As a general rule, college football teams that must replace a starting quarterback, almost their entire offensive and defensive lines and a dozen NFL Draft choices aren’t picked to win a national championship.
But rules don’t always apply to every team.
The Texas Longhorns, who fit the above description, are one of those teams.
Texas must make several replacements to the 2024 team, which finished 13-3 and reached the College Football Playoff semifinals.
However, the Longhorns are anticipated to be ranked among the nation’s top five — if not No. 1 — in the nation’s preseason polls.
That’s largely based on potential rather than production. As in, what quarterback Arch Manning might be over what he’s been.
Manning, the nation’s No. 1-rated recruit in 2023, was Quinn Ewers' understudy for two seasons. Although he has thrown for just 969 yards in his collegiate career, some outlets predict Manning as the Heisman Trophy favorite.
He’ll have a lot to prove to meet those expectations. But he’s not alone in needing to provide evidence.
Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman
Texas fell to eventual-champion Ohio State in the 2025 Cotton Bowl Classic as part of the CFP semifinals. The Buckeyes beat the Longhorns, 28-14.
Last season, Texas had one of the nation’s top offensive lines. However, three of the four players from that unit were selected in the NFL Draft. Tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. was a first-round draft choice.
That’s a lost of talent to replace. Yet, coach Steve Sarkisian is so confident in the linemen Texas has recruited that he didn’t look to the transfer portal to fill those holes.
“We’ve utilized the portal like a lot of schools have to fill needs,” Sarkisian last at the SEC spring meetings. “We haven’t tried to build our roster through the portal. We’ve tried to fill needs in the portal.
“And we just haven’t felt like we’ve had those needs at the offensive line. We’ve recruited it well. Coach (Kyle) Flood is a great teacher. He’s a great coach. We’ve got good continuity in that room. We’ve got good leadership in that room.”
Still, the new line has a high standard to reach. So does the receiving corps. The top three receivers from last season have departed, including NFL first-round draft choice Matthew Golden.
However, the running backs are without question proven commodities. Quintrevion Wisner emerged last season to rush for 1,064 yards. Also, CJ Baxter, who rushed for 659 yards as a freshman in 2023, is back from an injury that forced him to sit out all of last season.
Linebackers are proven, too. Anthony Hill is among the best in the nation. Colin Simmons proved to be one of the SEC’s top pass rushers last season as a true freshman.
But the entire starting defensive front is being rebuilt. The secondary also lost NFL draft picks Jahdae Barron, a first-round selection, and Andrew Mukuba, who was taken in the second round.
That’s a bunch of significant voids the Longhorns must fill to seriously contend for a national title. Still, it probably wouldn’t be wise to rule them out.
Texas Longhorns
Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch
Anthony Hill led Texas in tackles last season with 113. He also led the Horns in TFLs with 16.5, including 8.0 sacks.
2024 record: 13-3, 7-1 in the SEC
Primary area of strength: The linebacker corps is as good as any in the country. Texas’ could be the best. Anthony Hill has All-America credentials. Edge rusher Colin Simmons was a freshman All-American last season. Liona Lefau had 63 tackles. Arkansas transfer Brad Spence will challenge for a starting job.
Primary area of concern: Four starters were lost from one of the best offensive lines in the nation. Three of those four departures were selected in the NFL Draft. That includes first-round pick Kelvin Banks Jr. Guard DJ Campbell is the lone returning starter.
Top returners
LB Anthony Hill: All-American posted 113 tackles, eight sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss in 2024.
EDGE Colin Simmons: Looking to build on a stellar freshman campaign in which he posted nine sacks and 14 tackles for loss.
QB Arch Manning: Some outlets tout him as the Heisman Trophy favorite. Will the performance match the hype? He played well in specific packages last season. He passed for 939 yards and nine touchdowns in a backup role. He also rushed for 108 yards and four touchdowns.
Key additions
LB Brad Spence: Arkansas transfer totaled 54 tackles and 4.5 sacks a year ago.
WR Kaliq Lockett: Five-star prospect was ranked the No. 2 receiving prospect.
WR Jaimer Ffrench: Four-star prospect was ranked the No. 9 receiving prospect.
Key losses
LT Kelvin Banks Jr.: Consensus All-American and NFL Draft first-round selection (Saints).
CB Jahdae Barron: All-American and NFL Draft first-round selection (Broncos) intercepted five passes and broke up 11 last season.
WR Matthew Golden: NFL first-round draft choice (Packers) caught 58 passes for 987 yards and nine scores in 2024.
2025 Texas Schedule
Aug. 30 at Ohio State
Sept. 6 vs. San Jose State
Sept. 13 vs. UTEP
Sept. 27 vs. Sam Houston
Oct. 4 at Florida
Oct. 11 vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas)
Oct. 18 at Kentucky
Oct. 25 at Mississippi State
Nov. 1 vs. Vanderbilt
Nov. 15 at Georgia
Nov. 22 at Arkansas
Nov. 28 vs. Texas A&M
Join our free email list