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There’s a lack of something on the Associated Press preseason football rankings this year.
When the rankings were released, you had to scroll down, way down, to find a team from Texas.
The Longhorns pulled the No. 23 spot on the list.
The usual suspects are at the top — Alabama at No. 1 , Ohio State at No. 2.
Defending champ Clemson (No. 5) and Oklahoma (No. 8) are in the top 10.
It takes a long time and a lot of sifting through teams like Wisconsin (No. 10) and Kansas State (No. 19) before a team from the state that claims to have the best football in the country appears.
And no offense to the Longhorns (we would all love to see a vast improvement to the Big 12 with a jolt from Austin) but there’s no guarantee that Tom Herman’s magic is going to propel UT back to glory in his first year.
Texas is known for a few things — Whataburger, incredibly nice people and football. So the pressure is on. I’m talking to you Texas A&M and TCU (which both received votes.) Baylor, Texas Tech, UH — step it up. Football is not better in Kentucky (Louisville is No. 17) than it is in Texas. Don’t let states like Utah (the Utes are No. 25) upend Texas. Judging by the rankings, one would guess that other states are catching up. It starts with recruiting. Too many great players under Texas ‘ Friday night lights are leaving the borders to play elsewhere. There are so many stellar players in the state and more need to stay here and help build some of the state’s premier programs. A poll with just one Texas school isn’t a good look for the state that claims to be the best. It’s only a preseason poll — it will change a lot after Week 1. Hopefully a handful of Texas teams will make waves early and break the top 25.