Bobcats.
MORE HORNS:Betting lines, predictions for Texas-Texas State
3. Has LSU's squabble with the SEC and all of college football made Lane Kiffin Public Enemy No. 1? Will his constant distractions hurt or galvanize the Tigers?
GOLDEN: There is an argument that can be made that Kiffin's actions will create some sort of bunker mentality entering the season opener against Clemson but I don't buy it. This rage against the NCAA machine is pointless and if anything, it has served to take away from college football fans' enthusiasm surrounding a huge opening weekend. Kiffin's actions are those of a wannabe anti-hero. This narcissistic approach is creating unnecessary noise that can only hurt his team.
BOHLS: Kiffin may be public enemy Nos. 1, 2 and 3. Maybe 4. Where's Urban Meyer when you need him? I think they will hurt his LSU team because Lane can't help himself. He has to be in the spotlight, and that is rarely good.
LSU linebacker Whit Weeks (left) and head football coach Lane Kiffin walk down victory hill before fall practice at Tiger Stadium on Aug. 29, 2026 in Baton Rouge, La. (Gus Stark/LSU/University Images via Getty Imag)4. Most everyone agrees the national champion could come from a group of eight with three Big Ten teams Ohio State, Oregon and Indiana; Georgia and Texas from the SEC; the ACC's Miami and Big 12's Texas Tech and Notre Dame. Who outside of those could crash that party and win it all?
GOLDEN: I wouldn't sleep on the Virginia Cavaliers in the ACC. The Cavs went 11-3 last season and finished with seven straight wins. Quarterback Beau Pribola debuted last week with a relatively quiet 155 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the 34-8 blowout of North Carolina State but there is a feeling in Charlottesville that the Cavaliers are poised to do damage this fall.
BOHLS: Going to go way out on a limb and say BYU. The Cougars hung onto head coach Kalani Sitake despite Penn State's flirtations, tout top returning quarterback Bear Bachmeier (3,033 yards) and running back L.J. Martin (1,305 yards as the Big 12 offensive player of the year) and have one of the easiest schedules with only Notre Dame at home and no Texas Tech or Houston on the slate.
5. Did Texas A&M quarterback Marcel Reed do himself any favors by spouting off about Texas?
GOLDEN: Nothing says confidence like calling out an opponent that owns you. A&M's 0-2 record against the Horns over the last two seasons suggests he should have taken the high road. Reed is very bright but he should have sat this one out. A blood rivalry speaks for itself and while the folks in College Station probably had zero problems with him saying "We don't like Texas, I don't like Texas," there isn't much to gain from poking the state's resident grizzly.
BOHLS: Of course not, but it will matter little when it comes to Turkey Week. An Aggie quarterback hates Texas. Shocker. Not exactly breaking news. It might even be good if it stokes his own confidence after going 0-2 against the Bevos. Besides, the Longhorns will already be riled up anyway.
6. Name a real Heisman dark horse.
GOLDEN: They aren't talking about USC quarterback Jayden Maiava who threw for 3,711 yards and 24 touchdowns last season while leading the country with a 91.2 quarterback rating. His mentor Lincoln Riley coached three Heisman winners - Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray at Oklahoma and Caleb Williams at USC - by the way. Maiava will be directing an offense that's built around the pass and will have plenty of opportunities to dazzle against big-name opponents Ohio State and Oregon.
BOHLS: Bear with me but Texas edge rusher Colin Simmons could join Travis Hunter and Charles Woodson and become the third true defensive player to win the award if he can explode with 20 sacks on a top-10 defense.
Texas Longhorns defensive end Colin Simmons (1) tries to get to DUPLICATE***Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Austin, Texas, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. (Ricardo B. Brazziell/Austin American-Statesman)7. Which top-10 team struggles this week and fails to cover the spread?
GOLDEN: I'm picking the Oregon Ducks to win the national title but Pac-12 favorite Boise State will hang around for a while. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore will do absolutely nothing to hurt his early Heisman case with three touchdowns and his Ducks will win going away but won't cover the 24-point spread in a 44-24 decision.
BOHLS: I love Ole Miss this year, but Louisville could be a real CFP contender. The Cards have one of the best one-two punches in the backfield with Isaac Brown - whom Texas pursued in the portal - and KeyJuan Brown alongside Ohio State transfer Lincoln Kienholz at quarterback. Remember, Louisville beat Miami last year. I think the Rebels could have their hands full and won't cover the 6.5-point spread but will win 27-24.
8. What former college great will be this year's NFC and AFC offensive and defensive rookies of the year?
GOLDEN: In the AFC, give me Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza after Kirk Cousins gets knocked out within the first four games. On the defensive side, let's go LSU's/Virginia Tech's former cornerback Mansoor Delane of the Kansas City Chiefs. As for the NFC, give me Philadelphia wideout Makai Lemon of USC and former Miami linebacker Rueben Bain of Tampa Bay.
Dallas Cowboys defensive back Caleb Downs during training camp at River Ridge Playing Fields on July 30, 2026 in Oxnard, Calif. (Ric Tapia/Getty Images)BOHLS: Give me Cowboys safety and former Buckeye Caleb Downs and Seahawks running back Jadarian Price in the NFC. I'll take Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey with the New York Jets and former Aggie wide receiver KC Concepcion with the Cleveland Browns for the AFC.
9. What team is everyone sleeping on that could have a breakthrough year?
GOLDEN: I like BYU to give Texas Tech all it can handle in the race for the Big 12 crown. Coach Kalani Satake decided to stay after Penn State wooed him this offseason and will return for an 11th season with a veteran roster. Sophomore Bear Bachmeier will be better than his debut season when he produced over 3,500 yards of offense and 26 touchdowns. Better yet, they play only two teams that were ranked in the preseason - No. 4 Notre Dame and No. 21 Utah. While the 23-4 record over the last two seasons echoes nice success, breaking through would mean making it to the playoff. This is BYU's best chance.
BOHLS: May be really off base, but I like the hire of Alex Golesh at Auburn. The return of 10 starters and an influx of transfers like USF quarterback Byrum Brown, four best receivers and two starting linemen could make for a quick fix for a program coming off five straight losing seasons.
10. Which of the 34 new coaches has the best chance of becoming Curt Cignetti 2.0?
GOLDEN: Pete Golding served three seasons as Kiffin's defensive coordinator at Ole Miss but he has a great chance to take the program to the next level due to walking these SEC streets for eight seasons,which included five under the legendary Nick Saban at Alabama. This league is no joke but Golding has the confidence and the fearlessness needed to compete for championships in college football's biggest minefield.
BOHLS: I'm very impressed with Will Stein, the boy wonder at Kentucky who may do what predecessor Mark Stoops did at Lexington but make the Wildcats even more nationally relevant. Stein knows quarterbacks and should juice up the Cats even more.
Ole Miss head coach Pete Golding looks on from the sideline Jan. 8, 2026 vs. Miami at State Farm Stadium during the Fiesta Bowl. Glendale, Ariz. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Ima)Sign up for the Daily Briefing from the Austin American-Statesman. Start your day with the must-read headlines from Austin's most trusted news source.
This article originally published at College football Week 1: Top questions for LSU, Texas football and more | Golden, Bohls.