Where Professionals Are Rank: Texas Football’s Rankings for 2025 Are Far Too Early
The Texas Longhorns have long been a cornerstone of college football, a program steeped in history, pride, and success. From their iconic burnt orange uniforms to the roar of the crowd in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns evoke a sense of tradition that few programs can match. However, the sport’s evolving landscape has made it increasingly difficult to predict success from season to season. The rankings for the 2025 college football season are already making waves, and Texas finds itself in an all-too-familiar position: burdened with lofty expectations. But are these rankings realistic, or is it simply too early to tell?
The Early Rankings Landscape
As of early 2025, several preseason rankings place Texas in or near the top 10. Some analysts even project them as a College Football Playoff contender. On paper, the rationale seems sound. The Longhorns are coming off a strong 2024 campaign, finishing with a respectable record and securing a solid bowl victory. Additionally, the recruiting pipeline remains robust, with the Longhorns landing a top-five recruiting class for the third consecutive year. Their roster boasts a mix of experienced veterans and highly touted newcomers—a formula for success in today’s game.
However, these rankings—compiled months before a single snap of the 2025 season—come with significant caveats. Injuries, transfers, and unforeseen developments have a way of reshaping even the most promising narratives. Let’s examine the factors that make these early rankings feel premature.
The Unpredictability of College Football
College football is defined by its volatility. Unlike the NFL, where teams benefit from consistency in roster construction and coaching, college programs experience near-constant turnover. Players graduate, declare for the NFL draft, or enter the transfer portal. Coaching staffs are reshuffled, and schemes are tweaked or overhauled. These variables create a landscape where predicting performance months in advance becomes a precarious exercise.
For Texas, the transfer portal has been both a blessing and a curse. While the Longhorns have bolstered their roster with key transfers, they’ve also lost players who were expected to contribute significantly. These losses can disrupt team chemistry and force coaching adjustments that may take time to gel. Similarly, incoming recruits—even five-star talents—often require a period of adaptation to the college game. Banking on immediate contributions from such players is risky.
Coaching Stability and Strategy
One of the brighter spots for Texas heading into 2025 is the stability of their coaching staff. Head coach Steve Sarkisian is entering his fifth season at the helm, and his offensive philosophy has become well-established. The continuity should benefit the Longhorns, particularly on offense, where the system is complex and requires time to master. Sarkisian’s track record of developing quarterbacks is especially promising, given the depth of talent in Texas’ quarterback room.
Still, questions linger about the Longhorns’ ability to perform under pressure. Despite flashes of brilliance in recent seasons, Texas has struggled to win marquee games against top-tier opponents. Sarkisian’s teams have often faltered in key moments, raising concerns about their mental toughness and preparedness. If the Longhorns are to live up to their lofty ranking, they must prove they can handle the weight of expectations.
The Competition Factor
Another challenge for Texas is the strength of their schedule. The Longhorns are set to face a gauntlet of formidable opponents in 2025, including perennial powerhouses like Alabama and Oklahoma, as well as up-and-coming programs like Kansas State and Baylor. The transition to the SEC in 2024 has only amplified the difficulty of their schedule, as Texas now contends with some of the most competitive teams in the nation on a weekly basis.
The SEC’s physical style of play requires depth and resilience, and while Texas has made strides in building a deeper roster, they remain relatively unproven in this environment. Surviving the grind of an SEC schedule will test not only their talent but also their endurance and adaptability. A few early losses could quickly derail their season and undermine their ranking.
The Quarterback Conundrum
Much of Texas’ success in 2025 will hinge on their quarterback play. The Longhorns have a wealth of options, including rising star Arch Manning, a generational talent with a famous last name. Manning’s potential is undeniable, but he’s still relatively inexperienced at the college level. Other contenders in the quarterback room bring their own strengths and weaknesses, making the competition both a blessing and a challenge for the coaching staff.
Quarterback controversies can be disruptive, particularly if they linger into the season. Sarkisian must strike a delicate balance, ensuring the team rallies around the chosen starter while keeping backups engaged and ready to step in. If Texas can solidify its quarterback situation early, it will go a long way toward realizing their potential. If not, the uncertainty could prove costly.
Recruiting Hype vs. On-Field Performance
Recruiting success has long been a hallmark of Texas football, but translating that talent into on-field results remains a work in progress. The Longhorns’ recent recruiting classes are among the best in the nation, filled with players who have the potential to become stars. Yet, as any college football fan knows, stars on paper don’t always translate to wins on the field.
Player development will be critical in 2025. Sarkisian and his staff must ensure that their young talent is prepared to contribute at a high level. This includes refining fundamentals, instilling discipline, and fostering a team-first mentality. The transition from high school to college football is a significant leap, and even the most gifted athletes need time to adjust. If Texas can effectively develop their recruits, they’ll be in a strong position to compete. If not, the disparity between expectations and reality could become glaring.
The Weight of Expectations
Perhaps the biggest obstacle facing Texas in 2025 is the weight of expectations. The Longhorns’ storied history and passionate fan base create a pressure-cooker environment that few programs can match. While this can be a source of motivation, it can also become a hindrance if the team struggles to manage the accompanying scrutiny.
Expectations are a double-edged sword. On one hand, they signal respect and confidence in the program. On the other, they can amplify every misstep, turning minor setbacks into major crises. For Texas, the challenge will be maintaining focus and resilience in the face of inevitable adversity. The 2025 season is a marathon, not a sprint, and the Longhorns must pace themselves accordingly.
Conclusion: Proceed with Caution
The early rankings for the 2025 college football season offer an intriguing glimpse into what could be a promising year for Texas. The Longhorns have the talent, coaching stability, and resources to make a run at the College Football Playoff. However, the unpredictability of the sport, combined with the challenges of a rigorous schedule and the pressure of expectations, makes it far too early to anoint them as contenders.
For fans and analysts alike, the key is to temper expectations with realism. Preseason rankings are inherently speculative, offering little more than educated guesses about how a season might unfold. The true test for Texas will come on the field, where they must prove they can meet the high standards set for them. Until then, it’s best to view the 2025 rankings with a healthy dose of skepticism—and a reminder that in college football, anything can happen.