Five teams have made the CFP after beginning the season outside the top 10. 247Sports believes Texas can be the next team to do so.
Since the College Football Playoff was introduced in 2014, five teams who ranked outside the preseason AP top 10 made the final four. The 2019 playoff ended a four-year streak, with LSU, Clemson, Ohio State, and Oklahoma all ranking within the top six.
Texas will be looking to revive that streak, beginning the 2020 season outside of the top 10, coming in at No. 14.
Related: AP Poll: Texas lands at No. 14 in preseason rankings
247Sports believes the Longhorns can do just that, naming them as one of the outside top 10 teams that are capable of crashing the CFB Playoff. They laid out criteria to qualify and Texas met all five.
New (or newish) coaches, strong quarterback play, an easy(ish) schedule, offensive, defensive balance, close wins, and luck.
NO. 14 TEXAS LONGHORNS
No lack of new coaches here. Tom Herman replaced his offensive AND defensive coordinator this offseason, bringing in Mike Yurcich from Ohio State and Chris Ash from Rutgers. With four-year starter Sam Ehlinger under center, the offense should be plenty productive. Texas needs a defense that finished 98th last season in yards allowed per play to make a leap. Ash will bring in a 4-3 scheme that fits the roster’s personnel better, and there are some pieces (Joseph Ossai, Caden Sterns) that are legitimate stars. With a little injury luck – Texas was missing five starters midway through the season – and improved play from the secondary, it’s easy to envision the defense taking a major leap.
The schedule does stack up well for the Longhorns. They shed LSU from their non-conference schedule and will catch Oklahoma early in the year when suspensions and injuries might still be an issue.
A lot will need to go right – A LOT – but this Texas team has the bones of a playoff contender if the pieces fall into place.
When the Big 12 released their revised 2020 schedule, the Longhorns’ conference season got easier. Mainly because there are be no back to back away games on the calendar. Texas will play at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium every other week.
Related: Texas Football: Seven thoughts on Longhorns’ revised 2020 schedule
The biggest two obstacles of the season will come from the state of Oklahoma. Of course, the annual Red River Shootout is always a toss-up between the Longhorns and Sooners. This year’s game will be worth more than usual as both teams will be ranked inside of the top 10, barring an early slip-up.
Oklahoma State will poise the second real hurdle for Texas when they travel to Stillwater on Halloween. The Cowboys were predicted to finish second in the Big 12 preseason media poll. The Longhorns have poor recent history on the road against Oklahoma State, losing their last two games.
As 247Sports says, “a lot will need to go right,” in order for Texas to make its first-ever College Football Playoff.
With the leadership of Sam Ehlinger and the renovation of the defense with Chris Ash, this is the best chance Tom Herman has had in his four years.
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