Even though they\u2019re often seen as the villain, the Texas Longhorns are the hero in our story.\u00a0<\/p>\n
[Sign up for Inside Texas for $1! Get the latest on the NCAA Transfer Portal HERE]<\/a><\/p>\n They\u2019re the one ready to face off against Goliath. It can be lonely being the hero, surrounded by enemies on all sides. But, in the immortal words of Michael Scott: \u201cYou know what else is facing five Goliaths? America. Al-Qaeda. Global warming. Sex predators. Mercury poisoning.\u201d<\/p>\n A few days ago I wrote about what I wanted to hear over the course of the offseason,<\/a> but now I\u2019ll tell you what I\u2019m scared of. And we\u2019ll see just how many Goliaths Steve Sarkisian\u2019s team is up against.<\/p>\n Texas could be a CFP committee victim again<\/p>\n Fox and the Big Ten versus ESPN and the SEC are halting momentum on a further expanded playoff to 16. Now, I\u2019m against the proposed 24-team playoff from the B1G\u2014at that point we should just make the whole season one big knockout tournament.<\/p>\n However, the Longhorns are undoubtedly a loser when it comes to the current format of 12. And that has everything to do with their scheduling circumstances in 2026.<\/p>\n Because the open spots are narrower than they\u2019ve ever been. Notre Dame is guaranteed a CFP spot next year if they finish top 12 (they will), so will a G5 team (still), while Texas found out the hard way that the door is still closed on a 9-3 team getting into the final field. The selection committee counts W\/L columns like they\u2019re a kindergarten class sorting blue and yellow jelly beans, and they have less creativity than a bunch of Neanderthals who are tasked with cosplaying Shakespeare for a live audience.<\/p>\n Though 9-3 behind Arch Manning would be extremely disappointing when looking at the season seven months out, it has to be said the Longhorns might have the most difficult schedule in the country. Ohio State in week two, then five to six SEC teams who will be ranked in the preseason top 25 amidst a nine-game SEC slate. There is no room for error for Texas.<\/p>\n Top-Heaviness<\/p>\n Though Texas upgraded its frontline talent in the transfer portal in an effort to surround Manning and Colin Simmons with blue-chippers on both sides of the ball, I do worry about the depth a tad bit. Especially in the running back room, at secondary, and on the offensive and defensive lines. Sure, there are a lot of familiar names in the two- and three-deep. But familiarity with a player\u2019s bio doesn\u2019t equate to readiness. Longhorn fans learned that the hard way in the 2010s. The class of 2025 stepping up will alleviate these concerns tremendously and therefore, I loved reading Charlie Williams\u2019 positive reports on their offseason so far.<\/a><\/p>\n That said, did Indiana have the best depth in the country before they went undefeated in 2025? Not even close. I\u2019m not even sure Ohio State did the year prior. Those teams simply had the best starters and the veterans who were ready to get the job done.<\/p>\n The Benefit of the Doubt<\/p>\n I fully trust Steve Sarkisian in rivalry games against Oklahoma and Texas A&M. He\u2019s mastered that important aspect of coaching: beat the snot out of your rivals. But we know Sark will face Ryan Day in week two, and we have to assume he\u2019ll face off against Kirby Smart at some point. He\u2019s 0-5 against those coaches and logos.\u00a0<\/p>\n Do I trust that his team will be able to get it done this time? Can they play disciplined football and avoid penalties? Or punch a crucial 4th-and-goal in from the two-yard line when it\u2019s against one of these opponents? I\u2019m not sure how willing I am to believe in that anymore.\u00a0<\/p>\n