The past... two decades... have created a sense of distrust and unease in the Texas Longhorns.
So much so that even though the Horns have a nation-leading four players on the AP Preseason All-American first team, there are still a few crucial Texas football players missing from the group, highlighting those lingering questions around the team.
Yes, Colin Simmons, Cam Coleman, Rasheem Biles, and Trevor Goosby made the first-team roster, but that was it. No Longhorns made the second team. Critical players like quarterback Arch Manning any of the defensive backs, or anyone on special teams did not make the cut.
Those missing pieces, the players who aren't considered one of the best (if not the best) in the country, are walking and talking examples of why people are struggling to trust that the Horns can win it all this year, even Texas's biggest fans.
Arch Manning must prove himself worthy of an AP All-American spot
The most notable absence was Manning's, who, despite being considered one of the best quarterbacks in the country, was topped by Oregon's Dante Moore (first team) and Ole Miss's Trinidad Chambliss (second team).
However, while his absence was notable, it shouldn't exactly come as a huge surprise.
Much like the team as a whole, people still have their questions and hesitations around Manning.
Last season, Manning and the Longhorns were propped up as the team to beat. Texas was ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll, Manning was the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy at the end of the year, and the Horns were projected to be the National Champions.
That quickly got turned on its head when the Ohio State Buckeyes held Texas to just seven points and kicked off the Horns' season with a 0-1 record. Manning looked shaky through the entire first half of the season and didn't truly look like the star he was supposed to be until Texas beat Mississippi State in the eighth game of the year.
Also read: Arch Manning looks good at fall camp, but there's a lot more for Texas's QB1 to prove
Because of that shortcoming or disappointment, people are undeniably hesitant to fully trust Manning to kick off the season at full force this time around. The AP Preseason All-American roster was just another example of that fact.
Now, all of that to say, Manning could come out guns blazing in Week 2 when Texas hosts Ohio State and see himself propelled up those quarterback rankings, leapfrogging fellow QBs like Moore and Chambliss.
For now, the jury is out on the Longhorns and the starting quarterback, but they have every opportunity to prove every single doubter wrong.
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