Texas Leads Four Big 12 Schools in On3’s Post-Spring Top 25
The spring portion of the 2023 college football calendar is behind us as we are just a couple of weeks from summer workouts getting underway.
While that means there are still a couple of months left before the 2023 season begins, it signifies that we are getting closer, and are under the 100-day mark in the countdown.
Post-spring Top 25 rankings are coming out every week now, and On3 has released their Top 25 as we get ready to flip the calendar over to June. Four Big 12 programs appeared in their rankings, with Texas leading the way as the only Top-10 team in the conference.
Here’s where On3 had each Big 12 team and what they had to say about them.
Texas – No. 9
Can Steve Sarkisian finally win 10 games? Can Texas stop squandering second-half leads? Will the Longhorns write their Big 12 swan song and win the league in their final season in the conference?
They should.
Texas is loaded, returning one of the better offensive lines, tight ends, and receiver rooms in the country, plus Sarkisian likes the development he’s seen from quarterback Quinn Ewers this offseason. They bring back six starters on defense, too, led by All-American linebacker Jaylan Ford.
Kansas State – No. 16
The Wildcats didn’t hold a spring game, but the reigning conference champs still look to have the makeup to win the league again in 2023, bringing back their mauling, veteran OL, and quarterback Will Howard.
FSU transfer Treshaun Ward replaces star tailback Deuce Vaughn, but there is some uncertainly about replicating the production from Felix Anudike-Uzomah, a 1st Round pick who led the team with 8.5 sacks, and corner JuJu Brents, who had four picks in 2022. The defense does return six starters and brought in several transfers, including Mississippi State DE Jevon Banks, to fill some holes.
TCU – No. 21
Coming off a stunning run to the national championship, the Horned Frogs are looking to reload this offseason, as Sonny Dykes has a much different-looking roster (and coaching staff).
Kendal Briles steps in as the OC for the departed Garrett Riley (now at Clemson), and Dykes brought in a bevy of transfers to replace stars like receiver Quentin Johnston, running back Kendre Miller, linebacker Dee Winters, and cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson. Also gone is Heisman Trophy quarterback Max Duggan, with Chandler Morris, who was actually TCU’s 2022 starter before getting hurt early last season, set to be QB1 this fall.
Despite losing some big pieces defensively, TCU still projects to be a solid group (especially in the secondary and at linebacker with star Johnny Hodges back). The Horned Frogs do need to have hit on several transfer playmakers (JoJo Earle from Alabama, John Paul Richardson from Ok. State, Jack Bech from LSU) if the offense is going to continue to light up the league.
Oklahoma – No. 24
Like Texas, the Sooners need a strong 2023 season to establish some program momentum before making the jump to the SEC.
Unlike the Longhorns though, Brent Venables’ team has a few more question marks entering the fall. They do bring back QB Dillion Gabriel, and have a great insurance option in 5-star freshman Jackson Arnold. But are a young group of receivers ready to step up?
Has Venables & Co., fixed a defense that was a sieve in 2022 is the biggest uncertainty. The Sooners did sign a Top 5 recruiting class, with several freshmen pieces like 5-star safety Peyton Bowen expected to contribute early. They also added multiple likely starters via the portal, headlined by Indiana Freshman All-American Dasan McCullough — a Swiss Army hybrid linebacker/safety.
