Historic College Football Program Called Out as the 'Most Overrated' SEC Team

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Dibyendu Mondal | Last updated Aug 20, 2025 2:56 PM ET

Preseason projections have the Texas Longhorns among the national title favorites, but a panel of SEC experts flagged the Longhorns as the conference's most overrated team. CBS Sports’ SEC preview led with a blunt assessment.

“I swear this has nothing to do with Arch Manning, who so many people want you to believe is only highly-regarded due to his name. No, I'm a firm believer in Manning. My concern with Texas is how much it must replace along the lines of scrimmage.” That judgment came from Tom Fornelli, with Chris Hummer also listed among the contributors.

"Steve Sarkisian has done an incredible job of getting this roster ready for the SEC — we saw the fruits last year — but it remains the SEC. If there are any problems up front it could lead to plenty of headaches. I still think this team is well into the playoff hunt through November at worst, but I'm not as confident we'll see the Horns in Atlanta."

The concern is measurable. Texas must replace four offensive-line starters who combined for 157 career starts, creating an experience gap up front that could affect pass protection and the run game. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and offensive line coach Kyle Flood emphasize continuity, but the new unit lacks game-tested reps.

Market expectations add context. BET ESPN set Texas’ 2025 season win total at 10.5 games, a number some analysts, including ESPN's Joe Fortenbaugh, cited by Sports Illustrated , view as optimistic given a difficult schedule that opens at Ohio State and includes a road trip to the Georgia Bulldogs.

On balance, the Longhorns enter 2025 with clear strengths, returning defensive pieces and consecutive 11-win seasons, but the projection disparity hinges on a single axis — line play. If the revamped front performs near expectations, Texas remains a playoff contender.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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