Where Texas football lands in Fox Sports’ spring Top 25 rankings

Not many outlets are buying the Texas hype this offseason, which is awfully rare.

Texas has been in what seems to be a never ending cycle of starting the season ranked, winning a couple games to jump up in the rankings, and then plummeting after devastating losses.

The first season under Steve Sarkisian was no exception to the trend, as the Longhorns started the season ranked before quickly falling out of the rankings as they had a midseason collapse for the ages.

However, R.J. Young of Fox Sports believes that Texas will turn it around and should start the season ranked. Young released his early top 25, and the Longhorns landed at No. 20. Here is what he said about Texas ahead of the season:

Perhaps no program piqued my interest more during the 2022 transfer portal cycle than the Longhorns. With the transfer additions of former Ohio State quarterback Quinn Ewers, Wyoming wideout Isaiah Neyor and Alabama tight end Jahleel Billingsley, combined with running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Xavier Worthy, Steve Sarkisian’s offense should be formidable.

If defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski can flip the defense into one of the nation’s best instead of one of its worst, there’s no reason to believe Texas can’t contend for a Big 12 title and invitation to the CFP — but that remains a sizable if. Getting Texas native and former Ohio State cornerback Ryan Watts to transfer to the Forty Acres should help.

Both the offense and defense will need to take major steps in order for the team to even contend in the conference. While every program has playoff aspirations, it is certainly rare to go from sub .500 to playoff contender. The Longhorns need their new additions on both sides of the ball to step up, and they may even need to make some late additions to the roster from the transfer portal in order to truly have a chance.