As of Sunday, Texas was back atop the Associated Press poll for the first time in 16 years, and with that honor came debates from fans and opponents alike about whether the University of Texas deserved the No. 1 spot.
The Longhorns deserve this ranking, and here’s why.
The main argument for not trusting the Longhorns’ #1 ranking is that their non-conference games have been easy wins, but they should be credited for not playing to the level of their opponents. So far, Texas has easily beaten Colorado State 52-0, Michigan 31-12, and most recently UTSA 56-7. Michigan began Week 2 as a top-10 opponent, but the departure of some notable players from last season left them helpless against the Longhorns. Michigan’s ranking continues to slide.
Texas’ ability to perform at such a high level against all opponents is a testament to the team’s A strong mindset.
But the same can’t be said about former No. 1, now No. 2, Georgia, which nearly lost a 13-12 victory last week to unranked Kentucky, scoring just one game-saving touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Not only does Texas have a clear advantage over comparable opponents, but it also has the mental toughness to be the top-ranked team — a feat that hasn’t been accomplished in 16 years — but the team tries not to put too much emphasis on rankings because it has bigger goals in mind.
“If we’re No. 1 in week four, it doesn’t matter,” junior safety Michael Taaffe said, “I’d rather be national champions than be No. 1 in week four. So, like I said, it’s really cool to be recognized for where we came from and how hard we’ve worked to get to this point, but we won’t become legends if we get complacent here.”
The relationships within the Texas team have really helped propel the team to the top of the rankings. The team is a mix of veterans and rookies, and it’s clear that everyone encourages and cares about their teammates, which makes for a comfortable atmosphere on the field.
Taaffe said he’s enjoyed playing for quarterbacks junior Quinn Ewers and redshirt freshman Arch Manning, but their relationship is just as strong off the field.
“Personally, these two are my best friends,” Taaffe said. “Maybe one day they’ll both be at my wedding.”
In addition to the relationships, Texas has arguably the best quarterback in the country. Before his injury, Ewers was the top of On3 Sports’ Heisman Trophy Watch. He’s the focal point of the offense not only on the field, but off it as well. Texas is coming up against some high-level competition in the SEC Conference, and fans would expect some nerves from a 21-year-old playing in front of 100,000 people every week. But Ewers said he’s not nervous, at least not when it comes to football.
“The more prepared you feel, the less pressure there is,” Ewers said.
Texas has a great QB1 in Ewers and a strong QB2 in Manning. For the majority of last week’s games, he totaled five touchdowns, the most by a first-year quarterback in a single game since Longhorns legend Colt McCoy had six. Touchdown in 2006.
Finally, the efficiency of Texas’ defense contributes to the ranking. In addition to the team’s impressive offense, the defense is equally proficient. In the first three matchups, the Texas defense has allowed just 19 points while scoring 139 points. The Longhorns have also had an exemplary record of stopping opponents’ third-down conversion attempts, allowing just 23.26 percent, including a 2-17 loss to the Roadrunners last Saturday.
Texas is well-deserved to be No. 1 in the Associated Press poll, but Taaffe said it best: It’s only Week 4, and the Longhorns will have to prove a lot more this season as they approach conference play.
