AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns are starting the 2019 season right where they ended 2018 in the polls— with a top ten national ranking.
The Longhorns are ranked No. 10 in the 2019 debut of the USA Today/Amway Coaches Poll released on Thursday.
Head coach Tom Herman reacted to the ranking after UT’s first practice on Friday. “You can’t speak out of both sides of your mouth and say that the only people you should care about their opinion are the people in our program,” Herman said. “We’ve put ourselves in a position to be legitimately in that tier of programs and we should play with confidence
After beating Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, Texas (10-4) ended last season with loads of momentum and the No. 10 final ranking in the Coaches Poll.
Clemson earned top honors as the defending national champions ahead of Alabama. Oklahoma opened at No. 4 and Texas A&M starts the season at No. 11, right behind the Longhorns.
This is Texas’ first top ten preseason ranking since the 2010 season.
The Longhorns opens practice for the 2019 season Friday with the season opener against Louisiana Tech 30 days away.
Full Top 25 Rankings
- Clemson
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Oklahoma
- Ohio State
- LSU
- Michigan
- Florida
- Notre Dame
- Texas
- Texas A&M
- Washington
- Oregon
- Penn State
- Utah
- Auburn
- Wisconsin
- Central Florida
- Iowa
- Michigan State
- Washington State
- Syracuse
- Stanford
- Iowa State
- Northwestern