Jeff Howe

Any claimed titles in the pre-AP poll era (1936) shouldn't count.

If there's anything more idiotic than stripping a school's wins or titles, it's retroactively claiming titles.

Since the UPI and AP were the two primary selectors, it’s a split title between Texas and Nebraska. The UPI awarded Texas the national championship; Texas shouldn’t be blamed for the final vote coming before the bowl games. I’d say the same thing about OU’s 1974 national title. They were voted No. 1 in the AP poll despite being on probation. What were they supposed to do? Give it back? Say, “Nah, we’re good. Someone else can have it.” Ohio State was named co-champion with Texas by the National Football Foundation, which is an NCAA-recognized selector. Schools can claim whatever titles they want before the BCS era is it’s a legitimate claim. Still, that doesn’t mean everybody else has to recognize it.

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D.D. Lewis gets an honorable mention today.

One more note on Jimmy Saxton is he held the school record for single-season yards per rushing attempt with 7.9 in 1961 until Bijan Robinson broke it in 2020. That was one of those Texas records I never thought I’d see broken.

It’s been said over the years that it was the toughest loss Coach Royal ever suffered as a head coach.

He probably would’ve been the school’s first Heisman winner if not for the infamous TCU game.

That’s it for Arch and for today’s player availability.

Arch said he probably wasn’t ready to play his freshman year. He said getting to sit back and watch helped a lot now that he’s the starter.

“I said it because it’s true,” Manning said about why he said he doesn’t deserve to be in the Heisman discussion at SEC Media Days. Arch said he’s ready to go out on the field and prove himself.

He said something to the effect of feeling it was time for a change.

Arch echoed what Sark said yesterday, that procedurally, the offense has been much better before the snap recently compared to earlier in camp.

Arch said he been dreaming about the opportunity he has right now, and he wants to take advantage of it.

“I’m not a guy who seeks the media,” Manning said. “No offense, guys.”

We’ve been told we’re getting Arch Manning. We’re waiting on QB1 to arrive.

“He’s looking really good,” Taaffe said of Derek Williams’ return from injury. “He’s definitely gained the coaches’ trust.”

“There’s days when we think we really good, and we get absolutely burned,” Taaffe said when asked about the wideouts and defensive backs helping each other get better.

Taaffe said he was on FaceTime calls with Jahdae Barron and Andrew Mukuba over the weekend. He said both are having fun, but they’ve let him know how tough NFL training camp can be.

Taaffe said Xavier Filsame has been doing “really, really well.” Growing mentally has allows his athletic ability to shine, Taaffe said.

“Sure it can,” Taaffe said when asked if the 2025 defense can be better than the 2024 defense. Texas lost a lot, but the returners being a year older along with what the Longhorns, Taaffe said the defense can be elite again.

He just cares about ball and that’s really it,” Taaffe said when asked about Arch Manning is handling the pressure he’s under going into the season.

Michael Taaffe said watching the guys who were leaders and guys trying to emulate what Sam Ehlinger, Roschon Johnson, DeMarvion Overshown and Jaylan Ford (among others) has helped Texas form a strong leadership core that’s carried over from one season to the next.

“I wouldn’t say won, but I think we were really physical and won at the line of scrimmage,” Hill said on how the defensive performed in the scrimmages.

“I know he’s going to back it up and be ready to go.” — Hill on Colin Simmons