JD PicKell previews Week 2 matchup between Texas, Michigan

One college football analyst weighs in on Texas vs. Michigan.

Seldom does a Week 2 game determine a team’s postseason fate. One early meeting in Ann Arbor has playoff implications for two blue bloods.

The Texas Longhorns and Michigan Wolverines play this season. It’s their first meeting since Texas quarterback Vince Young carried the Longhorns to a Rose Bowl one-point victory in the 2004 season.

The winner of the game launches itself toward the top of college football. The loser significantly decreases its margin for error.

On3 Sports’ JD PicKell described the Michigan team Texas will face on his show, The Hard Count.

“You’ve got some really key pieces back… with Kenneth Grant (and) Mason Graham on the D-line, with (tight end) Coleston Loveland, but it’s a new team in regards to, you’re gonna have a new quarterback, I believe they are 128th in returning production. For context, there’s only 134 teams.”

In contrast, PicKell views the game as an opportunity to prove Texas’ 2023 season wasn’t a fluke.

”For Texas, this is a chance for them to reemphasize what happened last year and say, ‘no, no, no. That’s who we are now. Folks talk about Texas having a flash in the pan… ‘Texas will come back to being Texas. Don’t worry about it.’ You go and beat the national champion at their place early on in the season? That is an identity defining thing for this team and for Steve Sarkisian and what he’s built there.”

Despite the above points in Texas’ favor, PicKell reasons that a game played in the 20’s could favor Michigan. The Wolverines figure to have a strong defense despite all that they lose. That said, there’s a reason Texas has been viewed as a road favorite. The reason is the other side of the football.

Michigan is set to replace starting quarterback JJ McCarthy, all five offensive linemen and its top two wideouts from last season. It’s not much different than what LSU lost on offense after its 2019 national title season. The Tigers fell back to earth the following season.

More concerning for the team is the inability to exploit the Longhorns’ defensive weakness: Its pass defense.

Without returning its downfield threats, Michigan can’t stress the Texas secondary like teams with speedy downfield threats could in Oklahoma and Washington. And while Coleston Loveland is an elite tight end, Texas could neutralize him far easier than it could slow Washington receivers.

The Texas defense could thrive against a run-dependent attack forced to play football in a 20-yard box. Alex Orji, who has just one college pass attempt, could be asked to lead the Michigan offense at quarterback with few viable downfield receiving threats. He could need an offensive line with five new starters to dominate the line of scrimmage.

It’s possible that Texas struggles against the Michigan defense, but it’s unlikely they get outplayed by the Wolverines offense. Should Texas score 20 or more points, the Longhorns might be in the driver’s seat.

We’ll see how the game unfolds when Texas and Michigan battle in Week 2.

Running Back Preview: Looking at who will contribute for Texas in 2024

How much will Texas split carries in 2024?

Running backs highlight much of the history of Texas football. More rushing success could be on its way this season.

There’s an impressive track record of bell cow backs carrying the team on the field. This year could see multiple backs contribute.

Cedric Baxter Jr. and Jaydon Blue return for another season after carrying the rushing attack after Jonathon Brooks’ injury. In Baxter and Blue, Texas has what could be a top one-two punch in the SEC.

Regardless of what coaches say, it’s easy to see a world in which both backs share carries fairly evenly. Albeit, Baxter might be the first to receive carries with Blue seeing several touches as a change of pace back.

The above two players aren’t the only ones in contention to get the football. Elite running back prospect Jerrick Gibson showed up physically ready for the college game. And if last year with a freshman CJ Baxter is any indication, Texas isn’t afraid to play its young players early.

Gibson and fellow freshman Christian Clark have high ceilings at Texas, but could be ready to play this season.

Second-year running back Tre Wisner could also carve a role for himself in the offense. Wisner isn’t built like your typical running back but has a versatile skill set that could provide value this season.

The Texas running back room has at least five players who could positively impact games if called upon to play. No room is completely injury proof but this position is close. We’ll follow how the room takes shape this spring.

CFB analyst believes there could be way more post-spring portal action

Josh Pate can see more post-spring transfer portal shakeup than we’ve seen in early portal action.

The transfer portal has been active this offseason. It could see even more change once spring football is over according to one college football analyst.

247Sports’ Josh Pate shared the following on his Late Kick podcast of what could happen in the portal over the next couple months.

“The post-spring transfer portal cycle coming up may actually be wilder than the December window. There are no rules.”

Pate continued on what the lack of regulation means for the rest of the offseason.

“The impact is going to be enormous. A lot of you are nervous. Frankly, you should be nervous because there are no players who are safe right now.”

What does it mean for Texas? Like every other college football team, the Longhorns will likely have to continue to recruit their own players. Why? Because college football teams tamper. They do so because they can with little to no repercussions.

The above has become the new normal for Texas, and they’ve done a good job fending off teams trying to lure away their top players. Unfortunately, it could mean the Longhorns lose quality depth this offseason. After all, backups can play more and see better NIL opportunities elsewhere.

Despite the difficulties Texas will face in maintaining its roster, its challenges are shared with every other team in college football. The Longhorns will simply need to be one of the best at retaining their players to enter the season with an advantage.

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What the 2025 SEC schedule means for Texas’ football prospects

The SEC followed a gift of a 2024 Texas schedule with another one for 2025.

Texas knows its 2025 football opponents after an announcement this week. Somehow the Longhorns managed to receive a second consecutive favorable schedule from their new league.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian’s squad drew the same conference opponents they drew for 2024. The only difference is where the games will be played. Texas will play the Arkansas, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt at home. The road schedule with see Texas play Florida, Georgia, Kentucky and Mississippi State. The neutral site game in Dallas against Oklahoma will count as a home game.

It’s not an easy schedule by any stretch. Texas will play Ohio State in nonconference before facing Georgia, Oklahoma and Texas A&M in SEC play.

In Ohio State and Georgia, Texas faces the two most highly touted teams for 2024. One would assume they would be around the Top 10 teams the following season. But for the first two seasons in its new conference, the SEC slate sees the Longhorns avoid matchups against Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Missouri, Ole Miss and Tennessee.

Making a College Football Playoff with Georgia, Ohio State, Oklahoma and Texas A&M on the schedule is an admittedly difficult task. Texas doesn’t have to beat Ohio State or Georgia, but it would need to beat everyone else. The rest of the SEC slate gives them a chance.

Obviously, Texas will need to reload again next offseason to contend nationally. Nevertheless, the team has to be excited about what SEC opponents it plays in 2025.

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