Grading the boldness of predictions for the 2025 Texas Longhorns football season - Part II

Thanks to SilentButGirthy, we have a host of bold predictions for the 2025 season on the Inside Texas Members Board.

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Just how bold are they? Well, allow me to determine that.

Here’s part one.

Trey Moore has more sacks than Colin Simmons – travhlav

Between Moore playing more of an off-ball role and likely playing second-fiddle to Simmons, plus with third-and-long situations being the only for-sure instances when Moore is attacking the QB, this one is a full 10.

10

The Texas coaches stop oppressing Colin Page, who rushes for 1,798 yards. – Paul Wadlington

The only thing limiting Texas football is a refusal to recruit the talent factory that is Austin Anderson. Oh wait…

10

Texas’ D-line (IDL and ends) will be significantly better than anticipated. (Coaching and talent prevail with some experience) – coolhorn

This is a 9.5 for ends but a 7.5 for DT. The pieces at the top for DT (Maraad Watson, Cole Brevard, Travis Shaw, Alex January, Hero Kanu) are strong and it’s not hard to see a jump to Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, Bill Norton, Jermayne Lole levels from that crew. But for Simmons, Moore, and others to exceed expectations? That’d be nuts. They’re already high.

8.5 is the average

The Jackson kid from Texarkana becomes scary good by the end of the season. – coolhorn

I’ll take scary good to mean starting. I don’t see that happening for Lance Jackson, but I see him being a factor and moving up into the second string.

8.5

Texas has the best defense in the country, both statistically and eye-testically(?). – JoeT63

Last season, even as the engine that drove the Longhorns to success, Texas ended up as No. 2 in a number of statistical measures and on the field behind Ohio State. There were arguments to be made for Texas being No. 1, but head to head needs to count for something.

Texas enters 2025 as the No. 1 defense in SP+, but they’ll have difficult challenges in schools like Ohio State, Florida, Georgia, and even Texas A&M. A 10 in my opinion would be akin to saying there’s no chance of this happening.

9.5

After winning the Heisman and the national championship Arch comes back for another season. – Texvet16

A lot of the Arch Manning decision calculus relies on the belief that he wants to enjoy the college experience and utilize Texas as a way to get to the top of the first round. If he wins the Heisman and the national title in one season, will there be anything left to accomplish?

9.0

Taaffe has 6 ints 1st team All American. – ari gold

If Michael Taaffe gets six picks, that may lead the country and round up the votes that are needed to get a first-team selection. But six picks?

9.5

PK leaves at the end of the season to coach LSU. Although after some anxious weeks, Simmons and other key members of the defense will decline to enter the portal and reaffirm their commitment to Texas. – Vulcat

Although Pete Kwiatkowski has been a lifer at coordinator and made many statements in the past that indicate head coaching isn’t what he’s interested in, it’s difficult to see him taking LSU as his first job… or LSU offering him the job.

10

Player flag plant: Jelani McDonald will be the best player in the secondary (or at least the best among their SEC peers at their position) – EvanVieth

I don’t see this as all that bold, but I don’t think he’s the clear cut No. 1. Taaffe and Malik Muhammad are in the secondary, too. But McDonald has some unique playmaking ability and athleticism.

7.5

Team flag plant: The Longhorns do not lose on the road this season but struggle in neutral and home games. – EvanVieth

At Georgia? At Florida? Versus Oklahoma? Home vs. A&M and Vanderbilt?

10

Leading rusher – Christian Clark
Leading receiver – Parker Livingstone
Sack Leader – Simmons with 12 – GetHooked

8.0
10
3.0

We win the natty, Sark retires, Mac Brown becomes coach – utplease

9.5
10
10

Texas shuts out the Aggies in Austin. – highflyer

Almost happened last year…

8.5

Texas goes 16-0 and never trails – justwinanatty

If this happens then all the people who have made rankings about the top teams in the 21st century will need to make an immediate update.

10

Texas beats Aggie 3 times this yr – tholly

I’m not grading this so as to shut down the possibility A&M making the playoff, but to shut down the idea that they’ll make the SEC championship if Texas makes it and beats them on Black Friday.

10

We run the Tush push with Arch at least once – Dillon3496

They’ve snuck with Manning before… so I bet they add the push factor at some point especially with Cole Hutson at center.

7.0

Texas rails OU, causing Venables to get fired the day after Texas/OU. – horns91

The only way I see this happening is if Texas is OU’s fourth loss of the season. That’s assuming losses to Michigan and Auburn, and then that the Sooners lose to Illinois State, Temple, or Kent State. If Texas is the third loss… it may not be the death blow. After all, who are you leaving in as interim? The guy you brought in from Washington State to run offense? Todd Bates? Who are you installing as play-caller on defense in Brent Venables’ absence?

9.5

Gibson goes off and finishes most yards by a Texas back. – JohnnyUtah

9.5

I have a negative one, which will not be popular…Texas goes 9-3 and misses the playoffs. – PHLHorn

In this scenario, let’s say the losses are close ones to Ohio State, Georgia, and Florida. A lot of it depends on what would happen around the nation around Texas… but I don’t think Texas goes 0-for-3 in all those games.

9.0