Despit losing to No. 3 Washington 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl, the Texas Longhorns (12-2, 8-1) end an historic season with a No. 3 ranking in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll.
The Longhorns lost just one regular season game, to the Oklahoma Sooners, before reeling off seven wins which included a 49-21 victory over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship game. Following a successful regular season and conference championship, the program participated in its first-ever College Football Playoff (CFP).
In his third season as Texas head coach, Steve Sarkisian has the Longhorns playing at “contender level,” and they will have an opportunity to showcase that in the Southeastern Conference next season. The CFP expands to twelve teams next year and Texas will have to fare well against a tough slate of 2024 matchups that include the likes of Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas A&M among others if they intend to make a second consecutive CFP.