Texas not winning Big 12 in 2023 would be a 'failure'

Expectations are high around Texas in 2023, and rightfully so. The Longhorns have the most talented roster in the Big 12 top-to-bottom, a returning quarterback with oodles of physical talent, and are entering a third year under head coach Steve Sarkisian.

From where On3’s Andy Staples sits, it’d be inexcusable for Texas not to win the Big 12 this year, especially as the Longhorns brace for impact on playing in the SEC come 2024. He explained his thinking on “The Hard Count” with On3’s J.D. PicKell.

“Well I was listening to you misconceptions show from earlier in the week, J.D., and I’ve gotta take issue with one of the things you said. You said if Texas doesn’t have a great, double-digit win season, then it’s still OK. It is not OK. They’re going to 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’ve got a problem. If they lose to Oklahoma, you’ve got a problem. Because right now, they’re in a better talent-wise, relative to Oklahoma, than they’ve been in years,” Staples said.

After a bit of further questioning from PicKell, Staples was adamant in his stance.

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

Oklahoma, along with being the chief rival for Texas, has also been the gold standard of the Big 12, winning it eight times either shared or outright since 2010. Texas doesn’t have a single Big 12 title in that span. The Longhorns most recent conference crown came in 2009.

But with Oklahoma slipping a few rungs in the early years of Brent Venables‘ tenure, the table is set for Texas to romp.

Staples doesn’t think the rest of the league — even strong programs like TCU or Kansas State — have the same tier of talent to really compete with Texas. At least they shouldn’t.

And if the the Big 12’s best-of-the-rest can ultimately topple Texas, Staples worries about the outcomes when the Longhorns face off against the powerhouses of the SEC.

“And the rest of the Big 12, not even close to them in terms of on-paper talents. 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 K-State, TCU, and these are very good programs with great coaches. If you can’t beat them this year, you’ve got a problem when you get to the SEC,” Staples said.