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Who the Real Archvillains Are for Texas and the Top 25

by: RT Young07/11/25
Ryan Day, Steve Sarkisian
Ryan Day, Steve Sarkisian (Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)

ESPN dropped an article yesterday called “The Anticipated Archvillains for Every Top 25 College Football Team.” In this particular year, the term “Arch-villain” seems like a Freudian slip, since I think Arch Manning will quickly become the villain of most SEC fanbases as he and the Longhorns hold their teams back from their goals. But here’s how I would have done this particular article with relevance to Texas. I’ll use ESPN’s rankings.

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First, no complaints on ESPN’s picks for Ohio State, LSU, Arizona State, Clemson and South Carolina. Those were right on.

But earlier today, Paul Finebaum certainly gave Ryan Day and Ohio State a shot of espresso for their 11AM kickoff against Texas on 8/30.

#3 Texas: ESPN said Oklahoma. I disagree. The Sooners are Texas’ archrival, but an archvillain is who stands in the way of a hero’s destiny. Sorry, Brent Venables, but that’s not your team this year. John Mateer will present an interesting test for the Longhorns in Red River, but the Sooners have done a strange job pairing the new quarterback with receivers who will make his life easier. My archvillain for Texas is The Hump. The Longhorns have been on the doorstep of a National Championship game for two seasons in a row and haven’t been able to get the ball in the endzone. Steve Sarkisian has preached “getting over the hump” all offseason, and the team is bought in. But when faced with a similar situation this year, you wonder if the doubt will resurface.

#4 Georgia: ESPN said Alabama. I’d go with stagnation. Kirby Smart’s roster won’t be as loaded as it has been in the past, and there are some culture issues in Athens. Does this racecar engine need to be serviced? Pun intended.

#16 Texas Tech: Baylor. Not so fast, my friend. The other season Joey McGuire had expectations in Lubbock was in 2023. The Red Raiders lost to Wyoming to open the season and capped off their year by losing to Texas 50–7 in Austin. This year, they were the portal’s biggest spenders, bringing in studs like Lee Hunter and David Bailey. The NIL superdonor Cody Campbell is trying to game the Big 12’s system and buy a conference title. It’s a worthwhile approach in a wide-open conference that often excels in coaching but struggles in NFL talent. But Joey McGuire is still their coach, oft-injured Behren Morton is still their quarterback, and they have two new coordinators. Campbell soured on Matt Wells in 2021 and fired him when he was 5–3.

#23 Texas A&M: Steve Sarkisian. I don’t disagree—this one just made me happy. What’s funny about the Aggies this year is I think they could theoretically improve and wind up with their same perpetual record of 8–4. If a victory over Texas in Austin isn’t included in the win column, how will the Aggie fanbase feel about Mike Elko after year two?

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#25 Oklahoma: Texas. I’d go with the Sooners’ uncertain future in the SEC. The schedule is brutal, and it all rides on Mateer to save Venables in Norman. I don’t think a mediocre record that included an upset win in Red River would save Venables’ job. Plus, the Joe Castiglione removal is reminiscent of the DeLoss Dodds to Steve Patterson transition in Austin from 12 years ago. The Sooners have been at their best when they’ve promoted from within or hired someone from inside the Oklahoma ecosystem. Would the Sooner brass admit deep-down they regret the move to the SEC? Maybe not yet, but after this season, it’s a certainty.

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