2007 record: 10-3, 5-3 (2nd in Big 12 South)  
2007 bowl: Beat Arizona State 52-34 in Holiday Bowl
2007 final AP/coaches' ranking: T10/10
Coach: Mack Brown, (103-25, 11 years; 189-99-1 overall, 24 years)
Offensive coordinator: Greg Davis (11th year)
Defensive coordinators: Will Muschamp (1st year)
Returning offensive starters: 7
Returning defensive starters: 4
Location: Austin, Texas
Stadium: Texas Memorial Stadium (grass, 85,123)
Last league title: 2005
2008 schedule: [view]
2007 statistics: [view]

Offensive: The Longhorns invested in their future last season, so a young and inexperienced offensive line, which underwent on-the-job training, has transformed into a major strength. That’s good news for junior quarterback Colt McCoy, who enters his third season as Texas’ starter. McCoy was sacked 25 times and threw 18 interceptions last season, but the stability up front should allow him to make better decisions. McCoy, also a deceptively effective runner, might be called upon more often because the backfield has no sure-fire replacement for Jamaal Charles. McCoy has reliable targets in seniors Quan Cosby and Jordan Shipley. 

Defensive: Strange, but true. Texas has its fourth defensive coordinator (Will Muschamp, formerly of Auburn) in as many seasons. Usually, that means a unit will face changes in personnel and philosophy. Not so with the Longhorns. The front seven is exceptional, and the linebacker play, particularly, could be memorable. Senior Rashad Bobino is experienced at middle linebacker. But the real excitement surrounds junior outside linebackers Sergio Kindle and Roddrick Muckelroy, who potentially could be as a good as any linebackers to play at Texas in recent seasons. Up front, the Longhorns are relying on undersized defensive tackle Lamarr Houston and 300-pound Roy Miller at the interior positions, while senior defensive end Brian Orakpo figures to become the team’s best pass-rusher. The secondary might be startlingly young – with freshmen Ben Wells and Earl Thomas the favorites to play at the safety positions.

Specialists: Senior place-kicker Ryan Bailey has been dependable, but at punter, Texas is rolling the dice on freshman Justin Tucker. Cosby has proven to be a productive return man.

Game of the year Oct. 11 vs. Oklahoma at Dallas And you expected something else? The Longhorns had a two-game winning streak against Oklahoma before last season’s 28-21 defeat. Brown certainly doesn’t want to be looking up at Bob Stoops again.

Coaching: Mack Brown is familiar with the voracious desire for winning at Texas. And he has won his share, including a national title following the 2005 season. He’s more CEO than X-and-O man, and that’s not a bad management style for an elite program. Brown isn’t afraid to tweak his program and he hired Muschamp away from Auburn. Muschamp’s charge is improving the pass rush and secondary play.Sooners haven’t let their level slip very far. 

Heisman Hopefuls: McCoy is a B-list candidate. It would take a series of unforeseen circumstances (monster stats, Texas going 12-0, the front-runners regressing) for him to be New York-bound.

Overview: The Longhorns have some attractive elements, most notably an experienced quarterback, a solid offensive line and a potentially great defense. But Texas is probably the third-best team in the Big 12 this season (behind Oklahoma and Missouri). Although capable of playing with the nation’s best programs, the Longhorns look like they are one season away from making a move back to the top.

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