After defeating Utah in the 2019 edition of the Valero Alamo Bowl, Texas is predicted to end up there again this upcoming season. In their way-too-early bowl projects, 247Sports has the Longhorns facing off against the USC Trojans down in San Antonio.
Here is what they had to say on the possible matchup.
Both of these Top 15 programs are expecting more out of the 2020 season, each blessed with top-end quarterbacks, but without a conference title for either, it’s hard to assume a berth in the New Year’s Six will happen unless they finish with a single blemish. Texas travels to LSU, takes on Oklahoma in Dallas and must navigate several other challenging matchups during Big 12 play. After the seismic opener vs. Alabama, the Trojans would likely have to run the table in the Pac-12 to reach the final four. Given Clay Helton’s hot seat, USC will be an interesting team to watch for sure.
If the prediction is correct, Texas and USC will be playing for the seventh time in their histories and the fourth time since 2000. The latest matchups came in Tom Herman’s first two seasons as head coach, where the Longhorns and Trojans split a home-and-home series.
Senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger would end his career the way he began it, facing off against USC. His first start against a Power 5 program was in 2017 against the Trojans.
As for the rest of the Big 12, 247Sports predicts no one from the conference will make the College Football Playoff for the third time since the inaugural 2014 edition.
- Baylor vs Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl
- Iowa State vs Navy in the Armed Forces Bowl
- Kansas State vs Virginia in the First Responders Bowl
- Oklahoma vs Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl
- Oklahoma State vs Virginia Tech in Cheez-It Bowl
- TCU vs Tennessee in the Outdoors Bowl
- West Virginia vs South Carolina in the Cactus Bowl
With the Sugar Bowl hosting a College Football Playoff semifinal, the Big 12 has no automatic qualifier into the New York 6 bowl games. Oklahoma would represent the conference in the NY6, facing off against Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium.
It is too early to predict the 2020 college football season. The goal for Texas should be trying to compete for a Big 12 championship and a spot in the NY6 bowls. Another Alamo Bowl appearance could be seen as a disappointment in year four of Tom Herman.
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