ESPN Names College Football Program With Highest Trajectory Over Next 2 Seasons

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Grant Bricker | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 8:10 PM ET

The Texas Longhorns ended their first SEC season in style with a trip to the conference championship and College Football Playoff.

On Wednesday, ESPN's Adam Rittenberg ranked Texas at No. 1 in his College Football Future Power Rankings through the 2026 season. The Longhorns are the team with highest trajectory over the next two seasons in Rittenberg's eyes.

The Longhorns did not have much trouble in the SEC in 2024, losing one game in the regular season to the Georgia Bulldogs.

Texas faced Georgia again in the SEC Championship Game and lost 22-19 overtime. The Longhorns were the No. 5 seed in the 12-team playoff after the loss and reached the semifinal.

To say that Texas had some roster turnover this offseason would be an understatement.

The Longhorns lost key contributors like quarterback Quinn Ewers, receiver Matthew Golden, receiver Isaiah Bond and offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.

Former top 2023 prospect Arch Manning will finally get his shot to win the starting job under center for the Longhorns in 2025. Ewers was a seventh-round selection by the Miami Dolphins in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Manning played in 10 games last season with two starts. He led his team to wins against UL Monroe and the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Ewers suffered a torn oblique in the win over the Michigan Wolverines in Week 2, but was forced to exit the following game versus UTSA.

The Longhorns continue to add quality recruits, with four-star defensive lineman Corey Wells one of the latest additions.

Five-star offensive tackle and Texas target Felix Ojo made a major decision recently, cancelling his official visit with hated rival the Oklahoma Sooners.

Texas opens the 2025 season with the Ohio State Buckeyes on August 30.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: