New York Times predicts Texas will win national championship

And so we reach the Longhorns, my pick for this season’s national champs. This is a pick based on a trio of factors. The first is Texas’s combination of overwhelming talent and senior leadership. We all know about senior quarterback Colt McCoy, of course, but Texas is also very experienced on its offensive line, which was a major key during the program’s last national championship run. Texas can also tout a talented linebacker corps and, as always, a strong and deep secondary. The second factor is a very winnable schedule. Yes, Oklahoma will again be a major test, as will a road date with Oklahoma State. But Texas beat O.U. in 2008, and had fewer losses and faces fewer concerns than the Sooners do entering this season. If U.T. can escape both O.U. and the Cowboys, I don’t think it will be tested by another team on its schedule. My third factor is the least tangible: I believe U.T. will use last season’s disappointment as inspiration. It’s a very simple premise, actually: the best teams typically win, and when you add Texas’s desire to make up for how last season turned out, you have the makings of a national champion. Call it a hunch, one aided by an experienced coaching staff and a deep, talented and experienced roster. The best news? Whether I’m right or wrong, college football is mere hours away.