Greg McElroy Reveals How Likely It Is For Texas To Make The CFP in 2024

The Texas Longhorns are viewed as one of the favorites to appear in the College Football Playoff in 2024.

For well over a decade the Texas Longhorns were figuring out a way to return to their golden era of success that saw Vince Young prance into the end zone against USC, or Colt McCoy deliver clutch throw after clutch throw. 

The Longhorns went from one of college football's juggernauts to a has-been of a program. There were top recruiting classes that came and went having accomplished nothing, coaches that were the hottest coaches in the coaching carousel that fizzled out, and a fan base that had grown to expect the worst.

ESPN analyst Greg McElroy  / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Longhorns then took a chance on Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian who has turned the program around. After going 5-7 in year one and 8-5 in year two, the Longhorns finished this past season 12-2. They ended their Big 12 championship drought, dismantling a tough Oklahoma State team in Arlington, and were tabbed as the No. 3 seed in the College Football Playoff.

They ended up losing their playoff game to Washington, but did have a chance to win at the end. While some expect for them to struggle in 2024 thanks to the losses to the NFL Draft, ESPN's Greg McElroy isn't convinced that's the case.

McElroy explained that while many people think offensive weapons are what Texas will struggle to replace, it is actually their stout defensive front.

"The biggest thing that they’re going to have to replace, though, is not necessarily the receivers, not a piece or two here along the offensive line. It’s really on the defensive front,” McElroy said on Always College Football. “Losing Byron Murphy, T’Vondre Sweat, and Jaylan Ford, their outstanding linebacker? That’s going to be difficult to replace those pieces. Really difficult.”

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It is also worth noting that the Longhorns will have some tough matchups on the docket, with meetings against Georgia, Michigan, and Oklahoma. However, thanks to the expanded playoff there is a bit more room for error for teams in the SEC and Big Ten who will have tougher schedules throughout the year. Something McElroy acknowledged, predicting a very strong season for the Longhorns in 2024.

“Texas is probably looking at a 10-2, 11-1 type of year. I really believe that they’re in a really good position,” explained McElroy. “Could they fall to 9-3, potentially because of the gauntlet in the SEC is a little more intense than the gauntlet that they had to run in the Big 12? 

Sure. That’s definitely a possibility. Still, even at 9-3, I would think that Texas has a really good chance to get to the 12-team College Football Playoff, depending on who they beat and how they beat them."

On top of projecting a possible 11-1 season, McElroy believes Texas has a 70% chance of returning to the playoff next season. With all of the uncertainty with other major powers in the sport, 2024 may be as good a year as any for Texas to push for a title.