Bijan Robinson is all about the Atlanta Falcons these days, but he is well-aware of how good of a season his Texas Longhorns could have this fall as well.
He may no longer play for them, but Atlanta Falcons' rookie running back Bijan Robinson is certainly excited about the upcoming season for his beloved Texas Longhorns watching from afar.
Robinson spent three years in Austin during a transitional period. He played for Tom Herman as a true freshman, but spent the last seasons years playing for former Falcons offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian. Coach Sark and his wife Loreal could not have been happier to see Robinson come to this first-class organization in Atlanta, but may be they wish Robinson had one more year left…
While spending time with some great kids, Robinson told me the following about his expectations for Texas on behalf of Mercedes-Benz USA and YMCA of Metro Atlanta earlier this week.
So I think if you read between the lines of this great quote from Robinson, it sure sounds like he expects the Longhorns to not only play for a Big 12 title but also make the College Football Playoff, possibly even beyond that. To be totally fair, this is exactly the type of realistic goal the Longhorns should have for themselves heading into Year 3 of the Sarkisian era in Austin.
Let's discuss if Texas has what it takes to do something special during its final Big 12 season.
Atlanta Falcons RB Bijan Robinson is very bullish on the 2023 Texas Longhorns
The thing that I keep going back to is what Power Five conference is best equipped to get the No. 3 seed in the final four-team College Football Playoff. I would envision the SEC winner gets the No. 1 seed, although an undefeated Big Ten champion would certainly have a claim to that. Undefeated ACC and Pac-12 champions would get in as well. But a one-loss Big 12 champion probably gets in.
I think the league has shown us something over the last few years. Had we had a 12-team playoff under the proposed format beginning in 2024, we would have had a pair of Big 12 teams make it in each of the last three seasons. In 2020, it would have been Oklahoma and Iowa State. It would have been Baylor and Oklahoma State in 2021. Last season, it would have been TCU and Kansas State.
Basically, the Big 12 has emerged as a league where a one-loss champion, or even a one-loss, non-champion like 2022 TCU can get in much easier than ACC or Pac-12 championships with blemishes on their resume. So yes, the winner of the Big 12 in 2023 probably gets in. And to be honest, who do you like the most besides Texas? TCU should pull back, and so might Kansas State.
Yes, I think arch-rival Oklahoma could have a bounce-back year after a season from hell. Baylor might be better than expected. Oklahoma State is a well-run operation. There are also the four newcomers in BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and UCF to consider as well. In short, that league is going to be very good, top to bottom. The question is if Texas can get to a level others can't … I think so.
Overall, I don't believe Texas has the ability to beat whoever comes out of the Big Ten and SEC in back-to-back games. I would love to be proven wrong, but I think the speed, depth and physicality of a Georgia, a Michigan or an Ohio State may be too much to overcome. Of course, if Texas is able to beat Alabama before conference play kicks off on Sept. 9, that would be great foreshadowing.
For now, Robinson should have every reason to be bullish on his alma mater's team for this year.
Bijan Robinson spoke to FanSided on behalf of Mercedes-Benz USA and YMCA of Metro Atlanta.
"Driving Your Future" is Mercedes-Benz USA's corporate social responsibility initiative to support educational programs that empower the next generation. As part of our commitment to positively impact communities where employees live and work, MBUSA has partnered with Safe Kids Worldwide and Junior Achievement USA to create and support programs focused on technology and sustainability, career readiness, and injury prevention to help the next generation succeed.
