Last year was not a good year for the Texas Loghorns, who ended with a abysmal 5-7 losses. Charlie Strong has not been a good football coach during his two years as head football coach. He's coached them to a record of 11-14. But he seems to have found himself as an excellent recruiter. He has the third ranked class for 2016. Mack Brown didn't set him up very well coming in. Brown had some Truley awful recruiting class and Strong has climbed his way through it and got some great ones of his own. Strong, however, is still on the hot seat whether you like it or not. Strong brought in Sterlin Gilbert, a former assistant to Art Briles. Gilbert should be able to bring this offense back to life. If he doesn't, Strong's job may be on the line.
Whats going to be interesting is starting true freshman Shane Buechele. I believe in Shane but it's the fact that he is a freshman. He's going to be facing Notre Dame week one, and I am confident in him. Texas is going to ride and die with Shane this year and it's a good thing. There is no way anyone could sit through another year of Tyrone Swoopes. Swoopes isn't a good starting QB but he's a good backup. And he is, in my opinion, one of the best gosling threats in the Big 12. If you get within the five swap Shane with Swoopes and run that read option with Chris Warren and you've got a touchdown. Or just run a power. Warren and D'Onta Foreman will be an awesome tag team coming out of the backfield. They are nicknamed "Thunderstorm" for a reason. Jerrod Heard, who was the starting QB for most of last season until he got hurt, has switched to receiver. It's a good thing because he's been buried to third string QB and had no chance to be starter barring and injury. Kai Locksley will be the third string.
Malik Jefferson will be a force this year. He will be the Big 12 defensive player if they year. Without a doubt. They'll be better than last year.
Record prediction:
Week #1 vs Notre Dame: Win, Notre Dame got a bunch of guys suspended for trouble with the police. They'll be forced to start a true freshman and a player coming off of two torn ACLs. So I'm going to say that's a win.
Week #2 vs UTEP: Win, easily.
Week #3 @ Cal: Win, Strong is still looking for his first big non-conference victory, why not now? Texas should have won last year but Nick Rose missed a PAT. Cal is worse now, Texas KD better now.
Week #3 @ Oklahoma State: Loss, there is no way this team can start out 4-0. They just can't. Mason Rudolph is going to be tough to go up against. It'll be a close one but ultimately an L.
Week #4 @ Oklahoma: Loss, I've come to the conclusion that Texas is going to win against Oklahoma or Notre Dame. I've got them winning against Notre Dame, so they lose this one.
Week #5 vs Iowa State: Win, that's a solid win right there.
Week #6 @ Kansas State: Win, another easy win.
Week #7 vs Baylor: Win, No Art Briles, this team is just a mess.
Week #8 @ Texas Tech: Loss, tough game here. Patrick Mahomes will be too much for them.
Week #9 vs West Virginia: Loss
Week 10 @ Kansas: Win
Week 11 vs TCU: Loss
Official record prediction: 7-5 with a win in the bowl game.
Whats going to be interesting is starting true freshman Shane Buechele. I believe in Shane but it's the fact that he is a freshman. He's going to be facing Notre Dame week one, and I am confident in him. Texas is going to ride and die with Shane this year and it's a good thing. There is no way anyone could sit through another year of Tyrone Swoopes. Swoopes isn't a good starting QB but he's a good backup. And he is, in my opinion, one of the best gosling threats in the Big 12. If you get within the five swap Shane with Swoopes and run that read option with Chris Warren and you've got a touchdown. Or just run a power. Warren and D'Onta Foreman will be an awesome tag team coming out of the backfield. They are nicknamed "Thunderstorm" for a reason. Jerrod Heard, who was the starting QB for most of last season until he got hurt, has switched to receiver. It's a good thing because he's been buried to third string QB and had no chance to be starter barring and injury. Kai Locksley will be the third string.
Malik Jefferson will be a force this year. He will be the Big 12 defensive player if they year. Without a doubt. They'll be better than last year.
Record prediction:
Week #1 vs Notre Dame: Win, Notre Dame got a bunch of guys suspended for trouble with the police. They'll be forced to start a true freshman and a player coming off of two torn ACLs. So I'm going to say that's a win.
Week #2 vs UTEP: Win, easily.
Week #3 @ Cal: Win, Strong is still looking for his first big non-conference victory, why not now? Texas should have won last year but Nick Rose missed a PAT. Cal is worse now, Texas KD better now.
Week #3 @ Oklahoma State: Loss, there is no way this team can start out 4-0. They just can't. Mason Rudolph is going to be tough to go up against. It'll be a close one but ultimately an L.
Week #4 @ Oklahoma: Loss, I've come to the conclusion that Texas is going to win against Oklahoma or Notre Dame. I've got them winning against Notre Dame, so they lose this one.
Week #5 vs Iowa State: Win, that's a solid win right there.
Week #6 @ Kansas State: Win, another easy win.
Week #7 vs Baylor: Win, No Art Briles, this team is just a mess.
Week #8 @ Texas Tech: Loss, tough game here. Patrick Mahomes will be too much for them.
Week #9 vs West Virginia: Loss
Week 10 @ Kansas: Win
Week 11 vs TCU: Loss
Official record prediction: 7-5 with a win in the bowl game.