Texas Longhorns Face Setback as Star Running Back Departs Before Bowl Game
In a significant blow to the Texas Longhorns’ offense, leading rusher Quintrevion Wisner has announced his intention to enter the transfer portal when it opens on January 2, just before the team’s Citrus Bowl matchup against Michigan. Wisner’s agent, Grayson Sheena, confirmed the decision to multiple media outlets, ending a productive stint with the program. The talented running back had established himself as a cornerstone of the Longhorns’ ground game, rushing for 1,064 yards and five touchdowns in 2024, followed by 597 yards and three touchdowns in 2025. His contributions earned him third-team All-SEC honors last season, helping guide Texas to the College Football Playoff semifinals during a successful campaign.
The 2025 season has been something of a rollercoaster for the Longhorns, who began with lofty expectations as the preseason number one ranked team in the nation. However, those hopes were quickly tempered by an early loss to Ohio State, setting a challenging tone for the remainder of their schedule. Despite these obstacles, Wisner showed flashes of brilliance, most notably in the team’s regular-season finale against rival Texas A&M, where he rushed for 155 yards in a crucial 27-17 victory. This performance represented his only game surpassing the 100-yard mark this season, but it came at a pivotal moment as Texas looked to strengthen its case for a College Football Playoff berth—a goal that ultimately remained just out of reach.
Instead of competing for a national championship, the 9-3 Longhorns find themselves preparing for the Citrus Bowl against Michigan on New Year’s Eve. Wisner’s departure, while disappointing, creates an opportunity for head coach Steve Sarkisian to evaluate the younger talent in his running back room. The situation has been further complicated by additional departures, as C.J. Baxter and Jerrick Gibson have also announced their intentions to transfer according to ESPN reports. This exodus leaves Christian Clark and James Simon as the remaining scholarship running backs on the roster, placing them in position for increased responsibilities during the bowl game and potentially beyond.
The timing of Wisner’s announcement intensifies the challenges facing the Longhorns as they prepare for their final game of the season. Bowl preparations are typically a time for teams to coalesce around their identity and build momentum heading into the following season, but Texas must now adjust to the absence of their primary offensive weapon in the backfield. This development adds another layer of adversity to a season that has already seen its share of disappointments, from falling short of preseason expectations to missing out on the expanded College Football Playoff after being considered a strong contender before the season began.
Despite these challenges, there remains cause for optimism in Austin as quarterback Arch Manning is set to return for the 2026 season. The highly-touted signal-caller, who helped guide the team to their 9-3 record, represents a stable foundation around which Sarkisian can rebuild his offense following these departures. Manning’s continued development and leadership will be crucial as Texas looks to replace the production lost with Wisner’s transfer and reestablish itself as a national championship contender. The upcoming bowl game will serve as an important proving ground for the team’s depth and adaptability in the face of these personnel changes.
The situation in Texas exemplifies the rapidly evolving landscape of college football in the transfer portal era, where roster continuity has become increasingly difficult to maintain. Programs must now be prepared to adapt quickly to unexpected departures while simultaneously working to develop younger players and actively recruit from the transfer portal themselves. For the Longhorns, how they respond to this adversity—both in their immediate bowl preparation and in their offseason roster management—will be telling indicators of the program’s resilience and Sarkisian’s ability to navigate the modern challenges of college football. As they face Michigan in the Citrus Bowl, they’ll be not only competing for a victory to end their season on a positive note but also beginning the process of reshaping their identity for the challenges that lie ahead.
