Hook'em Headlines
Fansided

ESPN has Texas football right where it belongs in preseason SEC rankings

The Texas Longhorns are sitting pretty in the SEC, according to ESPN's latest preseason poll for the powerhouse conference.
BySam Fariss|
Arch Manning, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Texas v Arizona State
Arch Manning, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - Texas v Arizona State | Todd Kirkland/GettyImages

Last season, Texas marched into the SEC and (nearly) stole the show. The Horns only lost to the Georgia Bulldogs in the regular season, and then lost to them again in the conference championship game, but progressed farther than any other team in the conference in the College Football Playoffs.

Now, it seems the Texas Longhorns are primed and ready to truly take over the powerhouse conference and claim the SEC title for the first time.

In ESPN's most recent preseason power rankings for the SEC, none other than the Longhorns stood atop the conference, outpacing the likes of Georgia, the Alabama Crimson Tide, and the LSU Tigers (as well as little brothers Oklahoma and Texas A&M).

Now, these power rankings don't necessarily guarantee that Texas will come out on top of the conference at the end of the regular season, far from it. However, it's a step in the right direction for the Horns and a good omen for a tough schedule ahead.

Which teams could ruin Texas's conference record?

  • at Florida Gators - October 4
  • vs. Oklahoma Sooners - October 11
  • at Georgia Bulldogs - November 15

Of course, the Red River Rivalry is always a speed bump on Texas's schedule. No matter which team is better and no matter which team is on a winning streak, the other team could come out of the rivalry matchup with the win.

Texas plays just four SEC teams on the road this season: the Florida Gators, Kentucky Wildcats, Mississippi State Bulldogs, and Georgia Bulldogs. While the games against Kentucky and Mississippi State should be a breeze, Florida and Georgia pose serious threats to the Horns' record.

If Texas can defeat the Ohio State Buckeyes to kick off the season, the Longhorns could easily fly into Gainesville with a perfect 4-0 record. The Gators, led by head coach Billy Napier, could disrupt that flawless record with the home advantage.

Just a few weeks later, as the regular season reaches its end, Texas will visit the Bulldogs in Athens. So far, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian has yet to find a way to topple Georgia. This game is the perfect opportunity for Sark and his staff to prove that they can handle even the SEC's top "dawgs."

Home/Texas Football