Last week, I went into the three reasons I believe Texas will/can win the national title. Now, it’s time to look on the negative side for a moment. This Longhorns team has plenty of positives to it but there are negatives that could keep them from their ultimate goal. The question for Steve Sarkisian and his staff will be: How do you overcome these things and find your way to a championship?
Here are the top three things I believe can derail the Longhorns season:
Injuries Are Going To Happen
This is the sad truth of football. Players will get banged up, multiple of them. Players could miss a play, they could miss a month and it’s impossible to know those numbers before the season. To me, Texas can take an injury, even for a game or two, to every position but three(maybe four). The offensive line, linebacker and safety rooms need to be healthy throughout the season. On top of that, if Arch Manning goes down at the wrong time of the season, it could be trouble.
That’s not to say those positions can’t take minor dings. However, if those come in major moments, I’m not as sure the depth pieces will be ready to step up. That could be the difference in a national title or not. Texas has the outright talent everywhere to be an elite team, but the depth leaves something to be desired at certain, important positions. Those could be the difference between a championship and missing the CFP entirely.
The Schedule Can Get Messy Fast
Now, I’ll preface by saying that if Texas is really National Championship good, they’ll win the games needed to make the CFP. That being said, an Ohio State loss puts you in a really tough spot, as it did a season ago. You should win your two Group of 5 opponents but Texas State and UTSA are far from the bottom of the barrel. After that, it’s Tennessee in Neyland Stadium. Texas loses that, they could be 2-2 heading into the bye and Red River. That’s roughly where you were a year ago. It can’t happen again.
The pressure on this team is through the roof. It’s not going away until they lift a trophy. That’s the reality. However, you beat Ohio State, Tennessee, Oklahoma and march into the back half of the season undefeated, the pressure becomes more fun to deal with. It’s title pressure, not “they’ll fall short again” pressure. You lose those games, you’re outside the CFP and the program has major questions to answer.
Pressure Is A Privilege … and A Lot To Deal With
I have faith in Steve Sarkisian and the Texas program under this regime. They’ve proved to be a top tier program with National Title upside. That doesn’t mean much of anything if that upside isn’t realized. On top of that, Texas has the most expensive roster in the country, multiple massive transfer additions, a coach that’s entering “title winning time”, not to mention the QB with the last name Manning.
It’s more pressure than many teams have faced. Right up there(maybe above) what Ohio State faced in 2024. That’s a lot to deal with. The results of that pressure are different for everyone. I believe this team is capable of handling the pressure and winning a National Championship. I also believe there is a world where the pressure is too much to deal with and cracks start to show.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Three reasons Texas WILL NOT win the National Championship
Reporting by Tommy Bresee, Longhorns Wire / Longhorns Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
