Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
“Show me that Texas is going to be a team that we have to deal with when we talk about the big boys in college football.” – JD PicKell
Now that Steve Sarkisian has had time to establish himself and the new culture at Texas, there is no longer the grace period of him being in the early stages of his tenure. Continue reading “It’s time for Steve Sarkisian to make a statement in 2023”
The fans are all in on Texas in 2023.
The buzz surrounding the Texas Longhorns has grown so much that all of the season tickets for the upcoming 2023 season are sold out. Continue reading “Texas sells out of 2023 season tickets ahead of final Big 12 campaign”
Is it possible for Texas to fall to Kansas at home again?
There have been some lofty goals and expectations floating around Austin ahead of the 2023 college football season. Continue reading “Texas’ matchup against Kansas viewed as a trap game by Athlon Sports”
The Longhorns have a path to glory but can they seize it?
Prior to every upcoming college football season. most fan bases are either talking themselves into why their favorite programs can win it all, or why they are just a certain piece away from reaching the pinnacle.
For Texas fans that discussion is becoming a tad more real this offseason, as Steve Sarkisian and company have appeared to figure things out. After a tumultuous first season that revealed that the roster was thin at all of the wrong places, Sarkisian has continued Texas’ recruiting success. However, the main difference between the current and prior regime is the development.
Sarkisian is appearing to get the most out of his recruiting classes with freshmen starring on the offensive line and young pass catchers producing immediately, whereas Tom Herman’s staff either misevaluated players or did not develop them properly.
With Texas going into their final season of being a Big 12 member, the stars seem to be aligning for the Longhorns to make a run to the playoff. Texas returns one of the most experienced rosters in the country, and when you look around the Big 12 there are a lot more programs in an in-between state rather than programs pushing to be competitive.
If Texas is able to get an improved performance from Quinn Ewers at quarterback, who was essentially turned into a glorified game manager by year’s end this past season, it is hard to imagine what could slow them down. They have the talent on offense, key pieces on defense, and the perfect schedule to build up their resume.
Assuming Texas can end up on the right side of the scoreboard in their Week 2 matchup at Alabama, and not have any hiccups along the way, they will certainly find themselves amongst the top four teams in the country. With a move to the SEC and what will be a tough 2024 schedule looming, the Longhorns absolutely need to take advantage of the fact that all of the perennial powers in Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State, and even Oklahoma are in somewhat of a reloading stage. They all have talented pieces, but none of them are as surefire as they have been in years past.
This could be Texas’ clearest path to contention in the past 10 years, but whether they can live up to the growing expectations is to be determined.
Will Texas be able to avoid the trap games in 2023?
Texas’ football program is no stranger to trap games. In fact, it’s safe to say for the past decade that the Longhorns have fallen victim to at least one trap game per year. Continue reading “Three possible trap games for Texas football in 2023”
Several intriguing matchups await the Longhorns in 2024.
Wednesday evening was the 2024 SEC football schedule reveal, which for the first time pertained to Texas. Continue reading “Roundtable: Which of Texas’ 2024 opponents are we most excited for?”
Texas now knows who they will be facing and where for the 2024 season.
The 2024 SEC football schedule reveal took place on Wednesday night. Texas now knows who they will be facing and where for their first season in the conference.
The dates and TV Networks will be released at a later time. However, which opponents Texas would face for their first year in the SEC was the talk of the offseason.
On the plus side, Texas will finally get to play Texas A&M while also keeping their neutral location for the Red River Rivalry intact. On the down side, the Longhorns have a couple tough draws on the road.
Here’s a look at Texas’ 2024 SEC opponents and the location of each matchup.
Kickoff times have been announced for three Texas football games this fall.
Kickoff times have been announced for three Texas football games this fall. The Longhorns matchups vs. Rice, Wyoming and Texas Tech have start times and TV channels.
The 2023 opener against Rice is likely to be a hot one. Early season day games at DKR are usually not a great combination because the temperature could be in the triple digits.
Texas returns home after the highly anticipated Alabama trip to host Wyoming under the lights.
The season finale vs. Texas Tech is a prime-time affair the day after Thanksgiving. The game could have significant Big 12 title implications in the last week of the year. All eyes should be on Texas and Texas Tech on Black Friday.
A tough November could determine whether or not Texas reaches 10 wins this season.
The Texas football program begins a crucial 2023 season in just over three months. In many ways this has to be the year the Longhorns break through. For starters, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian has yet to win 10 games as a head coach. More than that, he has a program loaded and ready to win now.
We’ve written extensively on what Texas returns, but less about what the program could lose after this season. While the offense could lose a good amount of upperclassmen, it should be in good hands after this season. The defense could be a different story.
The Longhorns’ secondary is comprised of four seniors with Jalen Catalon, Ryan Watts, Jerrin Thompson and Jahdae Barron. The experience is a huge advantage for the current squad, but one that could cause next year’s team to struggle. For that reason, Texas needs to win now. To do so, the team needs to make it through a tough November slate.
It’s very possible Texas starts the season 8-0. I’ve predicted as much and believe the team matches up well enough with the first eight teams to secure wins. After that comes the gauntlet of potential upsets. Texas hosts Kansas State and Texas Tech while traveling to TCU and Iowa State.
Let’s break down each of the final four matchups of the year.
We look at the games every Big 12 team should have circled in 2023.
All college football games count the same, but some have an impact that extends far beyond the season. We saw Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher embrace that philosophy in 2021 where the team sauntered through half the season with its entire focus on beating Alabama.
Despite an 8-4 season, A&M’s win over the Crimson Tide helped Fisher and company to the No. 1 recruiting class for 2022. Other teams have certain games on their mind for different reasons.
Rivalry games can swing perception for some programs. High profile wins can aid team confidence as much as they lead to big recruiting classes. For others, stealing a win in the team’s most difficult game can increase the chances of a double-digit win season.
Let’s look at the game each Big 12 team should have circled for the 2023 season.
