No. 5 Texas rolls past Texas State 59-7 in season opener

AUSTIN – No. 5 Texas opened the 2026 season with exactly the kind of performance expected from a national championship contender, overwhelming Texas State 59-7 Saturday at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Why it matters: The Longhorns entered the season with championship expectations and one of college football's most scrutinized quarterbacks.

• One week before No. 1 Ohio State comes to Austin, the Longhorns delivered a mostly stress-free afternoon, piling up more than 500 yards of offense while forcing three turnovers.

Driving the news: Arch Manning threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns, completing 19 of 26 passes as Texas built a 28-7 halftime lead and turned the game into a rout after the break.

• Manning connected with Cam Coleman for two touchdowns, while Ryan Wingo caught seven passes for 121 yards and a score.
• Texas' offense finished with 503 total yards and averaged 7.3 yards per play.

The big picture: Unlike the 2025 season, Texas didn't need Manning to carry the offense by himself.

• Hollywood Smothers rushed for 70 yards on 10 carries, including a 45-yard run to open the game, while Raleek Brown scored twice on the ground.
• Freshman quarterback KJ Lacey also saw action after the game was firmly in Texas' control.

The Longhorns scored on the ground, through the air, and on defense, an encouraging display of the roster depth Texas coach Steve Sarkisian will need as the schedule gets considerably tougher.

Yes, but: Manning wasn't flawless. He threw an interception late in the first half, one of the few mistakes on an otherwise perfect afternoon. Texas also allowed Texas State to finish with 349 total yards despite holding the Bobcats to seven points.

What they're saying: Sarkisian said after the game that while he's pleased with his team's performance, there's room for improvement.

• "The new guys showed up," he said of his team's start. "We weren't perfect. And that's the beauty of this thing."
• "We created three turnovers on defense plus two turnover on downs. It equates to 35 points in the game," Sarkisan added. "And so that's the stat in football that probably matters the most. That's the one. And I thought we did a great job in that category today."

Turning point: With Texas already leading 21-0 in the second quarter, linebacker Rasheem Biles forced a Texas State fumble that Graceson Littleton recovered and returned for a touchdown.

• The defensive score pushed the lead to 28-0 and effectively ended any chance of the Bobcats making things interesting.

By the numbers:

• 503: Total yards for Texas.
• 292: Passing yards for Manning.
• 121: Receiving yards for Wingo.
• 3: Touchdown passes for Manning.
• 3: Turnovers forced by the Texas defense.
• 31-0: Texas' scoring advantage after Texas State's lone touchdown.

Between the lines: The opponent matters. Texas State entered Austin as a significant underdog, and the Longhorns were supposed to win comfortably.

• Texas did what elite teams are expected to do against overmatched opponents. The Longhorns grabbed control early, expanded the lead after halftime.

What's next: The degree of difficulty rises dramatically. No. 5 Texas hosts No. 1 Ohio State on Sept. 12 in Austin in a rematch of last season's opening game.

That matchup should provide a much clearer indication of whether the fifth-ranked Longhorns are ready to turn their preseason championship expectations into a College Football Playoff run.

Saturday provided the start Texas needed.

Next week should tell us considerably more.