College Football: 1 of these 5 teams will make the playoff for the first time in 2023
![Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts in the first half of the Pac-12 Championship against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley reacts in the first half of the Pac-12 Championship against the Utah Utes at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/27b26f32247310d7c103da8dbcc596ec45a0593e56aefe5ce5df25d6076f71c8.jpg)
3. Texas Longhorns
Believe it or not, Texas has yet to make a playoff appearance.
The Longhorns were infamously declared “back” by Sam Ehlinger a handful of years back after a New Year’s Six win, but we all know that backfired and they really weren’t “back” at all. Since then, Texas has been pretty average and has since hired Steve Sarkisian as head coach which had some people, including myself, shaking their heads.
I’m not sure Sarkisian is a national title-contending head coach, but he absolutely has the roster to make some noise this season. The Longhorns are actually projected to win the Big 12 in 2023.
If Texas can win the Big 12 behind the arm of Quinn Ewers and the offense lives up to its potential while the defense continues to improve, I have no doubt that the playoff committee would have to include the Longhorns in the field.
Unfortunately, Texas has to go to Alabama in Week 2 and has road games against Baylor, Houston, and TCU. The Kansas State, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma games won’t be easy, either.
But Ewers and this offense will keep Texas in every game.