it just wasn’t meant to be for the Texas Longhorns is the….

The one-time serious question-turned-dream that Texas fans continuously sold themselves on was whether or not their football program could be “back”.

A return to the glory that was once a commonality in Austin thanks to the likes of Vince Young and Colt McCoy. Something that following the departure of McCoy seemed would forever evade Texas who went through three coaches before ending up at Steve Sarkisian. Even when the former Alabama offensive coordinator was in Austin for his first season, it was clear the program wasn’t close to competing for titles, or at that point, competing for a conference title.

The 2022 season saw some improvements, but again, not where the program expected to be. In 2023 however, things came together for the Longhorns. Recruits were finally being developed properly and performing, transfers were making impacts, and the Longhorns not only won the Big 12 title for the first time since 2009, but they also made the College Football Playoff.

But winning the Big 12—or even the national championship, assuming they can accomplish that this season—doesn’t mean their fate, according to JD PicKell of On3. As PicKell disclosed, there isn’t actually a return to Texas.

PicKell claimed, “Texas coming back was always a fake thing.” Because others will ask, “What about when they get to the SEC?,” even if they win a national championship this season. So how about keeping that going? Is it something they can do for a long time?”

He went on to say that there will never be consensus among people over their return.

“Texas being back is never something where we’re going to arrive at,” PicKell stated. “And I’m not the one to Disregard Texas. I simply wanted to let you know not to worry about the entire “we’re back” thing. Cause back is one thing, and I don’t think it will ever be fully understood by anyone. Although I won’t be able to get everyone in the room to agree that Texas is back, I will say this. I believe Texas has arrived.”

a term that PicKell employed because no player on the current roster played in the Longhorns’ worst-ever seasons. He thinks we are seeing the “new Texas” instead.

A notion that many fans have probably not given much thought to, but it has been present in the tea leaves throughout the entire season as Sarkisian and quarterback Quinn Ewers have continuously made sure to stay away from such kinds of  questions. Regardless of whether Texas is “back” or “arrived”, one thing is for certain, and that is if they end up winning the title this season, the trajectory of the program could reach heights we haven’t seen in the modern era of college football.