Texas is gearing up for a run at the national championship, and the Longhorns' defense will be led by one of the best players in the country.

Five of the six national champions from the 2018-23 seasons went undefeated, marking an era filled with dominant teams. Last year’s debut of the 12-team College Football Playoff featured a two-loss Ohio State team as national champion, which could signal that being a dominant champion is now more difficult.

Ethan Burke is back as a starter at defensive end for No. 1 Texas football. Who else is among the most critical defensive players for the 2025 Longhorns?

Arch Manning is one of the best QBs in the nation, and Texas is arguably the best team in football. They're expected to win the title, but according to a College Football 26 simulation, they have about a 2% shot at doing that.

FOX Sports analyst Joel Platt has revealed his SEC Championship prediction, and the Texas Longhorns have made the cut. Klatt predicts a rematch between the Longhorns and the Georgia Bulldogs, but he believes that the Longhorns will come out on top.