Is Texas back? Why the Longhorns can run the table

The maxim “Texas is again” has grow to be a working joke utilized by Longhorns skeptics for the reason that program’s final Huge 12 title in 2009. 

Texas hasn’t been related on the nationwide stage in additional than a decade, however after the crew’s spectacular 34-24 victory towards Alabama on Saturday, the overused saying could lastly have some credence. 

The Longhorns entered their Week 2 matchup towards No. 3 Alabama as seven-point underdogs, however they left with little doubt they had been the higher crew. 

Quarterback Quinn Ewers regarded the half from the opening play, as he accomplished 24 of his 38 cross makes an attempt for 349 yards and three touchdowns. Three vast receivers completed with not less than 75 yards, and 10 totally different gamers caught a cross. 

The protection, which is the power of this crew, held QB Jalen Milroe to 14-of-27 passing, 255 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Texas racked up 5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss in a efficiency that proved it has the most effective protection within the Huge 12. 

It is simple to overreact to 1 sport and begin screaming “Texas is again!” from the rooftops simply to observe the Longhorns flip round just a few weeks later and drop a sport they should not. However this yr feels totally different. Wanting on the remaining 10 video games on the schedule, Texas ought to have the ability to go 11-1, at worst, and punch its ticket to the School Soccer Playoff.

The Longhorns have solely two video games remaining towards groups ranked within the AP High 25 Ballot. They get No. 19 Oklahoma at a impartial website and No. 15 Kansas State on their house subject. Texas’ remaining highway video games are towards Baylor, which already misplaced to Texas State, Houston, which simply misplaced to Rice, TCU, which misplaced to Colorado as 21-point favorites and Iowa State, which mustered simply 13 factors in a loss to Iowa. 

Alabama on the highway was by far the hardest take a look at for the Longhorns this yr, they usually handed with an A+ grade. 

Ewers is a official Heisman contender, the offense is deep with weapons within the backfield and on the surface and the protection is loaded with NFL expertise all around the subject. 

Now that Texas has jumped its largest hurdle, it could not ask for a friendlier schedule the remainder of the way in which. It is a School Soccer Playoff crew so long as the Longhorns can deal with their hardest opponent — themselves.