Countdown to Kickoff: Texas will have two 700-yard rushers in 2026

We are just 98 days out from Texas teeing it up against Texas State (as much as others would like to assume otherwise). That means it’s time to start the countdown to kickoff. This countdown will take different forms depending on the day of the week. The rest of the categories will reveal themselves over the next six days but today (and subsequent Saturdays) is all about predictions for the Longhorns season.

>Today, I’ve circled a unit that Longhorns fans are incredibly excited and possibly somewhat nervous about, the running backs. Texas brought in Hollywood Smothers from NC State, Raleek Brown from Arizona State and freshman Derrek Cooper to overhaul the entire room. It’s unknown exactly how this group will take shape, in terms of the carries split, but I’m willing to predict the Longhorns will have two 700-yard rushers in 2026.

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Does Texas have the best running back duo in the country in 2026?

😤 Raleek Brown, Arizona State ➡️ Texas 😤 Hollywood Smothers, NC State ➡️ Texas

2025 stats for the transfer portal pairing ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/YACYzS0rs4

— PFSN College (@PFSNcollege) May 29, 2026Countdown to Kickoff: Texas will have two 700-yard rushersLast season, Tre Wisner led the Longhorns in rushing yards, totalling just under 600 yards. Arch Manning came in second, with 399 yards on the ground. Then, Christian Clark, CJ Baxter and Jerrick Gibson combined for just under 600 yards. Manning is the only one of that bunch that returns to Austin this season. With Smothers, Brown and Cooper joining, I expect both the balance and overall production to improve drastically this season.

>Last season, the best yards per carry mark was 4.6 from Tre Wisner. In comparison, Hollywood Smothers ripped off 5.9 yards per carry, while Raleek Brown ripped off 6.1 yards each time he carried the rock. The remarkable speed and acceleration from the duo gives them much more ability to break explosive runs consistently, something Texas didn’t do much at all a season ago. Brown is coming off a 1,100 yard season while Smothers nearly topped the 1,000 yard mark. This duo alone should improve the run game for Texas exponentially.

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The RB duo the Texas Longhorns got out of the transfer portal could be one of the best in the COUNTRY.

They went and portaled in:

- Hollywood Smothers (No. 2 RB): 939 yards, 6 TD - Raleek Brown (No. 4 RB): 1,141 yards, 4 TD

Both players averaged over 5.9 yards per carry last… pic.twitter.com/YDQJvA8t5v

— Will Thomas (@wthomassports) April 26, 2026The variable here, and the only reason I didn’t up the mark to 800 or 900 yards, is the offensive line. The Longhorns starting unit figures to be a more pass blocking first unit. That’s not to say the run blocking won’t improve(I expect it to), but it does add a layer of doubt that the rushing attack will hit its ceiling. If it doesn’t, I still think the duo of Smothers and Brown will lead the Texas run game, with at least 700 yards on the season. If the OL does come together and improve drastically, Steve Sarkisian could have the most explosive run game in the country.

>Now, this prediction isn’t quite as bold as others will be, but I do think it’s important. If the Texas run game has two 700-yard rushers this season, I expect the offense to be one of the top units in the country. If either goes above and beyond that, it could be an attack that defenses have no answers for. One way or another, Longhorns fans will see a much improved rushing attack, led by their two star transfers.

>This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Countdown to Kickoff: Texas' Smothers, Brown will each top 700 yards