Setting expectations for Texas ahead of SEC move

Texas has big expectations when the school gets to the SEC, but the Longhorns have to take of business in the Big 12 before the move.

On3’s Andy Staples said it would be a failure if Texas doesn’t win the Big 12 this year with the amount of talent on the squad. The year of 2023 sets up for Texas to have one of its best seasons yet.

Staples joined J.D. PicKell on The Hard Count to explain.

“You said if Texas doesn’t have a great double digit win season and it’s still okay, it is not okay,” Staples told PicKell. “They’re gonna be favored in 11 of 12 games, like they should be dominant this season. They should be very good, they should win the big 12 This season. If they don’t, you got a problem. If they lose to Oklahoma, you got a problem because right now they’re in a better situation talent wise relative to Oklahoma than they’ve been in years. And the rest of the Big 12, not even close to them in terms of on paper talent. 

“So you better win that because you’re about to go to a place where the on paper talent becomes much closer and in some cases better than yours. So you better be able to beat Kansas State, TCU, and these are very good programs with great coaches, you can’t beat them this year? You got a problem when you get the SEC.”

That’s where Staples doubled down on the notion of Texas fans saying the year would be a failure if they Longhorns don’t win the Big 12. 

“They’re right. They’re exactly right,” Staples said. “It’s a failure if they don’t win the Big 12 … They’re the best team on paper, they should win the league. Like if you don’t do that, you didn’t reach your potential.” 

Despite a solid 8-5 season last year, Steve Sarkisian seems to believe Texas has plenty to work on.

“We’ve got to be a more balanced attack than we were a year ago,” Sarkisian said. “We were a very good running football team. Clearly, when you have a Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson. We had a lot of youth on the offensive line and quite frankly, we had youth at the quarterback position. And, I didn’t love the depth at wide receiver.

“We did a lot to try to address the depth chart that way, and then you have to put in the time. Our offense is better when we can run the ball, we can throw the RPOs the way that we do, we can play-action pass and take those shots.”