Arr, the mighty Texas be sittin' atop the Big 12 preseason poll! Longhorns be seekin' their first title since 2009, aye!
2023-07-06
Arr, me hearties! The mighty Texas Longhorns be claimin' the crown in the Big 12's preseason poll, markin' the first time since 2011 when the conference threw divisions off the plank! Aye, those Longhorns be settin' sail for victory, arr!
The University of Texas is entering its final year in the Big 12 conference before making the move to the SEC. They are hoping to secure their first conference championship since 2009. The media seems to be optimistic about their chances, as Texas finished at the top of the Big 12's preseason poll for the first time since 2011 when the conference eliminated its divisions.The Longhorns received the majority of first-place votes, with 41 out of 67, while Kansas State, the 2022 champion, received 14 votes. Oklahoma and Texas Tech each received four first-place votes, and TCU and Oklahoma State received one each.
Last season, Texas had an 8-5 record and came close to upsetting No. 1 Alabama in Week 2. They are heading into the new season with starting quarterback Quinn Ewers and highly touted recruit Arch Manning. Head coach Steve Sarkisian has praised Ewers, stating that he is the team's starting quarterback.
The offense will have nine returning starters from last year, although they will be without running back Bijan Robinson, who won the Doak Walker Award. The Longhorns will begin their season against Rice and then face off against Alabama in Week 2.
Meanwhile, the Big 12 has officially welcomed four new schools: UCF, BYU, Cincinnati, and Houston. Out of these newcomers, UCF was picked to finish the highest in the preseason poll, coming in at eighth place.