76
Last year safety
CADEN STERNS
became the
first Texas true
freshman defensive
back in over a
decade to start the
first 13 games of
his career. He took
Big 12 Defensive
Freshman of
the Year honors
during a season
in which he
supplied a number
of memorable
moments, including
a blocked field goal
against USC and
a key interception
against Tulsa. This
year the top recruit
in Tom Her man’s
2018 class will
have to do even
more in a young
and inexperienced
defense. With
All–Big 12
cornerback Kris
Boyd graduating,
Sterns, who led
the team with four
interceptions last
year, becomes the
leader o f Te xas’s
secondar y.X-FACTOR
2019
SCHEDULE
THE BIG STORY I n Tom
Herman’s third year as
head coach, Texas is ready to make
the jump to becoming a playoff
contender. The development of
quarterback Sam Ehlinger has
been key, but so has Herman’s
recruiting: The Longhorns are
starting to reap the rewards of
two straight top five recruiting
classes arriving in Austin and
have closed the talent gap on
Oklahoma, which topped Texas
in the Big 12 title game.CAN’T MISS Ehlinger loses his
top receiver Lil’Jordan
Humphrey from last season but
has another NFL-level talent in
Collin Johnson, who opted to
return for his senior year. Johnson,
who caught 68 passes for 985
yards, is a 6' 6", 220-pound
Biletnikoff contender who presents
nightmare matchups. Johnson and
the offensive line, led by Z ACH
SHACKELFORD, make up a big reason
why the Longhorns’ passing attack
could rival Oklahoma’s.KEY QUESTION The Longhorns
defense was third in the
Big 12 in yards per play (5.6), but
only three defensive starters are
back. Will the young talent from
Herman’s first few recruiting
classes be ready to make an impact
this fall? In a conference loaded
with high-powered offenses,
Texas’s less than seasoned unit
must make quick progress.KEY MATCHUP
BIGGEST GAME
SI RANKING
AUG. 31
LOUISIANA TECH
SEPT. 7
LSU (8)
SEPT. 14
@ RICE
SEPT. 21
OKLAHOMA STATE
OCT. 5
@ WEST VIRGINIA
OCT. 12
OKLAHOMA (4)
OCT. 19
KANSAS
OCT. 26
@ TCU
NOV. 9
KANSAS STATE
NOV. 16
@ IOWA STATE (23)
NOV. 23
@ BAYLOR
NOV. 29
TEXAS TECH
THE RUNDOWN
9.5
Aside from the clashes
with LSU and Oklahoma,
the Longhorns should be favored
in every game this season.OVER OR UNDER
3
6
9
12
15
5 –7 5 –7 7– 6 10 – 4 10–2
WINS
It’s been more than a
decade since Texas won
10 games or more in back-
to-back seasons. After a
10-win season in 2018,
anything short of double-
digit wins would be a
YEAR 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019* disappointment in Austin.
*SI PROJECTION5 -YEAR TREND
FRO
M LEFT: GREG N
ELSO
N; ED ZU
RGA
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AGES
Texas