Will Muschamp joins Texas as defensive coordinator amid championship hopes

Texas Longhorns hired Will Muschamp as their defensive coordinator for the 2026 season, signing him for $2.8 million annually. ESPN noted his potential as the Longhorns' 'X factor' as they seek to end a 20+ year championship drought. Muschamp, previously with the Bulldogs, aims to enhance a defense that allowed 20.3 points per game in 2025. Texas has recently struggled against Georgia, having lost to them three times in recent seasons. The Longhorns aggressively pursued improvements in their coaching staff, seeking to reshape their defense under head coach Steve Sarkisian, who fired prior coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski earlier this offseason.

• 4:20 PMYahoo Sports — Former UGA analyst Will Muschamp considered 'X factor' for SEC power