Texas would love fast start to 2015, but with that schedule?

By foxsports
Published

The most challenging non-conference schedule in the nation over the next five years begins in four months for the Texas Longhorns.

Coming off a 6-7 season in coach Charlie Strong's first season, the Texas coach now must navigate an opener at Notre Dame (Sept. 5), a visit from the Pac 12's California (Sept. 19) with a home game against Rice (Sept. 12) in between before ever getting to the Big 12 slate.

Perhaps coach Strong would have preferred a lighter, say, more Baylor-esque schedule before beginning his second run through the conference, but that would be wishful thinking. ESPN recently ranked the strength of non-conference over the next five years for Power 5 schools and found that Texas not only has far and away the most difficult road among Big 12 teams, but the entire nation.

A year ago, the Longhorns opened the season with a ho-hum home win over North Texas before being bombarded by BYU and losing a tough one against UCLA.

Can Texas expect to do better than 2-1 with their upcoming slate?

Much depends on what the Longhorns get out of their quarterback position, which has yet to crown a winner between junior Tyrone Swoopes and redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard.

Imagine Heard making his first college start at Notre Dame. Even if it's Swoopes, winning an opener in South Bend won't be easy. The Rice Owls should allow Texas to get a win in its home opener. Cal won't be a pushover as coach Sonny Dykes enters his third season after making massive strides last season.

While Strong and Texas fans would love to see the Longhorns get off to a fast start, one certainly is not guaranteed.

(h/t Dallas Morning News) 

Photo Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports