Texas tabbed as a team that could ‘crash’ the Playoff in 2022

Second-year Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian will be in a spot with a lot of pressure in 2022. While he’s not likely to find himself on a hot seat entering the 2022 season, that narrative could change quickly in 2023. Sark and his staff need to find a legit identity for this team and find a lot more success in the win column in 2022 compared to how they did last season.

Sark and the Longhorns finished up last season with a record of 5-7 (3-6 Big 12) following a win on Black Friday in the regular season over head coach Chris Klieman and the Kansas State Wildcats. That resulted in the Longhorns missing out on the postseason for the first time since 2016.

Moreover, expectations for the Longhorns are realistically going to be to improve the record by two or three wins next season. If nothing else, Sark needs to show progress with new starting quarterback and former Ohio State freshman transfer Quinn Ewers. Show progress with Ewers and make it to the postseason, and the bare minimum expectations will at least be met for Sark in his second year at the helm.

But there are some that are going to be really excited about what the Longhorns could potentially do in 2022. And there is a reason for that. Texas does have a very potent offense in 2022. If the defense can improve, Texas should be one of the better teams in the Big 12 this year.

Steve Sarkisian and Texas football crashing the Playoff in 2022?

Yet, expectations do need to be tamed for this coming season. Texas does have the potential to make some real noise in the Big 12, but it won’t be easy.

Texas does have the talent on hand, though, to challenge some College Football Playoff-caliber teams. That is why Texas was included recently on a list of 10 teams that could “crash” the College Football Playoff picture from 247Sports.

This piece from 247Sports mentions that some of the star power that the Longhorns have on offense in 2022 between the likes of Ewers and star running back Bijan Robinson could take them to the next level. Here’s more on what this piece had to say on Texas’ ability to crash the Playoff in 2022.

"The Longhorns might have the biggest ask of any team in non-conference play come September, as they’ll host Alabama in the Crimson Tide’s first game against a Power Five opponent since their loss in the national title game. There’s also getting over the hump of beating Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown, as the Longhorns have not beaten their rival since 2018."

Realistically, I would expect to come closer to playing the role of a spoiler that makes it to a quality bowl game in 2022 than a team actually contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Beating some potential College Football Playoff contenders this year such as the Alabama Crimson Tide, Oklahoma Sooners, Baylor Bears, Oklahoma State Cowboys, etc., sounds daunting.

But at least knocking off two or three of those teams (maybe barring the Crimson Tide) is doable for Texas in 2022.

Texas is set to open up the 2022 season on Sep. 3 at home against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks. But the non-conference slate will really ramp up from there, as they take on Alabama and the UTSA Roadrunners in the next two games before Big 12 play begins.