By RJ Younger
FOX Sports activities Faculty Soccer Author
In preparation for convention Media Days all through July, I posed 5 questions I need answered within the newest episode of "The No. 1 Ranked Present." A type of questions has to do with simply what the Large 12 has to achieve — and never — from Texas taking part in a non-conference recreation towards SEC energy Alabama.
Does Texas need to beat Alabama (Sept. 10, Large Midday on FOX) for the Large 12 to be taken critically by the CFP choice committee in 2022?
It could not harm.
RJ Younger's 5 questions for convention Media Days
FOX Sports activities’ RJ Younger shares the questions he needs answered when he visits coaches and gamers at convention Media Days within the coming weeks. To start out, RJ needs to know if the Large 12 is again.
You possibly can watch the "The No. 1 Ranked Present with RJ Younger" on YouTube or subscribe on podcast platforms, together with Apple Podcasts.
The very fact is the choice committee confirmed what it thinks of the Large 12 and its possibilities within the CFP final 12 months. In years previous, the Oklahoma Sooners have been the fourth crew in as a result of, frankly, there hasn’t been a greater different for the choice committee to decide on.
The Sooners had benefited from being undefeated within the month of November since 2014 and would experience that momentum to a Large 12 title and invitation to the semifinals. When Baylor blew that up final 12 months, ending Oklahoma's 23-game November profitable streak, and Oklahoma State buried the Sooners two weeks later, that left solely the winner of the Large 12 Championship — BU vs. OSU — with the possibility of representing the convention within the CFP.
Regardless of an excellent recreation that the Bears gained, and OSU fell six inches in need of profitable, the choice committee opted to place a non-conference champion (Georgia) into the CFP. That call was vindicated when Georgia gained the nationwide title towards Alabama, the crew it had misplaced to within the SEC Championship Recreation.
Now, the choice committee has all of the ammo essential to disregard the Large 12 — prefer it has the Pac-12 — in a four-team playoff format. The one approach it appears the Large 12 will discover its approach into CFP this 12 months is that if certainly one of its packages runs the desk.
If Texas manages to beat Alabama, the energy of schedule for each Large 12 crew would get lots higher. If — if — a type of groups manages to go undefeated, it might be a pleasant information level to have. However I consider, cynically I’ll admit, a win for the Longhorns may simply be touted as a gap salvo for its first season of SEC soccer in 2025.
Let's focus in on Sept 10, when Nick Saban takes his Crimson Tide to the Forty Acres for a Large Midday showdown.
Does Texas have an opportunity in that recreation?
Sure, the Longhorns have an opportunity. They’ve added the nation’s No. 1 recruit for the 2022 class in quarterback Quinn Ewers, essentially the most underrated tight finish prospect within the sport in Jahleel Billingsley and former Group of 5 dynamo in Wyoming switch large receiver Isaiah Neyor. The Longhorns additionally return their greatest likelihood at a Heisman Trophy winner since Vince Younger in operating again Bijan Robinson.
The problem for Texas, although, isn’t on its offense however on what should be a remarkably improved protection if it should fight reigning Heisman winner Bryce Younger and the Bama offense. Even so, Texas most likely wants to show this matchup right into a shootout and hope to have the ball on the finish with an opportunity to win it.
Is Quinn Ewers the starter?
I’d be shocked if he’s not. Sure, the Longhorns nonetheless have Hudson Card on campus — Card beat out former Longhorns QB Casey Thompson to open the 2021 season — and maybe the toolsiest quarterback within the nation in Maalik Murphy.
However Ewers didn’t switch from Ohio State after one 12 months to the place many consider he ought to’ve began his school profession to take a seat the bench. And Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t recruit him out of the switch portal to pad the Longhorns' roster.
Ewers is at Texas to do what solely Vince Younger has on this century: Lead the Longhorns to a nationwide championship. If Texas brings Ewers to Large 12 Media Days — which I extremely doubt — Sarkisian would depart little doubt about who'll begin behind heart towards Louisiana-Monroe in Week 1.
Is Arch Manning's dedication the start of Texas is Again?
RJ Younger breaks down why Arch Manning’s dedication to the Longhorns could have a big impression on the remainder of their recruiting class and why Texas will likely be prepared for the SEC in 2025.
Will the result of Alabama-Texas be a telltale recreation for Arch Manning’s dedication to Texas?
No, it’s not.
Whereas I consider Texas stands a good likelihood to upset Alabama, I’m additionally prepared to confess I’m within the minority with that opinion exterior of Austin, and even some Texas followers don’t consider their Longhorns stand an opportunity of holding up longer than a snowball in hell.
Nevertheless, this recreation will function a benchmark for the Longhorns not only for this season however for his or her subsequent three. Manning, the highest 2023 recruit within the nation who dedicated to Texas final week, will both be a redshirt sophomore or junior when the Longhorns play their first season within the SEC.
A win towards Alabama in 2022 places them forward of schedule, particularly following a 5-7 season with a loss to Kansas in 2021. However I don’t assume Manning will break his dedication over a loss or perhaps a dangerous loss to Alabama.
RJ Younger is a nationwide school soccer author and analyst for FOX Sports activities and the host of the podcast "The No. 1 Ranked Show with RJ Young." Observe him on Twitter at @RJ_Young, and subscribe to "The RJ Young Show" on YouTube. He's not on a StepMill.
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