Skip to main content

Tag: Longhorn football

Longhorns’ CFP Ambitions: Arch Manning and the SEC Challenge

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in UT FOOTBALL.

Texas enters the 2025 season with major momentum—and sky-high expectations.

 Why expectations are so high

  • Preseason favorite in the SEC: Media and predictive models rank Texas atop the SEC, thanks largely to Arch Manning stepping into the spotlight. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives them an 83.9% chance to reach the College Football Playoff—a full point above Georgia—alongside a 22.2% chance at a national title

  • Analyst confidence: Paul Finebaum recently emphasized that with Manning leading, Texas isn’t just playoff-caliber—they’re championship-caliber. He suggested Manning “may have even beaten Ohio State” if he’d started the Cotton Bowl.

Arch Manning’s readiness

  • Skillset and coaches’ optimism: Head coach Steve Sarkisian is tailoring the offense to Manning’s strengths—particularly a deep-ball focus that fits his game.  CBS Sports pegged Manning as the No. 2 QB in the SEC (behind Georgia’s Gunner Stockton) in preseason rankings.

  • Growth and handling the pressure: Analysts from SI to Athlon note the need for Manning’s consistent month-to-month progress, balancing lofty expectations with manageable development.

A brutal road ahead

  • Toughest schedule in America: ESPN FPI ranks Texas’s 2025 slate as the 4th-hardest nationally. That brutal lineup includes marquee road games at Ohio State and Georgia, plus tough matchups at Florida, Oklahoma (Red River Rivalry), and Texas A&M

  • SEC tests loom large: SEC media polls place Texas at No. 1, just ahead of Georgia and Alabama. Odds-wise, Texas sits at +270 to win the SEC—slightly favored over Georgia (+400) and Alabama (+500) .

Playoff window: wide open, but thin

  • Experience meets fresh talent: Texas returns 12 starters and brings in key transfers (like LB Brad Spence), blending seasoned depth with fresh talent.

  • CFP expansion context: With the playoff expanding, Sarkisian warns that even two- or three-loss teams may sneak in—making near-perfection less mandatory, but top-tier consistency still essential.

Arch Manning’s debut season as Texas’s starting QB in the SEC carries immense hype—and justified optimism. With Texas leading the SEC in projections, a title favorite in national models, and buoyed by expert praise, the Longhorns are positioned to make a deep playoff push. Yet that lofty trajectory hinges on navigating a brutally tough schedule and sustaining balance amid mounting expectations. If Manning lives up to the hype and Sarkisian’s SURGE offense clicks, Texas looks poised to challenge for both an SEC title and a CFP return.

Michigan graduate Tarik Black lands in Texas after transfer.

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS.

Michigan Wolverine wide receiver Tarik Black stated this week on his Instagram that he is transferring to Texas for the fall. The former Wolverine made the decision to move on from Ann Arbor following a three-year career as a Wolverine.

A former four-star recruit out of Ceshire (CT) Cheshire Academy, Black was a part of Jim Harbaugh’s 2017 class at Michigan. The former U.S. Army All-American chose Michigan over offers from Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Miami, Mississippi State and several others. The wide receiver room in Austin was stacked over the last few years, but departures from Lil’Jordan Humphrey and 2020 draftees Collin Johnson and Devin Duvernay left Texas young at the position.

Texas typically used big-bodied wide receivers like Black at the “X” position where their size provides a chain moving target for the quarterback on the outside. Collin Johnson served in that role for years in this offense, and Brennan Eagles has spent some time lined up there as well. It’s unclear how Texas offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich plans to use Black moving forward, but his presence as a veteran wide receiver should help to elevate a talented but young wide receiver room.

Reported by Horns247.com

RED RIVER II Big 12 Title Game

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in Football, TEXAS SPORTS.

Not since 1903 — and the third time ever will the Longhorns and Sooners play for a second time in a single season, but this time for the Big 12 Championship.

In a series that began in 1900 these two Rivals will go head to head once more with the conference on the line. A Texas defeat of Kansas in Lawrence last Friday clinched the first appearance in the Big 12 Championship game since 2009 for the Longhorns. Then  Friday night, Oklahoma edged out WV in an all out thriller in Morgantown 59-56 Sooners.

The Cotton Bowl rematch  in Arlington  is set for December 1st this Saturday at AT&T Stadium.The Longhorns narrowly escaped the Sooners back in October at the Red River Showdown this season, in a 48-45 thriller over OU.

The Sooners have been red hot since the loss to Texas and have won every game since.

Texas has seen some offensive woes in recent weeks and QB Sam Ehlinger has gone down in two games due to a shoulder injury. Which Texas team will show up for coach Tom Herman at this Big 12 title match? The team who struggled against Kansas and Baylor, or the team that put up 41 against West Virginia and 48 against the Sooners?

The stakes are high with implications of a potential playoff. Then there is the New Years Six bowl placement, and don’t forget bragging rights in this rivalry. And while I am rooting for my Longhorns to win this game, I also know it will be tough against a high flying Kyler Murry lead offense, however Texas also has the receiver core in Lil Jordan Humphrey and Collin Johnson. With the arm and legs of Sam Ehlinger and a Texas secondary that is lead by Kris Boyd and Caden Sterns the Horns need only stay within a score to catch the Sooners. In fact I’ll bet that the last team with the ball will win.”

The Arlington kick off at is at 11 a.m. Central on ABC.

Longhorns Improve in 2018

Written by Russell Dowden on . Posted in TEXAS SPORTS, UT FOOTBALL.

The Longhorns will have a chance to play for a Big 12 Championship this season and possibly boast a 9-2 Record overall. At least that is the hope for this Texas Fan. But, the Horns will be better by a few wins this year due to an improved offense and a defense that is young and building a foundation.  As Hunter Cooke pointed out the other day on this site, the Big 12 is the weakest conference out of the Power 5  in 2018.
Herman’s young team needs to improve on the offensive side of the ball this year if they are to get to double digit wins and his pair of young QBs will have to settle down sand have some composure in the pocket for this to happen this fall. The Texas class this spring was #3 in the nation and Herman’s quote from national signing day gave hope for the fan base on the 40 acres.
Key Quote: “There’s going to be a lot of competition on the defensive side. On both sides of the ball really. But I think we all can see, whoa, that side of the ball just got real in a hurry,” Herman said of the defensive outlook on National Signing Day. “To sign the three best safeties in the country (Caden Sterns and B.J. Foster), as well as what we think are the two best corners in the country, Jalen Green and D’Shawn Jamison, then the two best defensive tackles in the state in Moro Ojomo and Keondre Coburn, then the best pass-rusher in the state with Joseph Ossai, then Mike Williams and Daniel Carson as well.”
The defense led by Todd Orlando should be the a nice surprise in 2018. Brandon Jones is a big factor since the loss of DeShon Elliot to the NFL. DBU boast seniors Davante Davis, PJ Locke , & Kris Boyd, along with a several freshman defensive backs in Jalen Green, Anthony Cook, and Caden Sterns, along with Turner Symonds & BJ Foster. While we are optimistic this year after Herman’s first season going 7-6 with a bowl win, Horns fans are hungry for more than a mediocre season after some hard years under Charlie Strong. We think that the record will vastly improve this season and the record in 2018 will go up a few wins.

Our prediction is that Herman’s sophomore year will earn a few more wins in 2018 and gain back fans loyalty at Texas. The Horns should improve to a 9-2 record based on conference strength and a better looking offense and a young defense with several players returning.

Hook Em!