Steve Sarkisian and the Texas Longhorns enter the 2025 college football season as one of the top perceived national championship contenders in the country.
After making a run all the way to the Cotton Bowl last season before being eliminated by the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Longhorns are back for more. Some things have changed, but the team remains at the top for many.
One of the biggest changes comes at the quarterback position. Arch Manning is the new starter for Texas following the departure of Quinn Ewers to the NFL.
Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images
Looking at both sides of the football, the Longhorns have what it takes to be a championship team. However, they will need to prove it week in and week out.
Read more: ESPN Reveals Prediction for Texas-Ohio State Matchup
Plenty of projections have come out for the 2025 season. With just one week away before the start of the year, a new projection has been shared for Texas that would break the hearts of fans.
Sports Illustrated has revealed their projections for the upcoming campaign. They have the Longhorns making a run all the way to the national championship.
Unfortunately for Texas, that is where the road is projected to end. The prediction would see the Penn State Nittany Lions knocking off the Longhorns in the championship matchup, making them come up one win short of a title.
While the run would be a fun one, a loss in the national championship would be crushing.
In the projections, Sports Illustrated has Penn State as the No. 1 team in the bracket. Texas, on the other hand, is ranked No. 2.
Behind those two teams, they have the rankings listed as Clemson at No. 3, Ohio State at No. 4, Notre Dame at No. 5, Georgia at No. 6, Alabama at No. 7, Arizona State at No. 8, LSU at No. 9, Indiana at No. 10, Oregon at No. 11, and Boise State at No. 12.
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Hopefully for the Longhorns, this projection doesn’t come true. Most of it would be great, but the final game having a different result is the preferred outcome.
Fans can’t wait to get the season started. For Texas, the season will start on August 30 with a tough road matchup in Columbus against the Buckeyes.
For more on the Texas Longhorns and college football, head to Newsweek Sports.
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