Can Texas get back to where it thinks it needs to be?

Thirty-one wins and thirty-two loses represent a not-so-Texas like five year period since the 2013 football season in Austin.  Charlie Strong was to take the program and give it the uplifting it needed. He failed. The new cattle drover Tom Herman came in last summer and produced a winning season with seven victories in thirteen starts, getting the Longhorns into their first up season since that 2013 year with a nice bowl win over Missouri in the Texas Bowl.

High expectations are again the think tank of the day in the runways of Darrell K. Royal Stadium and UT hopes that 2019 brings them to a Big Twelve Championship game where they believe another win the conference.  Sports fans, it could happen this year and Texas has enough players o take that big step with some good on-the-field play.

West Virginia and Oklahoma could be the two Big Twelve teams in the end that might keep the Horns out of the title game, but give Coach Herman his due as his defense will be one of the best groups in the conference.  Texas has to use that defense to hold opponents down, as the offense will get better but are not a complete top of the line group right now.

Opening with four home games, UT needs to maneuver that third of the season with four wins. Yet the Trojans of USC in game three will be a pick-em and the following Saturday against the Toads of TCU will be a game Texas can say thank you to the Big Twelve for playing it in DKR.  UT can show that Herman has made significant progress in the building of the program with these two games and both USC and TCU games will be knock down slugfests.   UT needs both wins badly make this season significant into the middle schedule of games.

Road games to Kansas State and Oklahoma State are two trips that are must wins for the Horns to make a run for 1st or 2nd and the Championship game. They too are winnable.

The Red River Rivalry game as always, can be won by either team, and a prediction would just be based on fandom.  That game is again one that will be decided on factors that you just cannot know today.  But Texas needs that game to keep their goals alive.

UT should take their home meeting with Baylor and road trips to Lubbock with Texas Tech and Lawrence with Kansas .  Wins all three.  But the best West Virginia team in a long while comes to Austin and that game could be the deciding one that picks who play OU in Arlington.  A key game for both.

The home game with Iowa State in the next to last week of the season will not be a cake walk and UT has to avoid what most teams do not, losing a game that should be won. Sure ISU is on the uptake, but Texas has better players than Iowa State.  The coaching in this one should be a wash.

The season schedule is very tough for the Horns in 2018 and improvement can be make and not be reflected on the final record.

Looking at personnel, Herman needs to find his one quarterback that can be counted on for a complete season.  Sam Ehlinger is a tough cookie that will start as the man.  Shane Buechele will continue to push at the position and Cameron Rising has talent as a freshman Another season of quarterback rotation, either of need of play or injury, will not be good. The rushing game has to improve (3.6yds per rush last year) and currently UT is average at running back and offensive line. The pass catchers are average as a group but Collin Johnson is very good and a threat.  The offensive line is big but not great. Time and experience will not hurt them.

Defensive ends Charles Omenihu and Brecklyn Hager are strengths. The revamped secondary will showcase freshman BJ Foster. He is a top recruit that every team wanted.  The defense will be good and the strength of the team.

The kicking game was troublesome last year and improvement should happen. Cameron Dicker from Austin will be the field goal and PAT man. He is going to be a top line kicker in time.

Tom Hermon 2nd year at Texas (7-6 in 2018)

Games UT will win:  Maryland, Tulsa, Baylor, Kansas

Games UT should win:  none

Games that are toss-ups:  USC, TCU, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, West Virginia, Texas Tech, Iowa State

Games that Texas should lose:  None

Texas Prediction for 2018:  9-3  and 6-3 in conference

Recap:  Texas has a chance to win every game, even if they have had problems winning big for a significant amount of time. Yet, they have enough tough teams to play that another less than stellar season is possible.  Right now, I think UT will take lose three games in conference but which ones are the unanswered question. OU, WV, TCU, OSU and ISU are all games that UT needs to play well to win.  Beat USC and TCU, as already mentioned, UT will have a great year. If not, they still have HOOK’EM.

Feature Photo: Forbes.com