Wayne Staats of NCAA.com has released his preseason top 25 for the 2020 season and once again, the Longhorns are highly ranked. Ranking Texas at No. 14 in the country, Tom Herman’s squad will begin another season with high expectations.
Here is what Staats had to say about Texas:
The Longhorns started in the top 10 and lost by only 7 to LSU but then fell to 6-5. Reason for optimism? the ‘Horns crushed Texas Tech and then No. 11 Utah in the Alamo Bowl by 28 to end the season on a positive note. And QB Sam Ehlinger will be back. However, a euphoric bowl win in the 2018 season didn’t exactly mean good things for 2019.
Much like the end of the 2018 season, a bowl win against a highly ranked Power 5 team is giving Texas optimism for the upcoming season. It ended poorly this past season and changes were made throughout the coaching staff. Now, the Longhorns must prove they deserve to be ranked so highly.
Here are the rest of the rankings:
- Clemson
- Ohio State
- Alabama
- LSU
- Georgia
- Oregon
- Oklahoma
- Penn State
- Florida
- Auburn
- Notre Dame
- Oklahoma State
- Texas A&M
- Texas
- Michigan
- Wisconsin
- North Carolina
- Minnesota
- USC
- UCF
- Cincinnati
- Utah
- Iowa State
- Iowa
- Arizona State
Staats controversially has Texas ranked below in-state rivals Texas A&M. While the Longhorns and Aggies have not played a game since 2011, the rivalry has continued off the field, mainly through preseason rankings and recruiting. Jimbo Fisher and Texas A&M come in at No. 13, with hopes and dreams of winning the SEC West.
As for the rest of the Big 12, three other teams are ranked, starting with Oklahoma at No. 7. Oklahoma State comes in at No. 12, while Iowa State wraps up the conference at No. 23. Only the SEC and Big 10 have more ranked teams than the Big 12, with six teams each.
The Longhorns’ big-time non-conference opponent, LSU, is ranked No. 4, fresh off a national championship. Coach Orgeron and the Tigers will be playing host to Texas in week two of the season, set up to be one of the games of the season.
Being ranked inside the top 15 may be a stretch this early in the year. While the foundation is there for the Longhorns to be successful, there is a lot they must prove to deserve such a high ranking. Many tests will occur throughout the season, showing if Texas is legitimately worthy of being a top 15 team in the country, or if the same let down will occur.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3]