Joel Klatt breaks down Texas’ strength as CFP contender

Texas has never made the College Football Playoff since it was first introduced in 2014, but Joel Klatt believes it can change that this season. The FOX Sports analyst sees a key difference in the Longhorns that hasn’t been there in the past decade-plus as they struggled to live up to expectations year after year.

Of course, quarterback Quinn Ewers and skill players such as Ja’Tavion Sanders and Xavier Worthy have been impressive, but it’s more than just that. Klatt explained on his podcast Tuesday that better play on the offensive line and defensively has truly made the difference for Texas.

“Texas is an obvious one for me and it’s not because of what the quarterback did,” he said. “It’s actually not just because of the result against Alabama, although that helps. It’s not just because of Steve Sarkisian and the way he calls plays, although that helps. It’s not just Xavier Worthy and some of the skill position players on the outside, although that helps. Do you know why Texas is real? It’s because they’re real at the line of scrimmage.

“Their defense is consistent and it’s consistently good. They can run the ball. They went out against Alabama, what I categorize as a pretty good defense, and they ended the game on the field in the last seven minutes. That’s what makes them real.”

Both of those areas were on display in the Longhorns’ 34-24 victory against Alabama in Week 2. The Texas offensive line did not allow Ewers to be sacked a single time, while the defense recorded five sacks against the Crimson Tide and forced a pair of interceptions.

Klatt continued to say heap praise on the Longhorns, saying this team is the best he’s seen since the 2005 squad that won the national championship. Not only did that team rank first in the country in points per game, but it was ninth in points allowed.

It might seem hard to believe after Texas managed just one 10-win season since 2009, but this year’s group has the best chance to replicate that success and make the College Football Playoff.

“This reminds me a lot more of the 2004, 2005 Texas teams than it does what we’ve seen for the last decade or even with Colt McCoy,” Klatt said. “That Colt McCoy team, the offense and skill position players were making up for a lot of inadequacies around that roster. Not anymore. The defense is real. The offensive line is real and here’s what that does.

“I’ve lamented for a long time that Texas constantly plays to the level of their competition. I’ve said it on this program countless times. But when you really think about that, what is that a product of? It’s a product of just being reliant on timing and rhythm and skill position execution. Now, they’re reliant on line play, defensive play. That is more consistent on a week in and week out basis. So that’s why they’re obviously, for me, above the line.”

It also helps that the Longhorns have a favorable schedule the rest of the way. As long as they take care of business against teams they should beat, they should be in good shape.

Texas next kicks off against No. 24 Kansas at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday in Austin.