The Texas Longhorns have a championship caliber roster. It isn’t only our opinion but one that has spread to college football’s national media.
In the 2022 offseason, ESPN’s Heather Dinich accurately predicted the Longhorns would win eight games. This offseason, she writes that Texas could do much more in 2024.
Dinich recently shared that Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian believes his team has championship depth. She detailed the path Sarkisian and company took to get there and why the Longhorns are a real threat to make it to their first national title game since 2009. She begins with quarterback and then highlights experience in the trenches.
One of the college football analyst’s first talking points of substance is a veteran laden Texas offensive line. There the Longhorns have four returning starters from 2023 and several players with extensive playing experience. While other lines who haven’t worked together are in danger of falling prey to blitzes, stunts and twists from opposing defensive fronts, Texas should be more ready to handle those attacks.
Here are five takeaways from Dinich’s article.
Three straight Top 5 classes
Texas Longhorns linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) celebrates a sack during the game against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday, Sep. 9, 2023 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Texas has stacked talent upon talent with its recruiting classes in the Sarkisian Era. Young players are making an impact early. Anthony Hill Jr. is perhaps the face of the Texas defense after 67 total tackles and five sacks in limited time last season as a freshman. Kelvin Banks Jr. and Cole Hutson started as freshmen in what was a dramatically improved offensive line in 2022. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy and running back Cedric Baxter Jr. started and produced in their first seasons in Austin. By the end of last season, then freshman Malik Muhammad became a dependable and starter caliber player at cornerback.
Texas isn’t just posting top recruiting classes. It is recruiting the type of talent that is ready to play from Day 1. Five-star freshman wide receiver Ryan Wingo could be next.
Reloading
Texas Longhorns running back Jonathon Brooks (24) looks for room to run after picking up the first down against Oklahoma Sooners in the throw quarter during an NCAA college football game at the Cotton Bowl on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. This game makes up the119th rivalry match up.
Do you remember all the commotion about how Texas would replace star running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson last offseason? The Longhorns followed that running back tandem with the No. 1 running back selected in the 2024 NFL draft. Perhaps that gives some idea of the machine Steve Sarkisian is building in Austin.
Dinich notes the job that Texas did in the portal in addition to what the Longhorns return. Four receivers come to Texas through the transfer portal led by speedy Alabama wideout Isaiah Bond. The Longhorns also add three-year Clemson starter Andrew Mukuba at safety and UTSA edge rusher Trey Moore who brings over 22 sacks in two seasons as starter.
Sarkisian's contract extension
University of Texas at Austin athletic director Chris Del Conte, left, talks to head coach Steve Sarkisian after Texas’s game against Louisiana at Darrell K. Royal Stadium on Sept. 4, 2021. Texas won the game 38-18. Aem Ut Louisiana 46
Sarkisian’s four-year contract extension doesn’t make for as long or costly a commitment as Texas A&M’s extension of Jimbo Fisher. If you recall, the Aggies already made a 10-year, $75 million prior commitment to Fisher before an extension. Nevertheless, the move by Texas is a sign of potential stability in Austin. The Longhorns have yet to have a coach make it past a fourth year under contract since former Texas head coach Mack Brown coached 15 seasons on the Forty Acres. The extension is an admission by Texas donors that they like the product they’re seeing on the field.
The 2024 schedule
Sep 9, 2023; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Conner Weigman (15) reacts after scoring a touchdown against the Miami Hurricanes during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Texas’ 2024 schedule is uncharted territory. The Longhorns reunite with old rivals Arkansas and Texas A&M as members of the SEC. They also face three college football powers in Michigan, Georgia and Oklahoma. It’s an exciting time in the program’s history, but it won’t be an easy test for the team to make it back to the College Football Playoff.
Returning production
Texas Longhorns running back CJ Baxter (4) heads into the locker room after warming up ahead of the Sugar Bowl College Football Playoff semi-finals at the Ceasars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, Jan. 1, 2024. The Texas Longhorns take on the Washington Huskies for a spot in the College Football Playoff Finals.
Texas has a respectable amount of returning production according to Bill Connely. The Longhorns rank No. 38 in college football in returning production (67%) despite losing 11 players to the NFL draft. The team’s Week 2 opponent, Michigan, is No. 131 in returning production with just one career passing attempt from its projected starting quarterback Alex Orji. Texas will look to leverage its advantage like it did early last season forcing two interceptions from Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on the way to double digit victory.
