Longhorns Among Elite in ESPN's Way-Too-Early 2024 Top 25

The Texas Longhorns are going to have high expectations in 2024.

Author:
Matt Galatzan
Jan 9, 2024 2:05 PM EST

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The Texas Longhorns were on the verge of competing for a national title in 2023, falling just short of the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl last week.

And despite the Longhorns losing an abundance of talent on both sides of the ball to the NFL, they are still set to be in good shape next season when they make the move over to the SEC.

Among that talent, are incoming freshman talents like Colin Simmons, Ryan Wingo, and Xavier Filsaime, while they are also getting some key transfer help from Trey Moore, Matthew Golden, and Andrew Mukuba - each of which is set to fill a major role next season.

In other words, it appears the Longhorns are back to reloading instead of rebuilding.

As such, ESPN is putting some high expectations on the Horns in 2024, placing them at No. 2 in their recently released Way-Too-Early Top-25, right behind the Georgia Bulldogs.

Quinn Ewers — John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Here's what ESPN had to say about the Horns:

The Longhorns are back. Texas turned the corner under coach Steve Sarkisian in 2023, winning the Big 12 in its last season in the league and reaching the CFP for the first time. The Longhorns could return as many as four starting offensive linemen, reinforcing the team's strength up front. The task of identifying capable replacements for key players like Sweat and Murphy on the defensive line takes center stage in the spring. Quarterback Quinn Ewers has a decision to make regarding the NFL draft. If he returns, Ewers will have to find new go-to targets with Mitchell, Worthy and Sanders all expected leaving for the NFL. The Longhorns play at Michigan on Sept. 7 and face Oklahoma in Dallas and Georgia at home in consecutive weeks in October, before closing the regular season at Texas A&M on Nov. 30. Welcome to the SEC.

As ESPN suggests, the Longhorns have everything in front of them in 2024.

Yes, the schedule will be tough. But if they can find a way to navigate those matchups with Michigan, Georgia, and Oklahoma, among the rest of their SEC slate, fans in Austin could be in for something special.

That will rely heavily of course on the return of quarterback Quinn Ewers, who has yet to announce his decision one way or the other.

Either way, however, Texas should be in good shape to make a strong showing in their first SEC season.

You can see ESPN's entire top 25 below: