The Texas Longhorns have gone just 11-14 in two seasons under head coach Charlie Strong, but there's legitimate reason to believe this team will turn it around with a huge breakout season in 2016 - one that could see them return to the top of the Big 12. Here are three reasons why the Longhorns will win the conference this season:
3) Favorable conference schedule
A season opener against Notre Dame will provide the Longhorns with a tough test, but the rest of their schedule seems to lineup in their favor. Their only true road game is against Oklahoma State as they get both TCU and Baylor at home. These will still be tough games, but getting them at home obviously gives the Longhorns an excellent chance to win.
2) Young talent hitting their stride
The Longhorns have reeled in three straight top 15 recruiting classes - including two straight in the top 10 - under Strong, and now is the time for all of those young stars to really make their presence known. Linebacker Malik Jefferson is already a star, and running backs D'Onta Foreman and Chris Warren give Texas one of the best backfields in the country. These guys are leading a wave of young talent in Austin, and that will become abundantly clear in 2016.
1) Shane Buechele
Sophomore Jerrod Heard remains the favorite to be Texas' starting quarterback job on opening day, but true frehman Shane Buechele's performance in the spring game showed that the job will be his sooner rather than later. Sterlin Gilbert will want to go with the QB that can best operate his spread offense, and Beuchele proved he can do so at a high level in the spring.
Quarterback play has severely hampered Texas' offense under Strong, an Buechele's ability means this team should be able to accomplish anything.
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