Tag: Texas football recruiting

Paul Wadlington: Texas needs to win the Big 12 in 2023

“If Texas isn’t in the Big 12 title game, I’m gonna wonder what happened.”

It’s no longer rebuilding time for the Texas Longhorns football program. With a foundation laid in recruiting, development and overall team talent, Longhorns fans are ready to reap success.

Paul Wadlington of Inside Texas gave credence to the idea that Texas needs to start producing on the football field. He said the following on his “Everyone Gets a Trophy” podcast.

The more I dig into (Big 12 programs for 2023)… Texas should win the Big 12. Texas needs to win the Big 12 and should win the Big 12.

Wadlington went on to explain that losing in the conference title game would not be alarming, but not making it to the game would be cause for concern. Texas’ returning talent paired with rebuilds across the conference should lead to more expectations for Steve Sarkisian’s team.

Texas Tech and Kansas State were mentioned among teams that could challenge the Longhorns in their bid for a title. Kansas State returns all five offensive linemen to block for quarterback Will Howard. Outside of those teams, the Inside Texas analyst has questions about Oklahoma and TCU heading into next year.

Perhaps the raised standard of expectation can push the Longhorns to new heights over the next football season.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

The Athletic discusses when Texas and Texas A&M could play next

A&M AD Ross Bjork would like to see the Lone Star Showdown in Week 0.

The Longhorns and Aggies are likely to meet early and often in the new-and-improved SEC conference. Sam Khan of The Athletic discussed when the matchup could next take place. Thanksgiving could come early for Texas fans.

The two teams are likely to participate in a format that gives everyone three annual rivals. If Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork gets his way, the two teams could meet in Week 0 to renew the rivalry.

Bjork had the following to say about playing the Longhorns in Week 0.

Honestly, I mean, that would be a magical weekend to kick it off that way.

While it isn’t the preferred choice of most Texas fans, Bjork is right. Opening the season with all eyes on the Lone Star Showdown could shatter every Week 0 ratings record.

Texas fans have been robbed of the Thanksgiving family feuds that Auburn and Alabama fans enjoy annually. It makes sense to renew the rivalry on Thanksgiving Day. That said, we can all agree we have waited long enough to watch the game.

There are worse ideas than starting the Texas football season a week early and opening with the Aggies. The next matchup cannot come soon enough.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Texas vs ‘Bama: Roll Tide Wire talks Jalen Milroe, expectations for Week 2

Alabama writer shares thoughts on Jalen Milroe, Alabama in 2023 and Week 2 matchup with Texas.

The Alabama Crimson Tide plays host to the Texas Longhorns in 2023. It has potential to be the game of the year.

Last season, each team traded punches until the final whistle with the Crimson Tide leaving victorious. Alabama’s 20-19 win was one of the more confounding performances of the year for both teams. It led many to conclude either the Tide was falling off a cliff or Quinn Ewers was leading Texas to prominence.

In reality, neither of those things happened. The game stood alone as a singular performance that had little bearing on the remainder of the season.

To get a fuller picture on this year’s pivotal matchup, I talked with Stacey Blackwood of Roll Tide Wire to get more insight into the matchup.

Longhorns Wire All-Big 12 team 1.0 for the 2023 season

Will any Big 12 receiver rank ahead of the Longhorns trio on the All-Conference team?

Spring practice is around the corner as Texas embarks on a consequential 2023 season. Last year’s team featured a high volume of underclassmen contributors. This group is laden with experience.

The Longhorns are toward the top of the Big 12 in returning proven commodities with even more talent influx this season. For that reason Steve Sarkisian’s team should have plenty of players vying for All-Big 12 honors in 2023.

TCU, Oklahoma and Kansas State join Texas among the league’s best with several quality players. On paper, Oklahoma looks like the most improved team after adding four starting caliber defensive players.

Baylor, Texas Tech and Iowa State will have their fair share of talent return for the conference’s final season with Oklahoma and Texas.

Here’s a look at who could be recognized among the conference’s best.

Dates to know for the Texas football offseason

Put these offseason dates for Texas football in your calendar.

The Texas football season is year round. Running backs coach Tashard Choice updated fans on how the Longhorns will spend their offseason and how supporters can participate in offseason activity.

This offseason figures to be less eventful than the last despite plenty of talented players pushing for playing time. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has more reason for faith in his quarterback Quinn Ewers than he had in a neck-and-neck quarterback battle with Hudson Card. Now, the team can focus on fine-tuning its lineup rather than opting for an overhaul.

