5 reasons Texas football are national championship contenders

5 reasons Texas football are national championship contenders in 2016

Sep 4, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Tyrone Swoopes (18) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 10, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong celebrates winning the game against the Oklahoma Sooners during the Red River rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium. Texas won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Coaching

Third-year Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong has his team trending in the right direction. Building on his first two seasons at the helm, No. 11 Texas is ranked inside the AP Top 25 for the first time in Strong’s tenure.

Before coming to Texas, Strong coached the Louisville Cardinals to 37 wins in four seasons. He boasted a .712 winning percentage at Louisville and won the 2013 Sugar Bowl. They finished the 2012 season, led by Strong and QB Teddy Bridgewater, with an 11-2 record and ranked #13 in the nation.

That was then. Strong’s first two seasons in Austin didn’t go as planned, but he’s onto something in 2016. Now, Strong has the team he’s always envisioned and has Texas primed for a bounce-back season. His opening victory over Notre Dame goes a long way toward proving so. It also gives Strong a bigger margin for error with Longhorn nation united behind him.

Words can't describe how proud I am of this team! #Believe
— Charlie Strong (@CoachStrong_) September 5, 2016

Strong has held the program together through trying times these past few seasons. He’s a proven leader, and the talent at his disposal this season is back up to Texas-sized standards. With the shift to a spread offense this year under Sterlin Gilbert, Notre Dame was only the start of great things to come in Austin.

Next: The 2016 Slate

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