Texas No. 4 in ESPN Way-Too-Early Top 25

[Gerry Hamilton]

ESPN released it's Way-Too-Early top 25 college football rankings this morning after the wild January month in the portal and coaching carousel. 

The Texas Longhorns checked in at No. 4.

Georgia is No. 1, as expected. Ohio State checks in at No. 2 and the Oregon Ducks No. 3. 

The Texas 2024 schedule is well represented in the top 25:

1. Georgia
13. Michigan
14. Oklahoma
23. Kentucky
25. Texas A&M

The SEC has 40% of the top 25:

1. Georgia
4. Texas
6. Ole Miss
7. Missouri 
9. Alabama
12. LSU
14. Oklahoma
16. Tennessee
23. Kentucky 
25. Texas A&M

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/39512432/updated-2024-way-too-early-college-football-top-25-rankings

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[Gerry Hamilton]

Good luck to Billy Napier!!! Florida Gators 2024 schedule in ESPN Way-Too-Early Top 25:

24. Miami 

25. Texas A&M

16. @ Tennessee 

23. Kentucky 

1. Georgia (neutral)

4. @Texas

12. LSU

6. Ole Miss

15. @ Florida State 

[Jerry K]

Dang that’s a brutal schedule Florida has. Napier is gonna be kicking rocks down the road before the season ends. 

[Shane]

Florida’s schedule is ridiculous 

[Orngblud05]

Is A&M on here as a courtesy?  Does a different formula using the same ingredients change the outcome?   I guess I could see it but what has happened to make anyone think they’ll be better than they have been?

[Gerry Hamilton]

2 minutes ago, Jerry K said:

Dang that’s a brutal schedule Florida has. Napier is gonna be kicking rocks down the road before the season ends. 

For sure. And that doesn’t include two more P5 games …

UCF

@Mississipoi State 

[Longhornlove]

Two teams with new QBs ahead of Texas? Did Ohio State transfer in a new O-line? What am I missing here, not that I really care or that it matters.

[HornsGrad06]

With that schedule it would be quite an accomplishment to go .500. Man that's rough.

[Gerry Hamilton]

8 minutes ago, Longhornlove said:

Two teams with new QBs ahead of Texas? Did Ohio State transfer in a new O-line? What am I missing here, not that I really care or that it matters.

Yep. Gabriel at Oregon ... Oregon has one of the best schedules to make the first 12 team play off though IMO

Howard at Ohio State

 

[Gerry Hamilton]

Favorable schedule ... Oregon Ducks

Idaho

Boise State

@ Oregon State

IDLE

@ UCLA

Michigan State

2. Ohio State

@ Purdue

Illinois

13. @ Michigan 

Maryland

@ Wisconsin

IDLE

Washington 

...

That dog WILL HUNT 

[CJ Vogel]

16 minutes ago, Longhornlove said:

Two teams with new QBs ahead of Texas? Did Ohio State transfer in a new O-line? What am I missing here, not that I really care or that it matters.

Ohio State has the best overall roster in the country imo. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

Georgia actually has one of it's tougher schedules in a while ...

 

No. 20 Clemson (N)

Tennessee Tech

@ No. 23 Kentucky

IDLE

@ No. 9 Alabama

Auburn

Mississippi State

@ No. 4 Texas

IDLE

Florida (N)

@ No. 6 Ole Miss

No. 16 Tennessee

UMass

Georgia Tech 

 

[zzz chese]

Honestly Texas has a pretty favorable schedule

[Longhornlove]

2 minutes ago, Gerry Hamilton said:

Yep. Gabriel at Oregon ... Oregon has one of the best schedules to make the first 12 team play off though IMO

Howard at Ohio State

 

No offense Gerry but schedule shouldn't have anything to do with pre-season ranking. It may, but it shouldn't. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

Just now, zzz chese said:

Honestly Texas has a pretty favorable schedule

Agree 100% ... it's a really good first year SEC schedule. Overall scheduled helped by Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan along with the NC roster to the NFL lol ... and Billy Napier struggling to turn the corner at UF. 

[Gerry Hamilton]

1 minute ago, Longhornlove said:

No offense Gerry but schedule shouldn't have anything to do with pre-season ranking. It may, but it shouldn't. 

I'm not saying it does... Oregon has a very talented roster with a sixth year starting QB ... but they also have one of the most favorable schedules to make the 12 team CFP

[Longhornlove]

15 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Ohio State has the best overall roster in the country imo. 

It is a QB driven game, maybe Ryan Day turns Will Howard into something he has never been before, who knows. 

[codaxx]

10 minutes ago, Longhornlove said:

It is a QB driven game, maybe Ryan Day turns Will Howard into something he has never been before, who knows. 

I still have doubts about that OL. They were 7th in rushing yards per attempt and 5th in sacks allowed in the Big 10. It was not a very strong unit. They also lost 3 of their top 4 receivers from last year. The defense will be salty, but the offense has plenty of questions. 

Edited February 13, 2024 by codaxx

[Longhornlove]

1 minute ago, codaxx said:

I still have doubts about that OL. They were 7th in rushing yards per attempt and 5th in sacks allowed. It was not a very strong unit. They also lost 3 of their top 4 receivers from last year. The defense will be salty, but the offense has plenty of questions. 

I agree completely.

[codaxx]

1 minute ago, Longhornlove said:

I agree completely.

I think Georgia has the best roster. I believe they bring back 4 out 5 OL and a 1st round QB.  Front 7 is coming back. There are some questions about the DBs, as they lose multiple starters, but Georgia has earned the benefit of the doubt there. 

[horns96]

51 minutes ago, CJ Vogel said:

Ohio State has the best overall roster in the country imo. 

….with the glaring exception of Will Howard.

He’s a mediocre passer and isn’t going to survive the Big 10 with his legs.

[Thiefery]

17 minutes ago, horns96 said:

….with the glaring exception of Will Howard.

He’s a mediocre passer and isn’t going to survive the Big 10 with his legs.

with Chip at OC, they will be a running team with Henderson and Judkins 

[HookemTexas]

17 minutes ago, horns96 said:

….with the glaring exception of Will Howard.

He’s a mediocre passer and isn’t going to survive the Big 10 with his legs.

With Ohio St. amount of skill position players, Howard doesn't need to be CJ Stroud, if he just game manages and does not turn the ball over, they probably win 90% of their schedule on that alone.

[codaxx]

2 minutes ago, HookemTexas said:

With Ohio St. amount of skill position players, Howard doesn't need to be CJ Stroud, if he just game manages and does not turn the ball over, they probably win 90% of their schedule on that alone.

Their schedule is not too demanding, so winning 90% might not say that much.. 

Akron

Western Michigan

Marshall

@ Michigan State

Iowa

@Oregon

Nebraska

@ Penn State

Purdue

@ northwestern

Indiana

Michigan. 

Maybe 3 days they could lose on that schedule. 

 

 

 

[Rickysonehitter]

16 minutes ago, codaxx said:

I think Georgia has the best roster. I believe they bring back 4 out 5 OL and a 1st round QB.  Front 7 is coming back. There are some questions about the DBs, as they lose multiple starters, but Georgia has earned the benefit of the doubt there. 

Most complete and best are different things. OSU lacks UGAs depth, but their starting 22 will be an embarrassment of riches. Beck doesn't have the benefit of the best backfield in the country which, between that, Chip Kelly and the schedule, should make Howard look like Nick Foles.

The oline is a black hole, I agree.