Texas Football: Greg McElroy has argument for Longhorns in the Playoff

There is plenty of hype building around Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian heading into the 2023 regular season. A few days ago, Big 12 media members voted Texas as the top team in the conference for the 2023 campaign. Texas is also the odds-on favorite from most sportsbooks among Big 12 teams to make the College Football Playoff in 2023-24.

Granted, it does feel like a tired conversation to let the preseason hype get out of hand for the Longhorns, especially when discussing the potential for Texas to make the College Football Playoff. Some fans expect Texas to have enough talent to make it to the Playoff each year.

Many media members feel this year will be different, though.

Greg McElroy makes valid case for Texas football to make the College Football Playoff

Greg McElroy is one of the most recent college football media members to make the case for the Longhorns to make it to the Playoff this coming season. On his show “Always College Football“, McElroy laid out his case for Texas to make a run for the Playoff in 2023.

"“Believe me, as a media member, (I) do fall victim to the occasional Texas fatigue. They’re pretty good, y’all. They’re pretty good.”"

McElroy attributes growth at the quarterback position, a plethora of returning experience among the players on the two-deep, and the abundance of immediate impact additions this offseason as reasons why Texas could be a Playoff contender in 2023.

"“I think when you look at their roster, assuming significant growth at the quarterback spot, assuming the wide receiver group can stay healthy, which they couldn’t do last year, assuming their tight end becomes a major difference maker, assuming, given the fact that it’s the Texas Longhorns, assuming they have a pretty dang good running back.”"

There are some valid points McElroy makes here. Texas does have more returning talent and experience than it had in the prior two years under Sark’s direction as head coach.

The real x-factor here will be the play of redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers. If Ewers can take that next step to become one of the best and most consistent quarterbacks in the Big 12 this fall, there’s no doubting Texas’ potential as a Playoff contender.

McElroy doesn’t talk too much about how big of an opportunity Texas will have playing in a weaker Big 12 this fall before making the move to the SEC next year. If Texas wants a viable path to make it to the Playoff (at least before the CFP expands in 2026), this season looks to be it.