CFB Top 50, #1: 2025 Texas Longhorns

by
Bracket Yard
August 22, 2025

With the college football season beginning tomorrow, we have landed on the 2025 Texas Longhorns, number one on our CFB top 50 countdown.

College football begins tomorrow, everyone. Aren’t you excited? I’m sure the fans in Austin are, as their team goes into the 2025 campaign as the preseason number one team. This isn’t just by us, by the way. Texas is the presumed best team, granted that a single snap has yet to be played. The Longhorns will have to prove that they belong there.

2025 Texas Longhorns Basic Facts

Head Coach: Steve Sarkisian (5th season)

2025 Conference: Southeastern Conference (SEC)

2024 Record: 13-3 (7-1), SEC runners-up

Final Resolution of Last Season: Lost in CFP semifinal, ranked 4th (AP)

2024 Scoring Offensive Rank: 29th (33.0)

2024 Scoring Defensive Rank: 3rd (15.3)

Texas Key Additions and Subtractions

IN – Jack Endries, tight end. Transferred from California.

IN – Maraad Watson, defensive lineman. Transferred from Syracuse.

OUT – Quinn Ewers, quarterback. Drafted by Miami in 6th round of 2025 Draft.

OUT – Kelvin Banks Jr., offensive lineman. Drafted by New Orleans ninth overall in 2025 Draft.

OUT – Jahdae Barron, cornerback. Drafted by Denver in 1st round of 2025 Draft.

OUT – Matthew Golden, wide receiver. Drafted by Green Bay in 1st round of 2025 Draft.

Best Game on the Schedule in 2025

November 15 at Georgia. This is going to be serious, major, overarching (no pun intended, given the QB’s name), or whatever other synonym you prefer.

2025 Texas Longhorns: Outlook

So begins the Arch Manning Show in Austin. His time as the starting quarterback has been highly anticipated, both inside and outside of Texas circles. Indeed, there are some lousy NFL teams ready to see him play and determine if he is the real deal, given his family’s quarterbacking dynasty. He doesn’t need to be Peyton or Eli, but he needs to be good to give his team a chance to win. Nevertheless, choo choo: All aboard the hype train.

Linebacker Anthony Hill will one of the leaders of the Texas defense in 2025. A good unit it was last year, too. The thing is, it’s one matter to give up a combined total of 10 points to Colorado State, UTSA, and ULM, and another to deal with teams like Georgia, Ohio State, and Clemson.

Texas has a great opportunity to prove its worth right out of the blocks with a Week 1 road game at Ohio State – the team directly behind them on this list. It’s simply a monumental first contest of the year. Nobody would fault Texas for losing, but if you want to be the best, you need to beat the best. The schedule gets easier (as in, downright easy) in September, but then picks back up in October. With their slate being as deep as it is, they can sustain a loss or two and still be in playoff position. However, if Texas is the team we think they are, then let’s see if they can beat Ohio State, Georgia, and Florida. If yes, they could be the favorite to win the whole thing. Georgia beat Texas twice last year, so that seems like the dragon they need to slay to be a true contender.