Spring football is ongoing across the state of Texas with April inching towards the midway point. The 13 FBS programs in the Lone Star State are allowed to practice for 15 on-field sessions, including 12 involving contact. Spring games are littered throughout the month with most on April 13 or 20. Both SMU and North Texas already wrapped up spring practices. 

The 2024 season is a new day for the Great State. Texas reunites with Texas A&M in the SEC while SMU joins the P4 as ACC members. But what is the best and worst case that can happen for each team in 2024? Here’s where we stand on the Texas Longhorns.

TEXAS LONGHORNS 

2023 Record: 12-2
2024 Schedule
Aug. 31                 Colorado State                
Sept. 7                  at Michigan                         
Sept. 14               UTSA                                        
Sept. 21               Louisiana-Monroe       
Sept. 28               Mississippi State           
Oct. 12                 Oklahoma (Dallas)      
Oct. 19                 Georgia                                  
Oct. 26                 at Vanderbilt                     
Nov. 9                    Florida                                    
Nov. 16                 at Arkansas                        
Nov. 23                 Kentucky                              
Nov. 30                 at Texas A&M                          

Best case for 2024: Previously, Texas heard how unprepared it was for a move to the SEC on the football field, but the Longhorns enter 2024 as one of the top teams in the country, at least on paper. Quinn Ewers is entering his third season as starting quarterback. Four of the five offensive line starters return. The Longhorns added three potential all-conference performers at wide receiver and took Alabama’s most athletic tight end and best wide receiver. The defense added an edge rusher with 14.5 sacks last year and a safety who started at Clemson as a freshman. 

Texas is good. How good won’t be determined until the fall. A trip to Michigan in Week 2 sets the table for expectations. A win means that the Longhorns are en route to a 10-win season and playoff berth. The base case for Texas includes big dreams – SEC championship and/or national title. It won’t be easy and that level of success involves some luck, but Texas is talented enough to be amongst the 5-8 teams that can win a national championship.

Worse case for 2024: The floor still seems relatively high for Texas. Even an injury to Ewers only means that another five-star recruit – Arch Manning – is forced onto the field. Michigan is reloading, but playing in the Big House against the defending national champion shouldn’t be an assumed win. Losses in SEC play to Oklahoma and Georgia aren’t unthinkable. Add in dangerous road trips and hostile crowds at Arkansas and Texas A&M and Texas could find itself 8-4 or worse at the end of the year.