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Same old story: Danny Kanell believes Texas is ‘underrated’ in AP Top 25
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Here we go again.
Every offseason we run through the practice of discussing whether or not Texas is “back.” While the Longhorns have had some nice seasons recently, they’re certainly not performing at a championship level. That doesn’t keep the program out of the national conversation, though.
Monday, Texas was ranked No. 21 in the preseason Top 25 from the Associated Press. CBS Sports college football analyst Danny Kanell believes that ranking is too low for Steve Sarkisian’s squad.
“I’m gonna say underrated,” Kanell said.. “Now I am bullish on the Texas Longhorns. The season last year they only lost three games and all of them by one possession and they were tight losses. Now they squeaked out a couple ugly wins, too, to counter that. But I feel like Steve Sarkisian is inheriting a great situation. I think Tom Herman left the cupboard pretty full. Now he’s gotta develop that talent. The offense, you almost don’t have to worry about with Sark. They already were pretty prolific last year with Sam Ehlinger. Whoever wins the quarterback battle will have one of the best running backs in the country in Bijan Robinson.
“But Pete Kwiatkowski, the defensive coordinator they went with, I think you will see improvement on the defensive side of the ball. I would put them at least three or four spots higher in this one. Although you know those other Big 12 teams are gonna put a bullseye on Texas’ back because of that exit to the SEC, which is probably coming sooner rather than later.”
The Longhorns finished the 2020 season with a 7-3 record which included a 5-3 mark in Big 12 play. Tom Herman was fired after his fourth season, going 32-18 during his time in Austin.
Excitement does surround the program with Sarkisian in charge. His offensive success at Alabama is thought to provide the spark the program needs to return to its blueblood status.
We’ll see if this is finally the year Texas gets back to prominence.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB