247 says that reduced crowd sizes in 2020 helps Texas football

A limited capacity or empty Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium might not be the only way that Texas football is impacted for the 2020 season.

There is not even a set decision yet from the Big 12 as to how the 2020 college football season could be adjusted or altered in the midst of the novel coronavirus pandemic. But what we do know is that significant changes are already coming down around the Power Five conferences, and we are sure to see more in the coming weeks. How will this ongoing storyline impact the Texas football program for the impending 2020 season?

One national college football media outlet opened up on their thoughts for what could happen for the Longhorns in one particular area during the impending 2020 season. Chris Hummer of 247Sports released a piece on July 13 on the programs he felt would be the most greatly impacted by crowd size limits this coming season.

Hummer apparently feels like reduced crowd sizes in the Power Five this season could actually help the Longhorns more than hurt them. This piece specifically mentions the road contests this year against the Oklahoma State Cowboys and Kansas State Wildcats as points where the Longhorns could benefit from smaller or no crowds this fall.

Here’s more on what this piece had to say on this matter.

"Like their in-state rival, Texas has an upperclassmen-heavy roster primed to contend. But the schedule wasn’t doing the Longhorns any favors. That changes a bit when you consider coronavirus-related impacts. Not only is LSU likely coming off the schedule, but Texas will see blunted road environments at both Kansas State and Oklahoma State.For those unaware, Manhattan, Kansas has been a house of horrors for the Longhorns. Texas has just a single win at Bill Snyder Family Stadium since 2003. And that victory came two years ago by just a single possession. Success has been just as difficult to find in Stillwater, where the Longhorns are 0-2 since 2015. The stands at Boone Pickens Stadium seem to be stacked right on top of the playing surface, creating one of the more underrated environments in the country.Given that Texas’ home crowd very “meh” at times despite holding 100,000 people, the team won’t likely be losing as much as other bluebloods that play in truly special environments. Overall, a schedule that promises limited crowd sizes sets up well for the Longhorns’ Big 12 hopes."

Right below the listing of how limited crowd sizes could help Texas, the piece mentions how it will hurt the rival Oklahoma Sooners. And it also mentions how it could help the Texas A&M Aggies this season in the SEC.

According to a June 10 piece released by Brian Davis at Hookem.com, even with a reduced socially distanced model of Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns would only be holding around 35,000 fans per game. That piece also detailed how the Longhorns were once planning to have just over half of the capacity of the stadium filled (62,000 per game).

DKR could be a weird site with that much of a reduced capacity, especially if the Longhorns jump straight into a conference-only schedule this season. But it does appear that August is the month where the official plans will drop from both Texas and the Big 12.

Texas is supposed to open up the 2020 season at home at DKR against the South Florida Bulls on Sep. 5. The Big 12 opener is set for Oct. 3 on the road in Manhattan against Kansas State.