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Expect to see more of Texas as No. 1 throughout the offseason

Eric Nahlinby:Eric Nahlin•about 9 hours
Colin Simmons
Colin Simmons (Will Gallagher/Inside Texas)

IT has been on a pretty good run of predicting Texas’ seasons of late.

In 2022 we were tapping the brakes during the throes of August excitement, citing the team was still young and learning how to win. We felt Quinn Ewers had plenty of on-the-job training ahead of him. Stated before the season even began, that season became known on IT as The Year Before the Year.

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The roster cycle for the 2023 campaign was much more favorable for a big season. The Year was defined by winning the conference, making the playoffs, and a return to national prominence. Preseason predictions included a road win over Bama (hope you money lined that), 11-1 season, conference title, and making the playoffs.

For 2024, optimistic after an offseason filled with fantastic sourcing, a couple of us predicted Texas would lose to Ohio State in the National Championship game.

That isn’t to pat myself IT on the back, it’s to lend credibility to what is written next: Texas should be the favorite to win it all in 2025. I may change that belief in August after collecting more information throughout the offseason, including what happens during the spring portal window, but the Horns are my early favorite due as much to what’s going on in Austin as elsewhere.

Ohio State as the favorite makes no sense. Maybe if the playoffs move towards a 7 on 7 format. OSU didn’t make sense to repeat even before losing both coordinators. Now….come on. Anyone predicting Ohio State has no understanding of roster cycles and were probably shocked Michigan fell off after winning it all in 2023.

Georgia will be good, though not great, and the Horns need to prove they can beat them. They’ll have the chance in Athens but even if Texas loses there’s no guarantee they’ll face Georgia again. Had Texas defeated Ohio State this year it would have played Notre Dame, who beat Georgia at its own game in the other semifinal. I will concede Georgia should probably be No. 2 heading into next year simply due to baseline roster talent.

Oregon is a total wildcard given the loss of Dillon Gabriel and elevation of Dante Moore at quarterback. He’s very talented but will need to grow up quick. He was the No. 3 overall recruit in the 2023 cycle behind you know who.

What other teams are even a credible title contenders at this point? Maybe Notre Dame again? Clemson? LSU?

Texas has plenty of questions (OL, WR, TE) but its defense sets a very high floor heading into next season. Then, infuse playmaking that is sure to accompany Arch Manning as the starter and you have the makings of a champion. Side note: I’m already tired of writing about Arch but a lot of people still don’t understand what he’s going to become.

When it comes to Texas, Andy Staples is of a similar opinion and I predict more national pundits will begin to see it this way as the offseason plays out.

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