CFB analyst still high on Texas heading into 2025 according to their preseason poll

Well-known college football analyst Brett McMurphy just released his official preseason AP top 25 poll and Longhorn fans are going to be very excited to see that he's still bullish on Texas this season.

Some analysts are weary of having the Longhorns ranked so high due to the whole "Arch Manning hasn't done anything yet" narrative. Yes, it's true, he hasn't started a full season yet or really shown his true potential but it's very apparent that the potential is there. Manning's overall performance holds the key to Texas' future in 2025, and everyone inside of the program has unwavering faith in him and his ability to lead the team deep into the playoffs.

Though the official coaches poll still has Texas at No.1, individual analysts are consistently ranking them around No.5 or lower.

Texas' defense that was already one of the best in all of college football last season, has the potential to be even better in 2025 with the additions that the Longhorns made on the interior defensive line. Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton were great for the defense last season but I'm not sure if the team's ever had this amount of overall talent and depth at defensive tackle.

Travis Shaw, Hero Kanu, Cole Brevard, Maraad Watson, LaVon Johnson, and Alex January could all get in on the DT rotation in 2025, and all of them are stout in most aspects of playing the position, especially run stopping (the only "problem" area defensively last year).

If the defense performs as well as they did in 2024, and Arch Manning can play sound, but exciting football this season, Longhorn Nation could be in for big year.