The 2026 season will be an "All In" one for Texas.
While it's always murky to define what that means -- Are they going to shut the program down if Texas misses the CFP? -- we generally known an "All In" season when we see one. See: Ohio State 2024 and Penn State 2025.
Texas in 2026 will have Arch Manning for, almost certainly, his final college season, and the Longhorns acquired Cam Coleman for him to throw to, Raleek Brown and Hollywood Smothers for him to hand off to, and Wake Forest's Melvin Siani to block for him. If that's not "All In," I don't know what is.
The 2026 Texas roster will be expensive, and the coaching staff will be, too. All told, Texas will pay sixth-year head coach Steve Sarkisian and his senior staff $24.425 million for the 2026 campaign, an increase of 8 percent from the topsy-turvy 2025 season.
Five assistants will earn at least $1 million in 2026, and a sixth (defensive tackles coach Kenny Baker) is slated to join them in 2027, according to documents obtained by the Austin American-Statesman. That group now includes general manager Brandon Harris, who saw a massive increase from $600,000 to $1 million.
Harris was the biggest riser in terms of pure dollars, but co-passing game coordinator and assistant quarterbacks coach Michael Bimonte saw the biggest rise by percentage, jumping from $275,000 to $400,000. Bimonte and defensive ends coach LaAllan Clark joined the program as analysts but will each earn $400,000 in 2026.
"New" safeties coach Blake Gideon will earn less than Duane Akina made to coach the same position in 2025, and his $800,000 salary is less than the $1 million Gideon earned as Georgia Tech's defensive coordinator, on a 3-year deal. Still, it's far more than the $475,000 he earned as Texas's safeties coach in 2024. New running backs coach Jabbar Juluke's deal requires explanation as well. He was under contract at $675,000 for the 2026 season at Florida, until he was not retained by new head Gator Jon Sumrall. So, Texas gets Juluke on a discount for 2026, and his salary grows to $850,000 for the 2027 season.
Head strength coach Torre Becton, the 2024 FootballScoop Strength Coach of the Year, signed a 3-year contract after receiving NFL interest last February and was not included in the latest round of extensions. Still, his contract expires after the 2027 season alongside every Longhorns assistant aside for defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who got a 3-year deal.
So, no, Texas is not shutting the program down if their "All In" move does not win the pot. But it would sure make an Arch-less, reloading season of 2027 much easier to handle.
| Coach (Title) | 2025 Salary | 2026 Salary | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steve Sarkisian (HC) | $10.8 million | $11 million | $200,000 (2%) |
| Will Muschamp (DC) | $2 million* | $2.7 million | $700,000 (35%) |
| Kyle Flood (OC/OL) | $1.4 million | $1.525 million | $125,000 (9%) |
| Jeff Banks (AHC/STC/TEs) | $1.2 million | $1.2 million | None |
| Johnny Nansen (co-DC/LBs) | $1.1 million | $1.2 million | $100,000 (9%) |
| Brandon Harris (GM) | $600,000 | $1 million | $400,000 (67%) |
| Kenny Baker (DTs) | $700,000 | $950,000 | $250,000 (36%) |
| Torre Becton (S&C) | $850,000 | $875,000 | $25,000 (3%) |
| Blake Gideon (DPGC/S) | $825,000* | $800,000 | -$25,000 (-3%) |
| AJ Milwee (Co-OC/QBs) | $700,000 | $700,000 | None |
| Chris Jackson (WRs) | $650,000 | $700,000 | $50,000 (8%) |
| Mark Orphey (CBs) | $600,000 | $650,000 | $50,000 (8%) |
| LaAllan Clark (DEs) | $300,000 | $400,000 | $100,000 (33%) |
| Michael Bimonte (PGC/QBs) | $275,000 | $400,000 | $125,000 (45%) |
| Jabbar Juluke (AHC/RBs) | $700,000* | $325,000+ | -$375,000 (-54%) |
| Total | $22.7 million | $24.425 million | $1.725 million (8%) |
* - Salary earned by previous staff member
+ - Still under previous contract