The Texas football program is somewhat of a mystery this season.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, either.
Offensive guru Steve Sarkisian has taken over for former head coach Tom Herman, and for the first time in four years there will be a new quarterback under center. Sarkisian isn’t quite ready to announce who the starting quarterback will be for Texas this season, but numerous reports are pointing towards Hudson Card.
Although the Longhorns will begin the season as the No. 21 team in the nation, it’s unclear whether they’re contenders or pretenders in terms of reaching the postseason.
ESPN recently ranked where all 130 teams fit in regards to the College Football Playoff outlook for the 2021 season. Texas fell under the “stranger things have happened’ tier with Florida, Iowa, Washington, Wisconsin, and Indiana.
“Texas and Washington are mysteries. The Longhorns got an overhaul with the hiring of coach Steve Sarkisian and are talented enough to make it to the Big 12 title game, but they also face a lot of questions with a new quarterback and coaching staff.”
So you’re saying there’s a chance.
In all seriousness, Texas was only a few coaching mishaps and mental mistakes away from competing in the Big 12 Championship game last season. The Longhorns clearly have a talented roster, they just need to put it altogether.
The “usual suspects” tier for ESPN consisted of Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma. No surprises here. However, there’s always a couple of teams that surpass expectations each year, and Sarkisian’s squad is hoping to do just that.