Greg McElroy says Texas is his pick for 2023 Big 12 Champions

Spring practice may be underway for most programs across the country, but it’s never too early to make some 2023 season predictions. Former Alabama quarterback and current college football analyst Greg McElroy made his own prediction on his podcast ‘Always College Football’ recently, and it’s one that Texas Longhorn fans might want to pay close attention to.

“I do think that Texas, seriously I really believe this, I think Texas is really really well positioned this year,” McElroy said. “And I think this is a team that has not handled expectations well though, every time we all get real fired up about Texas in the preseason they really have a tendency of kind of letting us down.”

It’s hard to deny that the Longhorns are set up for success this season. Under center they now have two quarterbacks on their roster that were rated the No. 1 overall quarterback in their high school class with Quinn Ewers returning and Arch Manning enrolling this spring.

The Longhorns did lose two elite players out of the backfield with production that will be hard to match this season, losing running backs Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. But running back is the only offensive position that they aren’t returning a starter at, and they may be able to make up for it with a passing attack that on paper looks like one of the best in the country.

Texas returns all conference talent out wide in Xavier Worthy and Jordan Whittington, not to mention tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders and Georgia transfer AD Mitchell. Their firepower at the skill positions plus their continuity up front in the trenches will make their offense hard to stop, and additionally, their defense brings back over half of their starters from last season after taking a big leap last year.

“So I’m hopeful that doesn’t happen this year, but I think they’re well positioned to be highly competitive this year and they would be my pick right now if I had to make it to win the Big 12,” McElroy said.

If the Longhorns did bring home the conference title this season, it’d be the first time they’ve done so since 2009. Since 2010 Texas has had one season with 10 or more wins and five losing seasons, despite entering multiple seasons with similar high exceptions like they’ll have this upcoming season.

Texas ‘being back’ is something the college football world has been waiting on for years now, will 2023 be the year when that comes true?