Perception is not always reality. That’s certainly the case of the Big 12 heading into the 2023 season. Rarely do the preseason predictions tell the story of the regular season, and that’s probably the case this season.
Texas hopes it is safe from that reality, as it has seen several first-place predictions to win its league. It could be difficult to mess up this opportunity. The Longhorns bring back 10 of 11 offensive starters. Respected voices that dismiss that fact likely reside somewhere just north of the Red River.
Some have already decided the Longhorns are built to fold like teams in recent memory without simply looking at the current roster. No other team can boast a lineup of more proven players than Texas boasts.
Texas’ list of irrefutably proven commodities includes Ja’Tavion Sanders, Xavier Worthy, Kelvin Banks, Jaylan Ford, Jahdae Barron, Jalen Catalon, Ryan Watts, Jerrin Thompson, AD Mitchell, Jordan Whittington and Christian Jones. Several others have played well on the field. That number of truly proven players is unmatched by any Longhorns team in recent memory.
With that in mind, let’s challenge a few other preconceived notions about Big 12 contenders.