Spring practice has begun in earnest for all 13 FBS programs in Texas, so that means it is time for the March edition of the FBS Power Poll. The Texas Longhorns remain on top with Arch Manning at quarterback and a talented roster that’s reached the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff in consecutive seasons. The Horns are holding off a crowded competition for the second spot behind them with Texas A&M, SMU and a trio of Big 12 schools vying for recognition. 

1. TEXAS LONGHORNS 

The Horns are the Kings of Texas after reaching back-to-back semifinal games. They hope the Arch Manning era is enough to get over the hump and play for a national championship for the first time in nearly two decades. Manning has two starts in his career, but his upside is limitless. He’ll have a solid backfield to help provide balance and the defense returns Anthony Hill, Michael Taaffe and Colin Simmons. Texas must replace four starters along the offensive line, two of its best wide receivers, and Gunnar Helm at tight end. The defensive tackle position is the one to watch on the other side of the ball. 

2. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS 

No team in the country pushed its chips to the middle of the table with as much force as the Red Raiders over the latest offseason. Texas Tech signed a Top 5 transfer portal class and improved the facilities to the tune of $242 million dollars. The main priority was in the trenches. Tech added three possible starters along the offensive line, including Howard Sampson. The Red Raiders also added four key pieces to the defensive line, headlined by Lee Hunter at defensive tackle and Romello Height at defensive end. Both coordinators are also new. 

3. BAYLOR BEARS

Could 2025 become the Year of the Bears? Baylor is a trendy offseason pick to win the Big 12 and there is good reason. Dave Aranda’s squad returns its top passer (Sawyer Robertson), top rusher (Bryson Washington), and its best two receivers (Josh Cameron and Ashtyn Hawkins), as well as four of five starters along the offensive line. Defensively, Aranda is prepared to call plays for a second straight year. The linebacker duo of Keaton Thomas and Travion Barnes might be the best pair in the Big 12. The secondary is stacked, as well. If the Bears figure out a pass rush, watch out. 

4. SMU MUSTANGS 

Reaching the mountaintop is one thing. Staying there is a completely different issue. That’s what faces the Ponies in Year 2 as a Power Four program. SMU rode the hot hand (and legs) of quarterback Kevin Jennings and a favorable schedule to the ACC championship game and a spot in the College Football Playoff, joining Texas and TCU as the only in-state squads to reach that tournament. Jennings is back at quarterback and the offense figures to be explosive even without Brashard Smith at running back. The Mustangs need to replace Elijah Roberts at defensive end and Ahmad Walker and Kobe Wilson at linebacker. The schedule is much harder in 2025 with Clemson and Miami on the conference slate. 

5. TCU HORNED FROGS 

The Frogs found their footing in the second half of 2024 after upset losses to UCF and Houston, as well as an embarrassing blowout defeat at SMU where Sonny Dykes was ejected against the program he left for Fort Worth. Josh Hoover is back and is surrounded by a new cast of receivers with Eric McAllister set for a breakout season. The concern on the offensive side of the ball is on the ground. Hoover would benefit from more balance and Savion Williams is no longer on campus to gain the tough yards. The defense must also improve against the run. 

6. TEXAS A&M AGGIES 

The Mike Elko tenure began with a 7-1 record that included wins against LSU and Missouri. The only loss was in the season opener to a Notre Dame squad that played for a national championship. The end of the season caused some future concern, however, as the Aggies limped to the finish line by losing their last four games against Power Four competition, including the bowl game to USC in Las Vegas. The schedule is harder in 2025 and Texas A&M won’t have first round NFL talents at defensive end with Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart no longer on campus. Marcel Reed is back at quarterback with a revamped wide receiver corps. The running game and offensive line should be the real strengths of the team, but the secondary must improve dramatically to make a run at the SEC championship game.

7. NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN 

Eric Morris is 11-14 in two seasons as head coach of the Mean Green despite his offense ranking in the top 25 in scoring in each of his first two seasons. For North Texas to get over the hump and start competing in the AAC, Morris needed help fixing the defense. Enter Skyler Cassity and a host of his players from Sam Houston, where he was defensive coordinator for a 10-win team in Conference USA last year. We’ll assume North Texas scores a bunch of points, so if the defense improves to average, the Mean Green can flirt with an AAC championship because Memphis and Tulane aren’t on the schedule and UTSA is a home game. 

8. UTSA ROADRUNNERS

The Roadrunners entered 2024 with questions at quarterback but the assumption that the run game and defense could keep them in contention until the passing game caught up after losing Frank Harris. Instead, Owen McCown became one of the few bright spots in a disappointing season that was salvaged with a late run and a bowl win. UTSA enters 2025 with arguably the best quarterback in the conference but major question marks on the defensive side of the ball as stalwarts such as Brandon Brown, Joe Evans, and Jamal Ligon are gone. 

9. TEXAS STATE BOBCATS 

Predicting how the Bobcats will fare in 2025 is a near impossible task. G.J. Kinne & Co. took a brand-new roster to a program-high eight wins and a bowl victory in Year 1. Last year felt like a letdown despite reaching eight wins and claiming another bowl victory over an in-state foe because of lofty preseason expectations. Texas State must once again retool the roster after losing Jordan McCloud and Joey Hobert on offense and Ben Bell on defense. The losses along the offensive line also hurt. 

10. HOUSTON COUGARS 

Even diehard Coog fans might struggle to recognize the 2025 version of the Houston football team. Willie Fritz made a voluntary change at offensive coordinator after his Cougars were 133rd out of 134 teams in scoring offense last season. He was forced to make a change at defensive coordinator when Texas Tech provided Shiel Wood with an offer he couldn’t refuse. Former five-star recruit and Texas A&M Aggie starter Conner Weigman transferred in and is expected to start at quarterback. The Cougars also added former Rice standout Dean Connors at running back and four new starters along the offensive line. The secondary is a strength with cornerback Jeremiah Wilson and safety A.J. Haulcy. 

11. UTEP MINERS 

Scotty Walden enters Year 2 in charge of the Miners after winning two of their final three conference games to end the 2024 season. UTEP made waves by adding former five-star quarterback Malachi Nelson to a quarterback room that includes three players who started at least one game last year in Skyler Locklear, Cade McConnell, and JP Pickles. UTEP is replacing its offensive and defensive coordinators as well, but the Miners don’t expect the scheme to change much on either side of the ball. 

12. SAM HOUSTON BEARKATS 

The 2025 season seems like a year of transition for the Bearkats after long-time head coach K.C. Keeler took a job in the AAC to coach the Temple Owls. Nearly every starter on both sides of the ball either transferred or graduated, especially on defense. Phil Longo was hired to be the head coach and he quickly went to work signing transfers, including former Woodlands standout Mabrey Mettauer, who will compete with the returning Hunter Watson to run Longo’s Air Raid. 

13. RICE OWLS  

The Owls decided to zig where the rest of the state zags by hiring Scott Abell and his run-heavy option attack in a state more used to Air Raid passing offenses. Abell not only runs a unique offensive system, but he’s also used to achieving where others typically don’t at high-level academic institutions. Rice will be fun to watch and the success will come, just maybe not in Year 1.