The Texas Longhorns are coming off one of the most successful NFL Draft performances in program history, sending 12 players to the pros in 2025. But while Longhorn Nation is buzzing about what’s been accomplished, college football analyst Josh Pate is hitting the brakes on the hype.
Josh Pate Reveals Why He Still Has Doubts About Texas Longhorns After Historic NFL Draft Haul
During a recent episode of Late Kick, Pate broke down his lingering concerns about Texas heading into the 2025 season, and despite their recent playoff appearance, he’s not sold on them being title-ready just yet.
“They lost 12 to the NFL,” Pate pointed out. “And I’m looking at quarterback, it’s new. You’ve got four new offensive linemen, you had to rebuild the interior of the defensive line, and your wide receiver group has turnover again. That’s a lot of question marks.”
The Longhorns will open their season in Columbus against Ohio State, the reigning national champions who knocked Texas out of the College Football Playoff last season. And while Texas had a favorable draw in the 2024 CFP, beating Clemson and Arizona State, they were 0-3 against true title contenders, falling twice to Georgia and once to Ohio State.
Pate didn’t hold back when evaluating their path: “They’ve got the easiest conference schedule in this league,” he said. “It’s not easy, but it’s the easiest in the SEC. Compare that to what Oklahoma or Florida has to play. It’s like different worlds.”
One area that especially concerns Pate is Texas’ offensive line. Despite losing four starters, head coach Steve Sarkisian largely avoided the transfer portal, choosing instead to rely on development and prior recruiting success. That gamble could pay off, or it could expose a major vulnerability.
“It’s fascinating,” Pate said. “They didn’t go out and portal much on the offensive line. They trust their development there. If they’re right, Texas could win a national championship. If they’re wrong, things could fall apart early.”
Another focal point of uncertainty is new starting quarterback Arch Manning. While Manning has massive potential and star power, he’s still unproven in high-pressure situations. With early tests against Ohio State and SEC foes, the pressure is on immediately.
Still, Pate acknowledged the upside: “If they can afford to trust their development, and if Arch hits early, Texas can absolutely be in the playoff conversation again.”
The Longhorns are stacked with talent, especially at running back and edge rusher, and they’ve recruited at a championship level for several cycles now. But Pate’s message is clear: between roster turnover, a new quarterback, and unproven depth, Texas fans might want to pump the brakes on the playoff parade — at least for now.
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