The Texas Longhorns (12-2) football season is over. The memorable season ended with a 37-31 loss to Washington in New Orleans on Monday night.
Naturally, the loss is raising questions of what could have been for the Longhorns had they found a way to win. Our focus shifts to what looks to be a strong future for the team despite negative prognostications from those who don’t closely follow the team.
Before we go into the weeds on what to expect for 2024 lets look at what we predicted Texas would accomplish in 2023 and what the team returns.
During the offseason, we predicted Texas would beat Alabama, win 10 games and win the Big 12 championship. Other predictions of mine changed prior to the 2023 season, but those predictions never wavered. Despite the high expectations, I believed Texas would not make the playoff. The Longhorns exceeded my expectations.
The roster we think Texas will return could be different from the roster it actually returns. That said, here are the players I feel confident could come back in 2024.
Starting quarterback Quinn Ewers headlines potential returning players. You could argue he has unfinished business. After raising his completion percentage from 58% to 69% he might not be far away from a championship caliber quarterback. Count me among those who consider Ewers a 2024 Heisman contender even though I never believed he was one over the past offseason.
Four offensive line starters should return no matter how you slice it: Kelvin Banks Jr., Hayden Conner, Devon Campbell and Cole Hutson, who was a 13-game starter in 2022. Veteran center Jake Majors also could return.
The secondary should improve from its 2023 iteration with elite young corner prospects Terrance Brooks and Malik Muhammad coming into their own. Clemson transfer Andrew Mukuba should fill the nickel role Jahdae Barron played. The team could move two-year starter Ryan Watts from cornerback to safety to join Derek Williams Jr. and Michael Taaffe.
The edge position should be a strength of the team. Three players with five sacks or more in a season should suit up: Barryn Sorrell, Ethan Burke and UTSA transfer Trey Moore. Anthony Hill moves to linebacker after adding five sacks as a freshman.
Linebacker, defensive tackle and wide receiver are the positions with the most questions on the roster after losing impact players at each position. Even so, talented youth have proven capable of making an impact over the last two seasons.
What are my expectations for 2024? I expect Texas to beat Oklahoma, win 10 games and make a 12-team playoff.
Texas’ next squad plays Michigan and Georgia. Those will be difficult games, and the Georgia game will come a week after Oklahoma. Nevertheless, the pieces in house are such that the Longhorns can compete with any team in the country.
I expect the Texas offensive line and Quinn Ewers to make significant strides during the offseason. One of two five-star receiving weapons, Johntay Cook or Ryan Wingo, should break out in 2024. Defensively, the edge position should bring a stronger pass rush, which could make all the difference in games like the one Texas just lost in the Sugar Bowl.
The biggest difference between Washington and Texas was Washington had a first-round NFL draft-ready quarterback, and Texas had a great quarterback who might one day be a first-round NFL draft pick. There’s a strong chance Ewers becomes that this offseason. If he does, Texas might not only compete for a title spot, but make it in 2024.