The Texas Longhorns have a fatal flaw right in front of Arch Manning that may doom their massive NIL investment

If they don’t get there, though, it could be because the center spot wasn’t addressed beyond the starting spot in front of Manning. At least that’s CBS Sports’ Cody Nagel’s take on how things may unfold in Austin this coming fall.

“The Longhorns went all in on building a stronger supporting cast around star quarterback Arch Manning for 2026, adding weapons at receiver and in the backfield. Overall, the offensive line remains one of the more stable units in the SEC, returning a trio of starters and adding key transfer additions. Still, depth at center is a lingering concern that could become a problem for a national championship-caliber roster if injuries strike,” Nagel wrote.

“Connor Robertson has the starting job locked in, but behind him, redshirt freshman Jackson Christian has no prior experience. Incoming transfer Dylan Sikorski, who played left guard at Oregon State last season, has the versatility to slide to center if needed, but that would require reshuffling an already settled front and asking him to transition to a position he has not played extensively at the college level.”

Longhorns failing to properly build offensive trenches betrays Texas football’s ethos

A program as prestigious as Texas shouldn’t be relying on non-specialized interior linemen in a pinch. If the Longhorns are undone by the center position, Steve Sarkisian and Kyle Flood will have to answer for that.

Investing in Smothers and Brown, while not having much center depth, not to mention relying on a position-switching Brandon Baker and Western Kentucky Hilltoppers transfer Laurence Seymore at guard, seems like a strange use of NIL/rev-share investment from UT’s booster class.

Texas football’s historic ethos would be betrayed if offensive line play undoes what should be a deep run in the CFP this coming season.