Things aren’t easy out the gates in SEC play for Tennessee football in 2026. The first game of the conference slate is against Texas, who has championship aspirations with Arch Manning returning at quarterback.
With fall camp around the corner, I spoke with Jalen Brown of OrangeBloods.com to get the inside scoop on where the Longhorns are at this summer.
Here’s what he said.
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What are the expectations for Arch Manning in 2026? Where does he need to improve?
When it comes to Arch Manning, the expectations is for him to look like Arch Manning we saw in the second half of the season and his decision making.
What does the offense look like around Manning this year?
This offense looks dynamic in the skilled areas (WR/RB) and can pose multiple threats to any defense in the country. The biggest thing to keep an eye on is the OL this season. If the new additions in the trenches can serve as positives this season Texas will have arguably a top 5 offense in the country.
What are the projected strengths and weaknesses of the defense?
The strengths on this defense is in the defensive line, more specifically the edges. Colin Simmons leads the way but the depth at the edge position is the strongest Texas has this season and are game wreckers. As for the weakness, The longhorns have some concern when it comes to depth at the linebacker position.
Do you feel like there are any benefits or disadvantages to this game being so early in the schedule?
I think there’s disadvantages for Texas when it comes to their matchup against Tennessee. With a roster full of new faces and transfers, an environment such as Neyland Stadium could pose a challenge to their communications skills on both ends.
