Oklahoma football: Top 5 “What if?” scenarios for the 2023 Sooner football season

Dec 29, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Gavin Sawchuk (27) runs with the ball against the Florida State Seminoles in the second quarter during the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2022; Orlando, Florida, USA; Oklahoma Sooners running back Gavin Sawchuk (27) runs with the ball against the Florida State Seminoles in the second quarter during the 2022 Cheez-It Bowl at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
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What if Texas is really good like the experts predict? 

AUSTIN, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 17: Xavier Worthy #8 of the Texas Longhorns walks to the sideline in the first half against the UTSA Roadrunners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – SEPTEMBER 17: Xavier Worthy #8 of the Texas Longhorns walks to the sideline in the first half against the UTSA Roadrunners at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

ESPN thinks the Longhorns will make the college football playoff. Athlon has Xavier Worthy (pictured above) listed as a preseason All-American. Overall, experts believe the Texas Longhorns are going to be really good. Big 12 champ-type good.

Answer: Duh, aren’t they back… again?

Every year the experts think the Longhorns are going to run the table, and they haven’t since Vince Young was there and I was darkening the doorways of Shawnee high school (most days). Don’t get me wrong, Texas has a ton of talent. Wideout Xavier Worthy is a monster at the receiver position. In 2022 Worthy had 60 receptions for 760 yards and 9 touchdowns. In fact, he had 6 more receptions than Marvin Mims… for 323 fewer yards.

Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers had 15 touchdowns in 2022 (10 less than Dillon Gabriel), 2,177 yards (991 yards short of Gabriel), and 6 picks (same as Gabriel).

Well… what about starting running back Jonathan Brooks? He had 30 carries for 197 yards and 5 touchdowns in 2022. Last year, Marcus Major had 56 carries for 227 yards and 4 touchdowns, and he is listed as the third-team running back on the Sooner depth chart. Gavin Sawchuk and Jovantae Barnes each had over 100 yards rushing last year… against Florida State.

Texas’ best quarterback on their roster sits behind backup freshman Arch Manning, Maalik Murphy.

We understand because we hear it every year. Texas will be awesome this year… we know… we know…