Following their first double-digit win season in nearly a decade, things are looking up for Tom Herman and the Texas Longhorns. Beating Oklahoma during the Big 12 regular season and a Sugar Bowl victory over Georgia are signs that the program has returned to elite status. Reaching the College Football Playoff for the first time might be a stretch for this group in a crowded league that includes the Sooners, but a few breaks along the way could make 2019 a magical campaign.
There hasn’t been this much excitement in Austin since the Horns played in the BCS title game following the 2009 season. There was a steep decline right after that and thankfully the Charlie Strong era is now a distant memory. Can Texas improve on its 10-4 record from a season ago? Things are pointing in the right direction with Sam Ehlinger back to lead the offense, and the Horns have value at +400 to reach the CFP for the first time.
College Football Playoff Odds at BookMaker.eu
Texas Longhorns To Make 4-team Playoff
Yes +400
No -600
Herman is a winner and the Longhorns are on solid ground with him running the show. They had a three-game improvement from his first season and there’s plenty of reason to believe the success will continue. Two top recruiting classes have increased the talent level and bolstered depth, but it’s hard to imagine the Horns losing just one game and reaching the CFP with a tough Big 12 slate and a non-conference matchup with LSU. The safer bet will be to take the over on the win total and wait till next year to see if the playoff is a possibility.
2019 Texas Longhorns Schedule
Week 1: vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Week 2: vs. LSU Tigers
Week 3: vs. Rice Owls*
Week 4: vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Week 5: OFF
Week 6: at West Virginia Mountaineers
Week 7: vs. Oklahoma Sooners*
Week 8: vs. Kansas Jayhawks
Week 9: at TCU Horned Frogs
Week 10: OFF
Week 11: vs. Kansas State Wildcats
Week 12: at Iowa State Cyclones
Week 13: at Baylor Bears
Week 14: vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
Texas Longhorns Schedule Analysis
Asking the Longhorns to go 11-1 or better through the regular season is a tall order. The non-conference slate features a couple of gimmes in La. Tech and Rice, but the big one comes in Week 2 when LSU pays a visit. Even if they get past the Tigers, there are Big 12 matchups with defending league champ Oklahoma, while TCU and Baylor should both be vastly improved.
Texas lost four games last year, but it was just a play or two away from winning three of them. The schedule figures to be more challenging and the perceived easy league games all come in Austin. That means heading to hostile environments for matchups with West Virginia, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor. The Big 12 Championship is no picnic either with OU likely waiting on the other side. Beating the Sooners twice isn’t easy as we saw last year.
Texas Longhorns Season Preview
There were impressive wins over Oklahoma and Georgia last season to get the program pointed in the right direction. However, struggles against Tulsa and Kansas proved there is still plenty of work to be done. Bringing in top recruiting classes the last two years will certainly help the team’s depth and create more battles for playing time. The Horns better figure it out fast with nine new openings on defense.
In order to help out the defense as it gets adjusted with a number of fresh faces, the Horns need to be better moving the football. That starts with returning quarterback Ehlinger, who accounted for 41 touchdowns last season as the Horns averaged 411.6 yards and 31.1 points. Those are decent numbers, but in the yard-churning world of the Big 12 it put them in the middle of the pack. Ehlinger is the key to improving those numbers and keeping him healthy is paramount without an experienced backup.
Ehlinger was knocked out of a couple games last season due to his gritty style of play. The Horns won those when Shane Buechele took over. That won’t be the case this year. Texas also lacked the big play not scoring an offensive touchdown over 50 yards. There is plenty of talent on the defensive side, but it’s raw. The entire front seven will be new and the group needs to come together quickly with LSU coming to town in Week 2. I see the Horns being a threat in the Big 12, but not to make the CFP.
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