Texas Football: Ranking the difficulty of every opponent in 2018

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MORGANTOWN, WV – NOVEMBER 14: Kris Boyd #2 of the Texas Longhorns fumbles on a kick return in the second half against against the West Virginia Mountaineers during the game on November 14, 2015 at Mountaineer Field in Morgantown, West Virginia. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

The expectations for West Virginia are sky high in 2018. Bringing back a superstar quarterback in Will Grier just makes what could be the best offense in the nation that much more lethal. Rising junior running back Kennedy McKoy could also be one of the top ball-carriers in the Big 12 by season’s end.

Grier will spearhead an offensive attack that also features likely the best receiving corps in the nation. Senior David Sills V, senior Gary Jennings, junior Marcus Simms, and the former transfer from the Alabama Crimson Tide T.J. Simmons highlight the unlimited weapons that Grier has to look to in the passing game.

All of this offensive firepower is something that really only two Big 12 defenses should be able to handle this fall. Texas and TCU had the two best defenses in the conference last season and that narrative should be similar again this year. The Horns have so much talent and experience in the secondary that it should be able to at least hold the West Virginia offense at bay for a bit.

The reason why a true Big 12 Championship contender and likely preseason top 25 team like the Mountaineers aren’t on the top five on this list is two fold. Texas defeated West Virginia on the road last year (even though Grier was injured for much of it). And, West Virginia’s defense could actually be the worst in the Big 12 under an offensive minded head coach in Dana Holgorsen.

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