College football writers are taking notice of the Longhorns’ loaded returning roster. 247Sports writer Kevin Flaherty joined Athlon Sports in predicting Texas to finish first in the Big 12 conference.
The more we read of Texas as the clear cut favorite to win the league, the more it sets up as an evaluation year for Steve Sarkisian and company. The vibe is like that of the 2020 offseason, where Texas returned senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger and an experienced and talented roster.
Obviously, Sarkisian has plenty more time left on his contract and has a strong chance to coach the full duration. Nevertheless, we could have a good idea of how the tenure will go after this season.
The talent advantage paired with the returning production is such that missing the conference title would be tantamount to fumbling on the one-yard line. The reference to the 2020 game between Texas and TCU was not intended, but is an apt comparison.
Texas needs to win the Big 12 this season. Here’s a look at Flaherty’s Way-Too-Early Big 12 standings prediction.