What makes Texas football the No. 1 team in the nation?

Whether it’s the first time you’ve clicked on the Inside Texas website or you’re a seasoned veteran who scrutinizes every practice report, the prospect of Texas being the No. 1 team in the nation feels… sudden.

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Just four years ago, this team missed a bowl. The year after that, it was 8-5. Texas couldn’t beat Georgia in two tries in 2024, so what makes them the best team in the nation?

Both types of parties have their fair questions. A neutral observer knows that Texas is replacing four offensive linemen and a quarterback. They just sent 14 starters to the NFL. Is Arch Manning even good?

Someone who has been following closely knows about the deeper inner workings of this team. Is the offensive line depth good enough to last? Will the offense play at a national championship level? Is the secondary going to be able to take the ball away enough? Can anyone kick a field goal?

Texas is the BEST team in the country😤

Per @AP_Top25 pic.twitter.com/z5QEM4vx2G

— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) August 11, 2025

When a team is selected No. 1 in the preseason AP Poll, voters are telling you that team is the best in the nation. Vegas’ title odds also agree that Texas is No. 1. So, what are the actual reasons for the Longhorns being the best?

A Dominant Defense May Be Getting Better

Last season, Texas was in some elite company defensively — top three marks in scoring defense, yards per play, yards per game, and opponent passing touchdowns. Simply put, a tremendous middle of the defensive line helped an elite secondary make plays throughout the game to become arguably the best defense in the nation.

But that group lost stars like Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron, All-American DT Alfred Collins, and three other starters across the defensive line and secondary. While those losses are already being felt in practice, what returns for this team is nothing short of elite.

Six starters and another four pivotal role players return to this group, which may feature the most skillful trio in the nation. Just today, the Chuck Bednarik Award named Colin Simmons, Anthony Hill, and Michael Taaffe to its preseason watch list. It would be hard to find any trio that will be more impactful on either side of the ball this season.

Simmons could be the best pass rusher in the nation, Hill probably is the best linebacker, and Taaffe had a near All-American season in 2024 and is the team’s most important leader. Add to that group a fantastic portal class at defensive tackle, the deepest EDGE/LB groups in the nation, and a secondary featuring All-SEC-level players in Taaffe, Malik Muhammad and Jelani McDonald, and this may be the best singular side of the ball on any team in the nation in 2025.

The Arch Manning Effect

Here’s the thing about Manning: it may take some time, but when he hits midseason form and takes it into the playoffs, Texas may have the best quarterback in the nation.

The Longhorns made it to the national semifinal (and arguably played in the game that decided the national champion) with a struggling and banged-up Quinn Ewers under center. They may be replacing their starting QB, but it’s with arguably the most hyped-up backup since Tim Tebow.

Manning is the Heisman frontrunner entering the year, but he doesn’t need to be that good. If he is just a top-10 quarterback in the nation — an easy projection given his time in the program and his natural skill — Texas will have the offense to match a championship-level defense.

He’s got a great arm, has mobility, and has the demeanor of a seasoned veteran. Don’t read too far into early practice reports; it seems like people are overlooking three touchdown passes to Ryan Wingo.

It’s Finally Sark’s Team

Last season, Texas was still a step away from it truly being “Sark’s team.” He had to supplement many spots, like WR and DL, with transfers thanks to poor recruiting classes in the past. His elite 2023 class was just sophomores, and the ’24 class had just gotten to campus. His main rotation of around 40 players featured about 23 guys who either predated Sark, transferred in in 2024, or were underclassmen.

Now, in 2025, Texas has an elite group of juniors emerging from the 2023 class. Eight players ranked in the top 110 of that year are expected to be key contributors. Another four top-40 players from the 2024 class will play a large number of snaps.

Even with an underwhelming 2022 class that had a sub-40% hit rate, Texas still features three offensive linemen entering their fourth season and another two defensive players from that class expected to start. Add veterans like Taaffe, former UTSA LB and emerging senior Trey Moore, and high-level transfers starting only in true positions of need, and Texas’ roster is deeper than ever.

Texas must play some of the best in the nation in 2025, most notably at No. 3 Ohio State in Week One and at No. 5 Georgia later in the season, so the path is far from simple. The Longhorns will need to win 10 games to feel solid about their standing heading into postseason play, which means beating the aforementioned two as well as an away game at No. 15 Florida, the Red River Rivalry against No. 18 Oklahoma, and a rivalry renewed against No. 19 Texas A&M.

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Still, the Longhorns are deserving of this top spot, and the Week One kickoff against the Buckeyes will be one of the most anticipated early-season games of most fans’ lifetimes.