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Why UT (Texas, not Tennessee) could be the national championship favorite – and why not

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Why UT (Texas, not Tennessee) could be the national championship favorite – and why not


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  • Texas football does it up big, and that includes the payroll for its roster.
  • Are Arch Manning’s Longhorns the national championship frontrunner? Opinions vary.
  • Looking for an alternative to Texas from the SEC that can win national championship? Try LSU.

Did Texas just assemble the best team money can buy? Maybe. Alternatively, it spent big for a playoff-caliber roster that will come up short of the national championship game once again, after two straight years bowing out in the semifinals.

This much we know: The Longhorns spent big. Just how big? Well, the Houston Chronicle recently reported that Texas’ budget for its 2025 squad is expected to be in the $35 to $40 million range.

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That’s not entirely unexpected. Ohio State won the national championship last season with a $20 million roster. The Buckeyes’ roster reflected the top end of the market before revenue-sharing, though. Now, a legal settlement to an ongoing court case sits at the 2-yard line. If it crosses the legal end zone, that would unlock revenue sharing for this next fiscal year. Combine new revenue-sharing dollars with an NIL war chest, and you get Texas’ payroll.

On this edition of “SEC Football Unfiltered,” a podcast from the USA TODAY Network, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams discuss whether that handsomely paid roster makes Texas the national championship frontrunner.

Here’s how they see it:

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Is Texas the national championship frontrunner?

Adams: Texas is a playoff contender. A national championship contender, too. But, the national championship frontrunner? I’m not willing to go that far. I seem to recall Texas A&M making headlines by spending more than a few shekels to build its 2022 roster the first season of the NIL era. How’d that go? Unemployed Jimbo Fisher can tell you all about it. I’m not suggesting an Aggies-esque flop for the Longhorns, only that it takes more than money to win a title. Assuming Arch Manning lives up to the name – I think he will – Texas will pack a punch, much more so than those 2022 Aggies. But, I don’t have Texas listed as my SEC frontrunner – see what LSU did in the transfer portal – let alone for the national championship.

Toppmeyer: I’d have no problem with anyone listing Texas as their national championship frontrunner. The Longhorns have a budding star quarterback. They have a well-rounded roster without apparent weakness. They have a good coach. A rich roster doesn’t guarantee success, but it sure helps. A quarterback like Manning and a coach like Sarkisian help, too. The Longhorns have a shot. So do about six to eight other teams.

Later in the episode

∎ Adams lists his eight teams that enjoy at least a 5% chance of winning the national championship. He also sounds off on USA TODAY’s list of the top 25 coaches, pointing to a few SEC bosses who are underrated.

Where to listen to SEC Football Unfiltered

Apple

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Spotify

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Blake Toppmeyer is the USA TODAY Network’s national college football columnist. John Adams is the senior sports columnist for the Knoxville News Sentinel. Subscribe to the SEC Football Unfiltered podcast, and check out the SEC Unfiltered newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.





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Texas

Texas Football Opt-Outs: Who’s Likely Playing and Who’s Out for the Citrus Bowl

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Texas Football Opt-Outs: Who’s Likely Playing and Who’s Out for the Citrus Bowl


At this point in time, opting out of bowl games is nothing new, but Texas is going to have more opt-outs in the Citrus Bowl against Michigan than many—self included—expected. This problem pales in comparison to what’s going on in Ann Arbor, but the amount of lost experience will be something for Texas to overcome, primarily on defense.



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Latest in recruiting war for elite 2028 QB has Texas Football joyful

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Latest in recruiting war for elite 2028 QB has Texas Football joyful



Neimann Lawrence list the Longhorns as one school that is standing out

As the Longhorns continue to build for the future, one of their targets is four-star prospect Neimann Lawrence. The Miami native is one of the best quarterbacks in the 2028 class and is attracting interest from some of the nation’s top programs. On Monday, Lawrence revealed the schools that have stood out so far, including the Longhorns. 

While Mondays update was encouraging, Texas was not the only school Lawrence mentioned. He also highlighted Michigan, Miami, Ohio State, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. That is not an easy list of schools to go to battle with; the Longhorns have time to make themselves stand out. 

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Currently, the Miami Northwestern High star is ranked as the fourth-best quarterback in is class by 247Sports. They also rank him as the ninth-best player from Florida and the 39th-best player in the nation. With collegiate debut still over a year away, those rankings could change. 

At the moment, the Longhorns do not have a commitment in the 2028 class, but they have made offers to some of the top recruits. That includes Brysen Wright, Jalanie George, Jamarios Canton, Micah Rhodes, and King Pitts. Landing any of those players would give Texas a bright future. 

With a decision still months away, Lawrence will be a player to watch. A lot could change as his recruitment continues, but it is a good sign for Texas that they are standing out early on in the process. 



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Orange County wedding photographer deported on way to job in Texas

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Orange County wedding photographer deported on way to job in Texas


An Orange County photographer is speaking out after he was deported as he was heading to Texas to photograph a wedding.

What they’re saying:

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“I was trying to do it the right way, the legal way and it just feels like they don’t care about that,” said Adan Caceres.

Caceres came to the United States under asylum in 2014, fleeing a violent El Salvador.

“My mom’s sister was murdered and she was thrown in front of our house. She also was abused sexually before they murdered her and then my brother and I were threatened by the gangs,” said Caceres.

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He says he never received the deportation order that was issued in 2018 and only learned about it in 2023. He then started the process of reopening his case.

“I was paying my taxes. I’m a business owner, I’m a wedding photographer. I’m also married,” said Caceres.

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In October, Caceres was going through security at John Wayne Airport, heading to a job in Texas, when he was detained. He says from Santa Ana, he was sent to the Adelanto Detention Center then one in El Paso, Texas where he says the conditions were inhumane.

“We’re not even asking ‘hey let us out’ we’re asking for water, we’re asking for us to be able to use the restroom, these are basic human rights,” said Caceres.

He says now that he’s back in the country he once fled, he’s most concerned about his wife back in Orange County.

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“I was providing a lot of income for our household and now my wife has to take care of all of those things on her own; paying car insurance, the rent, all the bills,” said Caceres.

Caceres says he had no criminal history and feels he was on the path to citizenship when it was ripped away from him, leaving his future with his family uncertain.

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“I don’t know if I’m going to see them. I don’t know when I’m going to see them,” said Caceres.

The other side:

FOX11 reached out to the Department of Homeland Security asking about Caceres’ case but had not heard back at the time this story aired. 

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The Source: Information for this story came from an interview with Adan Caceres.

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