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Texas Football: 5 biggest regular season storylines

By Andrew Miller

AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 17: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns warms up before the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TX - NOVEMBER 17: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns warms up before the game against the Iowa State Cyclones at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on November 17, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – December 6: The National Championship trophy is displayed prior to the College Football Playoff Semifinal Head Coaches News Conference on December 6, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – December 6: The National Championship trophy is displayed prior to the College Football Playoff Semifinal Head Coaches News Conference on December 6, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images) /

2. College Football Playoff contention

One of the best moments from the 2018 regular season for Texas football, and one of the most memorable, was the six-game winning streak that included a number of outstanding victories. It was all snapped and came crashing down after the Oct. 27 loss to the Oklahoma State Cowboys, but there were some memorable parts of the season before that.

Heading into that road matchup against head coach Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State at the end of October, the Horns were the No. 6 ranked team in the nation. Texas only had one loss and sat in the driver’s seat in the Big 12 standings. If Texas was able to win out heading into the Big 12 Championship Game, it would’ve been in prime position to make it in the College Football Playoff field.

The loss to Oklahoma State effectively eliminated the Horns from Playoff contention, and then the team was buried by the loss to the West Virginia Mountaineers. The fact that the Horns were in Playoff contention in the first place was the impressive part in just the second year under Herman’s direction.

Moreover, what this national relevance for a period of time this year will do for Texas is build up some hype for the 2019 season. If Texas defeats in the Georgia Bulldogs in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, it can count on having a chance to finish this year in the top 10 for both polls. A top 10 finish this year and a victory to round things out in a New Year’s Six Bowl would mean a building hype train for the polls next season.

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