Sad News For Texas Longhorns: hey we not return

Analyst Calls ‘A Fake Thing’: ‘Texas Longhorns Are Back’ Story Stupid

The No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoffs went to the Texas Longhorns.

Whether or not Texas’s football program could be “back” was the once-serious question-turned-dream that the program’s supporters consistently sold themselves on.

Thanks to players like Vince Young and Colt McCoy, Austin may experience a resurgence of its former glory. Something that Texas, who went through three coaches before hiring Steve Sarkisian, seemed to forever elude after McCoy’s departure. It was evident that the program was nowhere near contending for championships, or even for a conference title, even during the first season of the former offensive coordinator for Alabama in Austin.

While there were some improvements in the 2022 season, they were still below what the show had anticipated. However, the Longhorns’ situation improved in 2023. Finally, transfers were having an impact, recruits were performing well and being developed appropriately, and the Longhorns not only made it to the College Football Playoffs for the first time since 2009, but they also won the Big 12 championship.

But winning the Big 12—or even the national championship, if they can accomplish that this season—doesn’t mean their fate, according to JD PicKell of On3. As PicKell disclosed, there isn’t actually a return to Texas.

PicKell claimed, “Texas coming back was always a fake thing.” Because some will ask, “What about when they get to the SEC?,” even if they win a national championship this season. So how about keeping that going? Is it something they can do for a long time?”

He went on to say that there will never be consensus among people regarding their return.

“Texas being back is never something where we’re going to arrive at,” PicKell stated. And I’m not here to disparage Texas in that way. I just wanted to let you know not to worry about the whole “we’re back” conversation. Cause back is one thing, and I don’t think it will ever be fully understood by anyone. Although I won’t be able to get everyone in the room to agree that Texas is back, I will say this. I believe Texas has arrived.”

a term that PicKell employed because no player on the current roster played in the Longhorns’ worst-ever seasons. He thinks we are seeing the “new Texas” instead.

Thoughts like that are probably not in the minds of many fans, but they have been in the tea leaves the entire season as Sarkisian and quarterback Quinn Ewers have made a point of avoiding questions like that. One thing is certain, regardless of whether Texas is “back” or “arrived”—if they end up winning the championship this season, the program’s trajectory may reach unprecedented heights in the history of college football.