Texas Longhorns Wrap Up First SEC Season and Look Ahead to 2025
The Texas Longhorns finished their first season in the SEC with a 13-3 record, marking a strong debut in their new conference. While head coach Steve Sarkisian had some key highlights—such as a 17-7 win over rival Texas A&M—the offseason brings major challenges, especially in roster turnover and recruiting battles.
Recruiting Setback: Jaimeon Winfield Commits to USC
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One of the biggest blows for Texas comes from the recruiting front. Jaimeon Winfield, a 6’4″, 301-pound defensive lineman, has committed to the USC Trojans, despite Texas having an 89.2% probability of landing him. USC’s defensive line coach, Eric Henderson, managed to flip the highly-rated four-star recruit, dealing a tough loss to the Longhorns’ 2026 class.
Roster Turnover: Rebuilding After Key Departures
The Longhorns are losing 19 players to the NFL Draft and 10 more to the transfer portal, including star names like:
Quinn Ewers (QB)
Gunner Helm (TE)
Andrew Mukuba (S)
Despite these departures, Texas has the No. 1 ranked recruiting class nationally, bringing in a new wave of talent. Their incoming class includes five-star recruits like:
Jonah Williams (S)
Justus Terry (DL)
Lance Jackson (Edge)
Kaliq Lockett (WR)
Kade Phillips (CB)
They’ve also been active in the transfer portal, securing linebacker Brad Spence (Arkansas), who had an impressive 55 tackles and 4.5 sacks in 2024.
Key Development: Ryan Wingo’s LASIK Surgery Could Be a Game-Changer
Texas received a huge boost on offense with news that wide receiver Ryan Wingo underwent LASIK surgery to correct previously undetected poor vision. According to reports, Wingo struggled in workouts due to his eyesight last season, which may have affected his performance.
With improved vision, Wingo could become a major weapon for Arch Manning, who is expected to take over as the full-time starter. In 2024, Wingo racked up 472 receiving yards and 100 rushing yards, averaging 16.3 yards per reception and 20 yards per carry.
2025 Season Outlook: Can Texas Compete for a National Title?
The Longhorns’ 2025 campaign kicks off with a huge test against Ohio State on the road. With Will Howard gone, all eyes will be on Arch Manning, who flashed his potential last season when filling in for Ewers. Manning finished the year with 939 passing yards and a strong 10.4 yards per attempt.
With elite freshman talent, strong portal additions, and a fully healthy Wingo, Texas has the tools to contend for a national title. The big question is whether Sarkisian can turn all these ingredients into a championship-winning team.
Can the Longhorns dominate the SEC and make a run for the College Football Playoff? Let’s see if they can deliver on the hype.