The Texas Longhorns finished the season strong winning four of their final six games to finish with a 7-6 record. With both Sam Ehlinger and Shane Buechele returning in 2018, the Longhorn offense should only get better. Texas has one of the top recruiting classes entering 2018 and will look to get back to being one of the dominant teams in college football. Here's how they rank in the way-too-early top 25 polls published by major publications:
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Chat Sports
Ranking: 25th
Breakdown: "Texas finished strong in their first season under head coach Tom Herman, winning four of their final six games to finish with a winning record. Both Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger return to lead an offense that should be better in 2018, while the defense will remain as one of the Big 12's best units."
USA TODAY
Ranking: NR
ESPN
Ranking: 24th
Breakdown: "The Longhorns lost six games in coach Tom Herman's first season, which was disappointing. But four of them were games decided by five points or fewer, including losses to USC, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State. Can the Longhorns learn to win close games in year two? If they do, they might enjoy a second-year bounce like Georgia and Miami had this past season."
Sporting News:
Ranking: 22nd
Breakdown: "Tom Herman returns after leading the Longhorns to a bowl win in his first season. Sam Ehlinger is a quarterback the program can build around. Texas lost to USC, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State by a combined 11 points; can the Longhorns close that gap next year?"
CBS
Ranking: NR
Athlon Sports
Ranking: 17th
Breakdown: "After Oklahoma, the Big 12 appears to be wide open in the middle of the league. Will the Longhorns emerge as the biggest threat to the Sooners? Or is this team another year away? Coach Tom Herman reeled in a standout class on the early signing period, so help is on the way for a team losing five key players to the NFL Draft. Linebacker Malik Jefferson, punter Michael Dickson, safety DeShon Elliott, cornerback Holton Hill and tackle Connor Williams leave big shoes to fill next fall. While the Longhorns averaged only 5.2 yards a play in 2017, the offense should improve next fall. Herman’s team returns two quarterbacks with starting experience (Shane Buechele and Sam Ehlinger), running back Daniel Young and the team’s top three receiving targets. Finding a replacement for Williams at left tackle and generating overall better play from the line that gave up 34 sacks has to be a priority this offseason. Coordinator Todd Orlando is one of the best defensive minds in college football and should keep the defense playing at a high level despite some key players moving onto the NFL. The schedule also is manageable for Herman’s team. The Longhorns open the year with a neutral-site game against Maryland and have road trips to Kansas State and Oklahoma State on tap. However, USC, TCU, West Virginia and Iowa State all visit Austin next year."
Yahoo Sports
Ranking: 25th
Breakdown: "This must be the fourth straight year we’ve included Texas in preseason rankings. Maybe 2018 is the year it finally comes to fruition. The Longhorns went 7-6 in Tom Herman’s first season, but lost to the Big 12’s best by some really slim margins. UT loses a lot of talent to the NFL, but Herman has been recruiting at a high level and has a quarterback, Sam Ehlinger, to build around. That should begin to show on the field in 2018."
Sports Illustrated
Ranking: 22nd
Breakdown: "Tom Herman found his quarterback in Sam Ehlinger, and the Longhorns are only going to get better and better the as his recruits begin to find the field."
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