Desmond Howard makes the case for Texas as college football's top team

Texas, undefeated and ranked No. 3 in the country, may actually be back to competing on the national stage in 2023. At least that’s what ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard thinks.

During a brief hit on ESPN’s “First Take” on Friday ahead of the Red River Showdown in Dallas, Howard explained why he thinks Texas could even be the top team in the entire country. It actually starts with the big guys upfront on defense.

“What really jumped out to me was their defense. No one expected their defense to be as great as they are right now, defensive front is very fast and athletic. But then Jaylan Ford, linebacker, 32 tackles, 16 solo tackles. I just love the way their defense has come together in 2023,” Howard said.

The quarterback situation, with former No. 1 prospect Quinn Ewers coming into his own, also earned high praise from Howard.

He thinks Ewers is playing as well as any quarterback in the country.

And he also thinks Texas has the best win at the moment, beating Alabama in Tuscaloosa in Week 2 in mostly commanding fashion.

“Well Texas is, so far, they have the best win. Going down to Tuscaloosa and I’m talking about soundly beating Alabama the way they did. It’s not like you walked away from that game talking about ‘Ah, well, if Alabama would’ve did this,’ like no, no, no, no. There’s nothing they could’ve done that day because Texas was the better team. So they’ve got the best win. Quinn Ewers is playing better than or just as well as any quarterback in the nation,” Howard said.

Howard isn’t the only one high on the Texas defensive front

On3’s Andy Staples welcomed former Oklahoma offensive lineman Gabe Ikard to his show, where Ikard revealed why he believes the defensive front of Texas could be the difference-maker against his Sooners.

“I think their defensive line is the strength of their football team,” Ikard told Staples. “When you look at Texas’ offensive and defensive lines … T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy [defensively], that combination of those guys on the interior — that’s the best position group that they have, that interior defensive line group with Sweat and Murphy then you can throw Alfred Collins in there, too. He’s a versatile piece for them, the same with Vernon Broughton. I really like some of the stuff I’ve seen from him.”

Murphy leads the group with a team-high 2.5 sacks, while Sweat and Collins have recorded one each while Broughton still searches for his first of the season. Texas wants Oklahoma quarterback Dillon Gabriel to have to beat them on his feat instead of giving him time to go through his progressions and throw the football.