Reassessing the preseason predictions for the Texas Longhorns' first bye

While the Texas Longhorns' 2024 season won't reach the halfway point until after next Saturday's rivalry contest with the Oklahoma Sooners, the five-game bye week is a good time to make my own preseason predictions, which I made just before the win Longhorns made against Colorado State to reconsider.

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Some predictions are that the old will be out and the new will be in. In other cases I stick to my guns.

Let's get started.

Name the SEC champion and who he beat in Atlanta

Forecast for August: Georgia over Texas

Forecast for October: Texas via Tennessee

I think we've seen what Georgia can do when it needs to break free from the shackles Mike Bobois the typical plan, but how often will the Bulldogs be comfortable with it? There is obviously talent in Alabama's secondary, but there is also some inexperience. Can Georgia do that against Texas and a secondary that hasn't let anything get past them this season?

This is what the month of October looks like for Texas…

• October 5th – Bye
• October 12 – vs. Oklahoma
• October 19 – Georgia
• October 26 – at Vanderbilt

This is what it looks like for Tennessee

• October 5th – in Arkansas
• October 12 – Florida
• October 19 – Alabama
• October 26th – Bye

Georgia also faces both the Horns and Vols.

The common opponents for Texas and Tennessee are numerous, as both teams travel to Arkansas and Vanderbilt but face Florida, Kentucky and Mississippi State at home.

The purple each team faces is different, as Texas gets Oklahoma and Tennessee gets Alabama. The only other difference in the schedule for both UTs is that Tennessee must travel to Athens while Georgia must travel to Austin.

Both teams have an explosive offense and a tough defense. At this point, I'm predicting there will be a lot of orange in Atlanta on December 7th.

August answer: No. 5 seeds and the Horns Get to the semi-finals.

Answer from October: Seeded No. 2 and the Horns reach the final.

I think Ohio State plays through its schedule, which is why I have Texas at No. 2.

Eric had the same thing in August. While this robs Longhorn fans of the chance to see a home playoff game at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, a team that will play another month in this scenario will be spared a week of hits.

Who is your national champion?

August answer: Unfortunately, Ohio State.

Answer from October: Unfortunately, Ohio State.

This may be a week early, but Ohio State's offense will face its toughest test yet with the Iowa defense. When the Buckeyes can make your life difficult Kirk Ferentz and neutralizing any attempt by his program to win in the ugly way it prefers, that will be a good sign for Ohio State and Ryan Day.

Who is your Heisman winner?

Forecast for August: Sigh, Dillon Gabriel

Forecast for October: Travis Hunter

According to Pro Football Focus, Hunter has played 662 snaps in the Buffaloes' five games. That's 132 snaps per game.

He already has 46 catches for 561 yards and six touchdowns, along with 16 tackles, one TFL, two interceptions, three passes defended and a forced fumble.

Hunter is playing at an All-American level at two different positions in a Power 4 conference in 2024.

Sometimes multipurpose players receive packages. Remember when Adore Jackson played some offense and defense Steve Sarkisian at USC?

Hunter is not a package player. He works in both full-time positions. If he plays at the same pace but Colorado loses every game, that shouldn't diminish how crazy it is for Hunter to excel on both sides of the ball. And as someone who enjoys everything Ashton Jeanty And Jalen Milroe did this year.

Hunter for Heisman.

What is one question you still have as the team heads into the 2024 season?

August answer: The impressive part of Nick SabanIn his career, the most impressive thing about the number of national championships he brought to Tuscaloosa, Alabama was the number of C games his Crimson Tide won from his sophomore year in 2008 to his senior season in 2008 2023 denied, limited to a single sum of digits. The Longhorns played some C games with enough A+ flashes to defeat C- opponents in 2023, and even lost games in 2022 because of a mediocre performance against a team that was playing its best was. Texas' schedule, aside from the non-Michigan non-conference slate and Vanderbilt, doesn't allow C-Games to earn victories, even with the established talent. Can Sarkisian do what his mentor did best and ensure that everyone in his program, players and coaches alike, are doing their best on a weekly basis or achieving something similar?

Answer from October: Maybe so, but it's not clear after a game against a first-season Mississippi State team with its backup quarterback. Maybe I should have swapped Vanderbilt and the Bulldogs.

The Longhorns' offensive MVP will…

August response: Kelvin Banks, But Quinn Ewers will also receive the fame he deserves.

Answer from October: No change. Appreciate what Texas has to offer at left tackle while you still can.

The Longhorns' defensive MVP will…

August answer: Anthony Hill Jr. All-America level season.

Answer from October: I'm sticking with it, but it's hard not to take a hard look at some things Michael Taaffe has done.

Do any Longhorns win non-Heisman postseason awards? (Outland, Thorpe, etc.)

August Answer: Bert Auburn gets the Lou Groza because it combines a look with consistency that someone voting for a kicker award would be drawn to. Kelvin Banks receives all possible lineman awards, i.e. the Lombardi and the Outland. Jake Majors also has a real chance at the Rimington.

Answer from October: I'm just sticking with Banks' prediction at this point, but I'm not counting Taaffe for the Burlsworth, which goes to college football's most outstanding player who began his career as a backup.

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Season record prediction

August answer: 10-2, two SEC losses. No. 5 seeds. I can barely wait for it.

Answer from October: 11-1, an SEC loss. No. 2 seeds. I still can't wait.