Phoenix Haigis

Phoenix Haigis

Joined: Aug 24, 2026

Phoenix Haigis is a staff writer for the Texas Longhorns on SI. He is a junior at the University of Texas at Austin as a journalism major with a minor in sports media. He is also a staff writer for the Daily Texan’s sports department. Haigis was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH., where he became a lifelong Bengals fan and Skyline Chili defender.

Oct 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian wears the Golden Hat after the game against the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian prepares to lead his team onto the field to start the college football game against Texas on Sept. 26, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian looks on before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian watches during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas on Sept. 12, 2026. Texas won 24-23.

Sep 26, 2026; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Texas coach Steve Sarkisian sings The Eyes of Texas with his team after a college football game between Tennessee and Texas at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Sept. 26, 2026.

Football

The Sooners enter Red River unranked and at 2-2, but that makes Saturday's rivalry matchup no less dangerous for the top-ranked Longhorns.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian leaves the field.

Football

The Longhorns spent Saturday on the sideline, but the results around the SEC offered a revealing look at the road ahead.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian watches during the NCAA football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas on Sept. 12, 2026. Texas won 24-23.

Football

Texas has already shown it can win without playing its cleanest football, but one recurring issue has followed the Longhorns through the first month of the season.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian prepares to lead his team onto the field to start the college football game against Texas on Sept. 26, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Texas has championship aspirations and an undefeated record, but the first four games have revealed a growing gap between the Longhorns’ defensive dominance and their offensive consistency.

Sep 26, 2026; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Texas edge Colin Simmons (1) celebrates after Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon (11) is sacked again during a college football game between Tennessee and Texas at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Sept. 26, 2026.

Football

Colin Simmons put together a historic performance against Tennessee, but the Texas star’s dominance was building long before he overwhelmed the Volunteers in Knoxville.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian looks on before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium.

Football

One Texas Freshman has already shown flashes of the playmaking ability that made him a highly touted recruit, and Texas could have an opportunity to unlock more of that potential after its bye week.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian prepares to lead his team onto the field to start the college football game against Texas on Sept. 26, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Football

The Longhorns have received valuable contributions from their 2026 recruiting class, and one young playmaker has already shown he can handle a larger workload.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian looks on before the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium.

Football

The Longhorns left Knoxville with a statement victory, but their latest performance showed there is still plenty of work to do on offense.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian leaves the field at the half during a college football game against Tennessee on Sept. 26, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The Longhorns added another significant result to their resume Saturday, giving voters plenty to consider as the national rankings turn towards next week.

Texas Longhorns running back Raleek Brown (0) runs against Tennessee Volunteers linebacker Amare Campbell (0) during the second half at Neyland Stadium.

With the Longhorns' offense still finding their momentum, the defense shut down the Volunteers for another Texas victory.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian.

The No. 1 Texas Longhorns face a major road test against No. 14 Tennessee, with three key questions looming as both teams open SEC play in Knoxville.

Sep 14, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian stands for the Eyes of Texas with players and fans after a victory over the Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Texas enters Knoxville as the No. 1 team in the country with a chance to show its success can travel beyond Austin and into the heart of the SEC.