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The Longhorns are the class of this season

OK, admit it.

Everyone thought Texas was going to be good this football season. But this good?

The Longhorns are very easily the class of the 2024 season. The way they toyed with Oklahoma on Saturday only re-emphasized that fact.

They'd be favored against every other FBS team.

After all, they crushed — yes, crushed — their top rival 34-3 without blinking an eye. Texas probably could have hung half a hundred on them.

This game was over so quickly that once Texas got out to a 14-3 lead, you sensed the Sooners would have no answer. They were done.

Now the Longhorns host Georgia in one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. I'm not saying the Bulldogs are limping into DKR, but they do not resemble Kirby Smart's teams of the past that just had their way with opponents.

I was a little surprised that Steve Sarkisian showed off the "double pass" play with Matt Golden. Yeah, his try to hit an open Ryan Wingo was comical. What it does do, however, is force Georgia to work on that even though Sarkisian will likely shelve that particular trick play and unveil another Saturday.

Quinn Ewers deserves some slack after sitting out two games and not having played a live game since Sept. 14. To his credit, he made no excuses and was completely accountable even though he was sharp enough to hit 20 of 29 passes but missed some throws he usually makes in his sleep.

Texas wasn't even close to hitting on all cylinders and still blew out OU, which has to worry about bowl eligibility at this point. The Longhorns have bigger goals in mind.

Kirk Bohls, University of Texas Columnist

kirk.bohls@houstonchronicle.com

Predicting the College Football Playoff

My picks for the 12 teams:

1. Texas, SEC champion
2. Oregon, Big Ten champion
3. Miami, ACC champion
4. Iowa State, Big 12 champion
5. Penn State
6. Ohio State
7. Alabama
8. Georgia
9. Notre Dame
10. BYU
11. LSU
12. Boise State, Group of Five

Texas, Oregon, Miami and Iowa State get byes.

First-round games on Dec. 20-21:

Boise State at Penn State
LSU at Ohio State
BYU at Alabama
Notre Dame at Georgia

How I voted in this week's rankings

Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) celebrates with fans wearing the Golden Hat trophy after defeating Oklahoma 34-3 during an NCAA college football game between Texas and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Dallas.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle

My AP top 25 ballot:

1. Texas
2. Oregon
3. Penn State
4. Ohio State
5. Alabama
6. Georgia
7. Miami
8. Notre Dame
9. Iowa State
10. BYU
11. LSU
12. Tennessee
13. Clemson
14. Texas A&M
15. Kansas State
16. Missouri
17. Vanderbilt
18. Boise State
19. Ole Miss
20. SMU
21. Pitt|
22. Indiana
23. Army
24. Arkansas
25. Illinois

My SEC power rankings:

1. Texas
2. Texas A&M
3. LSU
4. Vanderbilt
5. Alabama
6. Georgia
7. Arkansas
8. Tennessee
9. Ole Miss
10. Oklahoma
11. Missouri
12. Florida
13. South Carolina
14. Kentucky
15. Mississippi State
16. Auburn

My Heisman picks

Boise State's Ashton Jeanty celebrates a touchdown against Hawaii.

Photo by: Darryl Oumi, Getty Images

1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State. The little guy ran for "only" 217 yards in a win over Hawaii. Hasn't he already clinched the trophy?

2. Cam Ward, Miami. Canes were off but their scout team was penalized 12 times for 125 yards in a Tuesday scrimmage so ACC refs could stay in practice.

3. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon. As weeping Sooners saw, their former quarterback passed for 341 yards and two touchdowns, ran for 32 yards and a score and broke the hearts of both Ohio State and OU fans.

Rising: Bryson Daily, Army. The senior from Abernathy, outside of Lubbock, would win the Junior Heisman Trophy for non-Power 4 players for his stiff-arm alone.

Falling: Nico Iamaleava, Tennessee. He's fallen so far, he's probably out. Heck, he almost lost to Florida.

In the hunt: Travis Hunter, Colorado. He must be soft because he's got a shoulder injury now. What, he can't play 1,000 snaps this season?

Texas Longhorns defensive back Xavier Filsaime (21) and linebacker Colin Simmons (11) celebrate after tackling Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Michael Hawkins Jr. during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game between Texas and Oklahoma at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024, in Dallas.

Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle

What stood out this weekend

Two things about the Texas-OU game:

What should not be forgotten was the 26-yard pass Quinn Ewers completed to sophomore DeAndre Moore on the second play of the second quarter.

The Longhorn offense had been pretty listless up to that point and had just 13 yards and zero first downs.

That play seemed to settle down Ewers and help him get into some kind of rhythm in a series that ended with Texas' first touchdown on that counter throwback to tight end Gunnar Helm. Helm, by the way, just might be the best tight end in college football and has a lot of rapport with Ewers.

But Ewers to Moore seemed to be the spark the team needed.

The other play was wide receiver Silas Bolden's terrific hustle play when he followed Quintrevion Wisner's fumble near the goal line and outran every Sooner to recover the ball for a touchdown.

This game was Bolden's breakout game. He hadn't been producing much but to me had that play of the game and also had a key 55-yard punt return to set up a Bert Auburn field goal.

"It was a total effort play for him to make that play in the end zone," coach Steve Sarkisian said.

Stat of the day

Penn State tight end Tyler Warren had a busy Saturday. He had 17 catches for 224 yards and a TD.

Most intriguing game this week

Clearly the Georgia-Texas game will have the eyes of the nation to see if Kirby Smart can add to his tackles total for the season, but I'm also curious about LSU at Arkansas. Looks like a toss-up to me.

Quote of the Week

“

We just gift-wrapped 'em opportunities. We just gave it to them. We take full accountability, but in my mind they didn't earn what they got shortly after that fumble.

– Oklahoma safety Billy Bowman

”

📬 Texas Mailbag

Q: How about a question about a former Longhorn, Hudson Card? His portal passage to Purdue has been hugely unsuccessful. Given a somewhat successful stint at Texas, didn't you expect he would do well there? — Robert

A: I expected him to be a lot better than he has been. Part of that has to be his supporting — or non-supporting — cast. But he doesn't have Sarkisian coaching him any more.

❓ Send me your questions: If you have questions you want answered about Texas, A&M, Oklahoma, the SEC or college football, please send them to me at kirk.bohls@houstonchronicle.com.