Over the last two years, the Texas Longhorns have been one of the most successful teams in college football. They have made the playoffs twice in that span and fell two wins short of a championship last year. While they lost many veteran pieces to the draft, they are expected to be in the mix for a championship in 2025.
They will be led by Arch Manning, who will take over as the starting quarterback. His offensive weapons will include Ryan Wingo and Jamie Ffrench. On defense, Texas will have talented veterans such as Colin Simmons and Michael Taffee to rely on. That is partly why analysts such as Paul Finebaum expect their playoff streak to continue.
During the latest edition of the "Paul Finebaum Show on Friday, Finebaum said two teams could win nine games and still make the playoffs. Those two teams were Ohio State and Texas.
"Take Ohio State or Texas," Finebaum said. "Both of those could get in with nine (wins) because they play each other to start the year."
How the Longhorns' schedule stacks up
If Texas loses their opener, they would still have to lose two more games for this scenario to become a reality. So, where could those defeats come from?
One tough matchup is going to be the Georgia Bulldogs. Last year, the Bulldogs got the better of the Longhorns in their two matchups. That late-season matchup is also on the road when both teams will have a lot on the line. However, at least on paper, Texas has a better roster.
Some other challenging games will be the Cotton Bowl against Oklahoma and then Texas A&M. The Longhorns will also have to go on the road to face a talented Florida team. Those are games the Longhorns will have a chance of winning, but anything can happen in college football.
Preseason expectations
Entering the regular season, Texas will be viewed as one of the best teams in the nation. Three losses would not be ideal, but they wouldn't necessarily end their playoff hopes. This talented group has plenty of experience, and young emerging players are hungry to prove themselves.
If Finebaum is correct and the Longhorns make the playoffs anyway, winning a national championship is one easy way to make up for losing three games.