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Texas Football: Way-too-early game-by-game predictions for 2020

By Jake Mitchell

HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns prepares to lead the team onto the field before the game against the Rice Owls at NRG Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - SEPTEMBER 14: Head coach Tom Herman of the Texas Longhorns prepares to lead the team onto the field before the game against the Rice Owls at NRG Stadium on September 14, 2019 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /
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SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 31: Malcolm Roach #32 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates a tackle in the second quarter against the Utah Utes during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 31, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX – DECEMBER 31: Malcolm Roach #32 of the Texas Longhorns celebrates a tackle in the second quarter against the Utah Utes during the Valero Alamo Bowl at the Alamodome on December 31, 2019 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images) /

A season ago, Wisconsin opened up against USF, and the Badgers would win by a score of 49-0. They’d ride that momentum all the way to a ten-win season and a spot in their conference championship game. Texas is hoping it can take a similar path in 2020.

This is a unique matchup, in that it features two programs that exist in a post-Charlie Strong world. Obviously, he was at Texas from 2014-16, compiling a 16-21 record and not winning more than six games in any single season in Austin.

The Bulls, now, are entering year one without Strong. They started off high with their former head man, winning ten games in 2017 and defeating Texas Tech in the Birmingham Bowl. However, just eleven total wins over the course of the next two seasons led USF to elect to move on from Strong.

Jeff Scott will take over in Tampa, in what will be the first head coaching job of his career. He’d been at Clemson from 2008-2019, serving as co-offensive coordinator and wide receiver’s coach during his time working with Dabo Swinney.

The only real concern here for Texas is the look-ahead factor. The next week they’ll travel to Tiger Stadium for a rematch with LSU. However, given that this is week one, the Longhorns should come out strong and notch a solid victory to open the year.

Final Score: Texas 45, USF 17 (1-0)

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