In what seems to be a yearly tradition surrounding the Texas program, expectations are once again extremely high going into the 2020 season. Not only are the Longhorns expected the compete for the Big 12 championship, but they are expected to play in one of college football’s most pristine bowl games, one of the New Year’s Six bowl games.
Usually, for the Big 12, that game is the Sugar Bowl, as the best team in the Big 12 and SEC face off against each other in New Orleans every year on New Year’s Day. However, for the upcoming season, the Sugar Bowl is one of the playoff venues this year, so Big 12 teams will be considered at large bids.
247Sports has given their bowl projections before spring ball has begun and they have Texas as one of those at-large teams in the conference. The projection also has the Longhorns playing their bowl game in the state of Texas, facing off against Boise State in the Cotton Bowl, held at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
If the two teams were to face off, it would be the first time the programs ever faced each other in football. While they may be stuck in a non-power five conference, the Broncos are one of the most dangerous teams in the country. Since 2000, they have had 16 seasons of 10 or more wins, including a 3-0 record in BCS /New Year’s Six Bowl games.
Both Texas and Boise State have only been to one NY6 bowl game since its rebranding in 2014. Each has a 1-0 record as the Broncos defeated Arizona in the 2014 Fiesta Bowl and the Longhorns upset Georgia in the 2019 Sugar Bowl.
As for the rest of the Big 12, Oklahoma is the only other team projected in an NY6 game, facing off against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. 247Sports does not project a team from the Big 12 to make the playoff, instead having two SEC teams (Alabama and Florida) playing Clemson and Ohio State respectively.
If the Longhorns can make a quality bowl game like the Cotton Bowl, it would be considered a successful season. While Boise State may not be the most flashy opponent to face, playing another game within the state of Texas would create an amazing atmosphere for another big-time bowl game under Tom Herman.
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