Not everyone sees Texas as a playoff team in 2024. One college football writer seems confident the Longhorns will be unimpressed on the gridiron.
Connor Muldowney of Saturday Blitz writes that the Longhorns are in danger of having a “humiliating experience” in the upcoming football season. He shared why Texas is one of the five contenders this won’t live up to the hype.
“Not only is top offensive weapon Xavier Worthy gone, but the Longhorns can’t count on beating the rest of the Big 12 this season as they make the move to the SEC. Typically, the first year of a new conference is tough for Power Four teams, and I think that will especially be the case for Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns in the SEC.
Looking at the schedule, there are many opportunities for slip-ups. The Longhorns will travel to Michigan in non-conference games, face Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, follow up with Georgia the following week and finish the season with Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky and Texas A&M. There’s a legitimate chance they’ll go 2-2 at best this late November.”
It’s interesting that Muldowney identifies the last four games as a potential trap for Texas. His 2-2 forecast, at best, is pessimistic for a period that includes Arkansas (4-8). Florida (5-7), and Texas A&M It is Kentucky teams that were 7-6 a season ago. You may remember that Arkansas lost to BYU at home 4-8 in the season. The analysis appears to give more credit to the names than the talent currently residing on the rosters. That said, there are several potential losses in the schedule.
The Texas team that Muldowney says he trusts to defeat the rest of the Big 12 was the team that intimidated the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa. He imposed his will on the Tide with his offensive line, which returns four of its five starters. Dominant offensive line play is generally a sustainable way to win that would work in Texas’ favor.
It’s certainly possible that Texas could lose four games. The Longhorns will likely lose to the Georgia Bulldogs and face difficult games against Michigan, Oklahoma and Texas A&M away from Austin. Still, it’s hard to imagine the Longhorns performing worse than 2-2 against a stretch that includes struggling Arkansas and Florida teams. The team may disappoint, but it is doubtful that Texas will have trouble reaching a bowl game.
Most likely, Texas needs to win 10 games in 2024 to make the 12-team College Football Playoff. She hopes her Top 5 portal class and sustained success in recruiting and development translates to the field again.
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