We already covered the 1-seed Wolverines and 2-seed Huskies, next up is (checks notes) ah yes.
I did warn everyone. From my preseason series on playoff contenders:
I know, I know. For Texas to simply win the Big 12 would be an exciting turnaround for a program who’s wandered in the wilderness for over a decade now since Colt McCoy went down against Alabama in the 2010 Rose Bowl.
They’re also coming off an 8-5 season, so it’s not like they’re already proven what they’ve got and are now building onto the next thing. No one wants to pick Texas to make the playoffs, including me.
But college football doesn’t work in a clear, linear fashion. There used to be a term called “Clemsoning,” where a team with promise would find a way to blow it. Then Clemson won two National Championships. Bob Stoops and Kirby Smart both played for championships in their second years on the job and neither were great in their first. Things can change quickly.
And concluding with…
All of the pieces and tactics are there and there’s better depth behind them than has been normal in Austin. Is the roster, top to bottom, as big and talented as at Alabama or Georgia? Nope, not quite. But the players at the most important positions are not only good but in many cases potentially elite.
Sure enough, Texas’ defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat ended up winning the Outland Trophy, his partner Byron Murphy was 1st team All-Big 12, and both of Texas’ outside receivers are expected to be drafted.
The Longhorns fit the bill for a National contender and are even favored over the Washington Huskies, opening -4 and currently at -4.5 after an initial pro-Husky swing.
How did this happen? In ways that would be totally familiar to readers of America’s War Game.
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