Texas Football: 4 bold predictions for Longhorns in Big 12 play

Texas goes undefeated in Big 12 play

This year in the Big 12 is the best chance Texas will have at winning a conference title (at least in terms of the state of this current team compared to the strength of the Big 12 as a whole) for a long time, it seems. The Big 12 had a rough stretch during Big 12 play, including multiple bad losses to lower and middle-tier Group of Five schools (i.e., Baylor losing to Texas State and Oklahoma State falling to South Alabama, both losing by double digits).

Despite having the second-easiest strength of schedule among the Power Five conferences (according to Real-Time RPI Rankings), the Big 12 finished with the worst record and RPI Index ranking.

Texas only faces one ranked team in Big 12 play on Oct. 7 in Red River against the No. 16 Oklahoma Sooners.

While Texas has a clear path on paper to win a Big 12 title this fall, it will have the target on its back every game. Each opponent on Texas and Oklahoma’s schedule wants a shot at these two squads before they leave for the SEC in 2024. Oklahoma will also want revenge after Texas’ dominating 49-0 win over the Sooners in Red River last season.

To some degree, Texas always has the target on its back because of the name brand of the program. But it’s different this year. Texas has the target on its back for three reasons instead of just one. The Longhorns are leaving for the SEC next year, have their best team in over a decade (in terms of AP Poll ranking and talent on paper), and are the Big 12 title favorite from the preseason media poll.

Texas clearly has the talent, depth, and strength of schedule (or lack thereof) to make it through Big 12 play unscathed. But it’s always easier said than done to win a Power Five conference with the target on your back the way Texas has it this fall.