Multiple players will garner fans’ attention led by freshman quarterback Arch Manning. The Louisiana product likely won’t see as much playing time this season, but spring will give fans a first look at Arch in burnt orange.

Jalen Catalon, AD Mitchell and Isaiah Neyor figure to be the biggest impact additions for the team this year. Their impact will be worth monitoring over the spring and fall.

Here are a few dates to know about the Longhorns’ offseason timeline.

Buy or Sell: Will Texas and these teams emerge as contenders?

We separate legitimate teams from counterfeit contenders.

It’s still early in the college football offseason, but that isn’t stopping plenty of outlets from projecting surprise contenders for the 2023 season. As is often the case, the Texas Longhorns are one of the trending breakout teams.

Often the teams nobody expects to cross the 10-win threshold emerge as playoff contenders.

Last season, the TCU Horned Frogs went from 5-7 to their first ever playoff berth. The Washington Huskies enjoyed a similar turnaround in 2022.

The year before saw Pittsburgh, Wake Forest and NC State surprise as Clemson took a step back.

While its hardly ever Miami, Texas or Nebraska who reach new heights, their track record of winning raises expectations for each team. Let’s look at whose hype we’re buying and selling for the 2023 season.

Texas Football: What makes the SEC a unique challenge for Texas

Looking at what will make the SEC a tough adjustment for Texas.

Times are changing on the Forty Acres. As of 2024, the Texas Longhorns will be members of the Southeastern Conference. It will be a challenge unlike any Texas has faced.

Barry Switzer outlined how difficult winning will be for Oklahoma in its new conference. Texas will have an equally difficult challenge on its hands in the new league.

After adding Oklahoma and Texas, the SEC will have three traditional blue-blood programs. Alabama has the most hardware of the three.

The challenge of the SEC isn’t so much the middle as it is the top half. Just under what are typically considered the blue bloods is a tier dominated by SEC teams. Tennessee, Georgia, LSU, Florida and Auburn might find themselves just shy of blue-blood status, but they have the potential and some of the hardware to compete with college football’s best.

The Tennessee Volunteers boast six national championships all time. Georgia, LSU, Florida and Auburn have played in a combined 11 national championship games since 2003.

At it’s peak, Texas can compete with anyone. Nevertheless, Longhorns will need to raise their game to climb to the top of their new conference.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Texas Football: Alabama QB Jalen Milroe gets his shot at Texas

Week 2 could settle the debate between Quinn Ewers and Jalen Milroe.

Revenge is one of the greatest motivating factors in sports. Though it may not matter all that much given his 2022 struggles, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is set to get his opportunity against Texas.

Former Texas head coach Tom Herman once sold Milroe on a future with him leading the charge. Not long afterward, the Longhorns brought in Mike Yurcich and went all in on Quinn Ewers. We all know the rest of the story.

Despite that, the storyline shouldn’t matter. Texas has the better player at the position and should not lose the game even if it is on the road.

Steve Sarkisian has his quarterback, Quinn Ewers, who should break out this season after showing flashes last year. After last season’s performance against the Tide, Ewers is more than equipped to move the ball against Alabama. He’ll have two elite receiver additions this year barring injury.

While much has been made of Ewers’ struggles, Milroe allowed Texas A&M to nearly pull off a road upset last year in Tuscaloosa.

Shutting down the Alabama quarterback could be Texas’ ticket to a road win in 2023.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Texas Football: Big 12 announces changes to media days

More changes are on the way for the Big 12 conference.

Big 12 media days will be different this offseason. The conference announced the dates the event will take place and the changes to the old model for the 2023 sessions.

The league’s coaches are set to meet the media on July 12 and 13 to answer questions about the upcoming season. The scheduled proceedings will be of added intrigue this year.

According to Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News, all 14 teams are set to participate in both July 12 and 13 media days. It will be worth monitoring how the league manages to fit each team into the two days of media sessions and which teams garner the most attention.

Most eyes will likely be on the two departing teams and the four conference newcomers. The Big 12 adds BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF to the league in the 2023 season.

Oklahoma and Texas part ways with their old conference after this season. The Longhorns look to capitalize in their last opportunity to snap their Big 12 championship drought.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz52bnpekkafqb player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Barry Switzer: “SEC schedule is like facing Texas every week”

Barry Switzer isn’t confident in OU heading into their new league.

Oklahoma, like Texas, has an exciting move to the SEC pending for 2024. However, legendary Oklahoma football coach Barry Switzer isn’t drinking the SEC Sooners Kool-Aid. Continue reading “Barry Switzer: “SEC schedule is like facing Texas every week””