ESPN Predicts Texas' Postseason Fate originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Texas Longhorns have their eyes on a third-straight College Football Playoff berth in 2025 under head coach Steve Sarkisian. Sarkisian has been to the semifinal round in 2023 and 2024 and comes into this season with a 38-17 overall record.

As the college football season soon kicks off, analysts are solidifying their predications on who will come out on top.

The 2025-26 NCAA football season is officially upon us, and the best way to catch the action all season long is with ESPN Unlimited.

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is almost certainly the No. 1 discussion point and most recognizable name among this year’s crop of college football players. But according to ESPN, that does not make him the projected best player in the country.

Former Purdue Boilermakers defensive end Will Heldt is expected to start for Clemson, while former Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Jeremiah Alexander and Southeast Missouri State Redhawks wide receiver Tristan Smith are also projected to see playing time.