2021-2022 CFB Big 12 preview part 2: Key players, schedule, predictions

Texas Longhorns: Big 12 preview

Head coach Steve Sarkisian will look to bring his momentum from Alabama to Texas and help turn this program around. Sarkisian has an overall head coaching record of 46-35 and helped the Alabama Crimson Tide win the National Championship last year as their OC.

He inherits a team that finished #19 in the Top 25 with a 7-3 record (5-3 Big 12). Sarkisian brings along Alabama OL coach Kyle Flood to be his OC and he can get results from the front line.

The Longhorn's offense averaged 475 yards and 43 points per game in 2020. They have 8 starters coming back but have to replace QB Sam Ehlinger. There's a chance QB Casey Thompson could take over and end up as a better QB than Ehlinger.

Three of the five top WRs from 2020 remain on the roster, with Joshua Moore leading the pack. Their big recruit RB Bijon Robinson ran for nearly 85 yards but averaged eight yards per carry and scored six TDs down the stretch.

The defense should have better tackling this year but suffers from a weak pass rush. They can rack up tackles for loss, but there's virtually no dominant run defense. At least nine starts should return, including four of their five top tacklers.

2021-2022 Big 12 Conference preview: Texas Longhorns

Texas' strengths: The coaching for Texas this year is stacked and full of championship experience. Head coach Steve Sarkisian was the OC/QB coach for Alabama for the last two years and helped them win the 2020 title. He can work with Casey Thompson and Bijon Robinson to help them reach their potential.

Kyle Flood was the OL coach for Alabama, and his team had the 5th-fewest sacks allowed in the SEC (19) and 2nd in average yards per carry (5.0). Peter Kwiatkowski served as the DC for the Washington Huskies and had 3 All-Americans in 2014 and four players drafted in the first two rounds of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Texas' weakness: The defensive line produced just the 2nd-fewest sacks in the Big 12 with 17. They were in the middle of the pack in run defense with 141 yards per game and an average of 3.8 yards per carry.

The DL allowed 23 first downs, 1st in the Big 12, and allowed teams to convert 36.4% of 3rd down conversions. This unit has massive bodies but lacks speed to get after the QB.

Texas Longhorns key players: Offense

RB: Bijon Robinson - He will serve in a rotation with Roschon Johnson, but could have a role similar to Najee Harris in Alabama. He had 100+ yards in three of the final four games, accounting for 172 and three TDs against Kansas State and 183 yards on just 10 carries in the Alamo Bowl.

QB: Hudson Card - QB Casey Thompson seems poised to take over as the starter, but Card is a dual-threat with an excellent skillset. He'll give Thompson a run for his money for the starting job. If he doesn't get the starting role, he'll at least help push Thompson to the next level and will be a future starter lying in the wait.

Texas Longhorns key players: Defense

LB: Ben Davis - Davis is a former 5-star recruit and transferred from Alabama. He had 1 sack in two years but possesses great size and athletic ability. He can help on the DL in getting a productive pass-rush.

LB: DeMarvion Overshown - Overshown had a great season and played many roles. He played as a safety for 2 seasons, racking up 19 tackles and 7 tackles for loss. In his first year as an LB, he had 60 tackles, 8 TFL, and defended seven passes.

2021-2022 Texas Longhorns Big 12 schedule

Week 1: Saturday, September 4, vs Louisiana

Week 2: Saturday, September 11, at Arkansas

Week 3: Saturday, September 18, vs Rice

Week 4: Saturday, September 25, vs Texas Tech

Week 5: Saturday, October 2, at TCU

Week 6: Saturday, October 9, vs Oklahoma

Week 7: Saturday, October 16, vs Oklahoma State

Week 8: Saturday, October 30, at Baylor

Week 9: Saturday, November 6, at Iowa State

Week 10: Saturday, November 13, vs Kansas

Week 11: Saturday, November 20, at West Virginia

Week 12: Friday, November 26, vs Kansas State

2021-2022 Texas Longhorns Big 12 predictions (8-4 overall, 5-4 Big 12)

HC Steve Sarkisian can turn this program around as a heavy-hitter for many years in the Big 12. They will start with 8 wins in 2021, including wins over West Virginia, Texas Tech and Baylor. They will go on a 3-0 run to end the season (Kansas, West Virginia, Kansas State).Sarkisian might not stay in Texas long if he finds success, but he will at least leave the team in a good state for the next coach.