'No excuse' for Texas to not win Big 12 in 2023

The time is now for Texas to cash in with a terrific send-off season in the Big 12, but On3’s Andy Staples simply doesn’t trust the Longhorns yet.

He recently joined Barstool’s Big Cat and PFT Commentator on their massively successful podcast Pardon My Take to hash out some of the biggest storylines in college football on the eve of the season. As part of their discussion, Big Cat asked Andy for one surprise team and one letdown team.

Regarding the letdown team — while Staples didn’t outright say this program would crater, he’s skeptical a certain high-profile Big 12 school can ultimately win the league going away.

“So the one, I need to see them do this, because the expectations are sky high again. And it’s like we talk ourselves into this every single year without them ever showing us they can do this on the field,” Staples said of this team, before asking…

“Is Texas is going to be favored to win the Big 12? They’re probably favored in 11 of 12 games, probably every game but Alabama.”

With talent like Texas has in their building at the moment, double-digit wins is definitely the expectation.

“They actually have quite a bit of NFL talent this year,” claims Staples, noting that hasn’t always been the case.

“Which I know, everybody’s like… ‘oh, Texas has five-star recruits every year.’ They’ve not put out a ton of NFL talent in the last 10 years. This time, they have it. They’ve got a bunch of guys the NFL people, so there’s really no excuse for them not to close out their time in the Big 12 with a title.”

However, Staples and the rest of the nation have been down this road before with Texas during the preseason in the last decade or so.

“But I’ve seen too many times — and not just Steve Sarkisian. You know, it’s when Tom Herman was coaching him, when Charlie Strong was coaching them, where they roll in to play somebody who they’re clearly more talented than — and last year it was Texas Tech and Oklahoma State — and they just find a way to lose.”

Lastly, Staples pleaded that Texas just can’t drop those games they’re supposed to win against allegedly “lower” competition in the conference.

“I need to see them win these games before I can believe. So, their total is 9.5. I picked the under and everybody went nuts. Look, feel free to clown me if Texas rolls to a Big 12 title. Great! That’s what Texas should be doing, and as they go into the SEC, they’ll be in good shape.

“But until we see them do that with the games that they should win where they are more talented than the opponent, I can’t believe yet. Because I’ve been fooled so many times. So, beat Kansas State, beat TCU, beat Iowa State, beat Texas Tech, then we can talk.”

Lord Staples doth lay the gauntlet down: beat the Red Raiders and Cyclones of the world, and then Texas will have Andy’s attention.