2024 Season Preview – Texas Longhorns
2023 Record – 12-2; 8-1 Big 12 (Big 12 Champions)
Bowl: VS. Washington in Sugar Bowl (L 37-31)
2024 Schedule
- 8/31 – VS Colorado State
- 9/7 – at Michigan
- 9/14 – VS UTSA
- 9/21 – VS Louisiana-Monroe
- 9/28 – VS Mississippi State
- 10/12 – VS Oklahoma (In Dallas)
- 10/19 – VS Georgia
- 10/26 – at Vanderbilt
- 11/9 – VS Florida
- 11/16 – at Arkansas
- 11/23 – VS Kentucky
- 11/30 – at Texas A&M
2023 Recap
Year after year the story of Texas being back rose up and the Longhorns found a way to falter. Finally, the Longhorns decided to live up to their potential.
After a win against Rice to start the season, the biggest non-conference game of the year took place when Texas travelled to Alabama. After giving up a halftime lead and training going into the fourth, the Longhorns found a way to win on the road and give themselves the momentum they had let get away in years past.
After a few more easy victories, the Red River Rivalry loomed large. Both teams went in undefeated and it was a back and forth affair. After Oklahoma took a ten-point lead early in the third, Texas once again bounced back scoring thirteen straight points including a field goal to take the lead with 1:17 remaining. This time, however, the lead would not hold as the Sooners scored a touchdown with fifteen seconds left and gave Texas their first loss of the season 34-30.
Texas would then struggle over the next weeks. First, in a game at Houston, the Cougars tied the game at 24 in the fourth quarter before the Longhorns scored a touchdown to win 31-24. Two weeks later against Kansas State, they gave up a 27-7 third quarter lead and had to survive for a 33-30 overtime win. They nearly gave up a 26-6 lead at TCU the following week as well.
But, in the end, the Longhorns won all their remaining games and finished the regular season at 11-1 and with a spot in the Big 12 Championship game in their final season. Texas played one of their best games of the season to win against Oklahoma State 49-21 and secure a spot in the College Football Playoff. The semifinal game against Washington was exciting, but the Longhorns would end up falling 37-31. Texas finished the season at 12-2, with an 8-1 record in conference play.
2024 Preview
Is two really better than one? We will find that out this season for Texas as both Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning return. Will there be a rotation, or will this still solely be Ewers team? He had a great season in 2023 with almost 3,500 yards.
The big question for the Longhorns this season is at receiver. With the top four receivers from 2023 all gone, will they be able to fill in those gaps? They have done a good job backfilling from the portal. Still, they will need to be productive quickly to keep the Texas offense running high.
In the backfield, Jonathon Brooks and his over 1,100 yards are gone. Both CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue return though. This should allow the Texas running game to stay strong. This is also true with four starting offensive linemen returning.
In 2023, Texas was number three in the country in rush defense. They are losing a lot of talent though with Jaylan Ford, T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy all moving on. That doesn’t mean there still isn’t a lot of skill coming back. This starts with Anthony Hill, Jr. who was second on the team with 67 tackles.
The biggest defensive question for the Longhorns will be in the secondary. The pass defensive last season struggled down the stretch. If Texas can find a way to strengthen this area, they will truly have all-around talent on both sides of the ball. This could be the definition of a ‘just reload’ season.
2024 Projection
Texas might be on upset alert for the first game of the season. They play a tricky Colorado State team at home a week before their big game at Ann Arbor. The Longhorns should be able to get through both of these games, and their entire non-conference schedule unscathed, but it won’t be easy.
Then the Longhorns start their first season of SEC play. The first game should be a fairly easy win against Mississippi State, but then after a bye week they have one of the hardest one-two punches of the season. First, they have to play their rival Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, a game that will be tough no matter what the records are. That is followed up by a home game against the Georgia Bulldogs. This is a match-up that is already being predicted to be one of, if not the biggest game of the regular season.
If the Longhorns can get past those games, things ease up a bit for a few weeks. Vanderbilt and Florida will both struggle. Arkansas will be improved but not enough to compete. Kentucky is a strong team, but playing at home will help Texas get the win.
But then, the big rivalry game against Texas A&M is back. This game could decide if Texas makes it to the SEC championship and the College Football Playoff. It will be exciting to have such high stakes in the last game of the year.
At the end of the day, Texas really does seem to be back. Outside the Georgia game, which will still be competitive, the Longhorns will likely be favored in every contest this year. Still, the SEC is tough and a team can easily have a tough week and see a loss. Texas still should be able to vie for the SEC championship in their first year.
Prediction – 10-2