ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum has high expectations for Texas Longhorns
Since the end of the 2024 campaign, the Texas Longhorns roster has undergone a lot of change. That is partly due to the NFL Draft, in which 12 Longhorns were selected. Despite the changes, optimism is high in Austin and among some analysts, including Paul Finebaum.
On his SEC Network Show on ESPN, Finebaum broke down the roster turnover over the last few months. Due to the Longhorns' work in the transfer portal, he sees them as one of the best teams in the SEC.
Advertisement
"There's a lot of replacing going on at Texas," Finebaum said. "But, nobody, and I mean nobody, did better in the portal or spent more money than the University of Texas. So, I think they are going to be in good shape depth-wise. It may take a little while, although I don't think it will. I think they'll be one of the two or three best teams in the country from the beginning. Win or lose against Ohio State, I still like their chances to win the SEC."
In the transfer portal, the Longhorns have secured 11 commitments for this season. That list includes defensive tackle Maraad Watson, wide receiver Emmett Mosley V, and tight end Jack Endries. Head coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff were able to address most of their needs and improve on both sides of the ball.
Although the Longhorns have thrived in the portal, they will also welcome a talented freshman class. They have 25 commits heading to Austin for the upcoming season, including multiple five-star recruits. That mix, along with veterans such as Arch Manning and Michael Taaffe, should be enough to keep this team in the playoff chase.
Advertisement
With a roster full of talent, Texas is poised to build on its success from last year and make a title run.
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum has high expectations for Texas Longhorns

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Missouri Tigers Crack Top 25 of ESPN's Power Index Rankings
Missouri Tigers Crack Top 25 of ESPN's Power Index Rankings originally appeared on Athlon Sports. In recent rankings from various analysts, the Missouri Tigers have been left out of the top 25. In ESPN's recent Football Power Index (FPI) rankings, however, Mizzou made the cut. Advertisement The FPI estimates each FBS team's strengths on all three sides of the ball, and it takes into account all roster movements during the offseason. Those strength projections are then run through a simulation of the team's upcoming schedule 20,000 times to calculate average projections for their success throughout the season. Missouri ranks No. 23 for projected strength, and they've been given a projected win-loss total of 6.9-5.2. As has been the trend in recent seasons, the defense has continued to turn heads. The Tigers' defense is ranked No. 17 in the country with an FPI score of 6.2. Mizzou is also projected to compete in one of the "most anticipated" games of the season, based on ESPN's game quality analytics that gauge both team's FPI scores. Advertisement In Week 7, the Tigers will host Alabama, ranking No. 23 out of the top 25 matchups of the season. The game earned an 89.2 rating, and it'll mark the first time since 2020 that Mizzou has hosted the Crimson Tide. Of the 16 schools in the Southeastern Conference, 13 of them ranked within ESPN's top 25 with Texas, Georgia and Alabama taking No. 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The simulations projected an average of 4.6 teams from the SEC will make the College Football Playoff, and Missouri made the Playoff in 9.2 percent of the simulations. Missouri Tigers mascot Truman dances on the sideline against the Iowa Hawkeyes during the second half at Nissan Roberts-Imagn Images As the FPI rankings show, the Tigers' defense has a real shot at being one of the best units in the country, but there's less confidence on the other side of the ball. Especially with new starters at quarterback, running back, wide receiver and three offensive line spots. Advertisement Regardless, summer has arrived and the 2025 season is right around the corner. Missouri's motto of having 'something to prove' will need to hold up. Related: Heralded Four-Star WR Leaves Mizzou with Good Impression This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers was terrifyingly struck in the head by catcher's throw
Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers has gone through countless warmups during his baseball career, but Saturday's freak accident with catcher Nick Fortes had to be a first. With Weathers going through his regular routine ahead of Miami's game against the Rays, he finished his final warmup pitch and started walking across the path of the mound. That was when Fortes' throw over to second struck Weathers right on the head. Advertisement Weathers immediately went down in pain and understandably so — that was incredibly scary. The trainers took to the field to attend to Weathers, and at the time, he said he was fine to stay in the game. But after three innings, Weathers was taken out of the game. He described feeling increasingly worse as the game went on, via ESPN: "I just felt very disconnected out there a little bit just with like, just all that adrenaline left me," he said. "... It was kind of like that episode of 'SpongeBob' where like everything's on fire inside of his brain and I just felt like I was in pure chaos after that happened. So it was just kind of the right time to come out of the game there." Given the circumstances, it could have been much worse. He was cleared of a concussion on Saturday, and the Marlins won, 11-10. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers struck in the head by catcher's throw


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
Amanda Nunes wants UFC return in 2025, admits new champ Kayla Harrison 'can bring me fear'
Amanda Nunes wants UFC return in 2025, admits new champ Kayla Harrison 'can bring me fear' Show Caption Hide Caption UFC 316: Kayla Harrison post-fight interview UFC 316 winner Kayla Harrison spoke to MMA Junkie and reporters post-fight after her women's bantamweight title victory over Julianna Peña. Amanda Nunes is mentally and physically sound to make her return to the UFC, and now she has the perfect dance partner to bring out her best. After revealing in April that she intended to come out of retirement to challenge the UFC 316 title fight winner, Nunes' dance partner was solidified Saturday when Kayla Harrison captured the women's bantamweight title from Julianna Peña at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J. Nunes (11-6 MMA, 8-4 UFC) was cageside watching the contest, then entered the octagon to face off with Harrison (19-1 MMA, 3-0 UFC) after she submitted Peña in the second round. It was a respectful but tense moment between the former American Top Team teammates, and now the build to a significant contest for women's MMA is on. "Honestly, if I stayed at American Top Team this fight might not ever happen," Nunes told ESPN post-fight at UFC 316. "I left. It was my decision. Now I have my own gym, my own camp with my own coaches that I set up everything with. I'm going to get in camp full time. I've been training here and there, always in shape. But honestly like November-December, I'm going to be ready to go." Nunes said she made her decision to come back to fighting when her young children began to sleep through the full night. She reiterated previous comments that this is no a one-off, and she intends to run through the weight class again. UFC CEO Dana White said Nunes must first re-enter the promotion's drug testing pool before a date can be scheduled. With Nunes' timeline to fight this year, however, that would mean re-entry would have to happen almost immediately. Nunes, 37, appears ready to make that happen, however, and said this matchup with Harrison, 34, is one that's going to bring out her best in every way. 'As soon as she got a microphone, she used to talk about me. From that moment, we already started getting like, not different, but like we always respect each other in the gym – but we knew the energy. We never would be able to connect. "I like when the opponents can bring me fear, bring me adrenaline. Kayla is one of those kinds of fighters. This is how I show up, when you threaten me with something. I know Kayla is that kind of fighter. This is what I like to feel. I like to be in danger. This is how 'The Lioness' comes out."