Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard knows something about greatness in college football, so fans should take note of his comments about the two teams the AP Poll voters deem to be the best in the nation.
Following another commanding victory, this time over UTSA, and a narrow escape for Georgia against Kentucky, the Texas Longhorns have ascended to the No. 1 position in the AP Top 25 poll for the first time since 2008. This shift is controversial, particularly given Georgia’s dominance in college football over the past three years. However, college football legend and media figure Desmond Howard believes it’s a justified decision.
Howard, a Heisman Trophy winner from Michigan, points to the difference between Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Georgia quarterback Carson Beck as a key factor in the comparison between the two SEC teams. He emphasized the significance of having a standout player at the “most important position” on the field and noted that Beck and the Georgia offense struggled not just in the Kentucky game, but also during the first half of their season opener against Clemson.
While Howard’s argument makes sense, the timing is somewhat ironic. He cites Ewers’s skill as a reason to support Texas, yet this week he was sidelined early in the game, allowing backup Arch Manning to take the spotlight. In his first significant playing time, Manning completed nine of twelve passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns, showing off some impressive throws. He also showcased his athleticism, contrasting the more traditional style of his uncles Peyton and Eli, by breaking loose for a long touchdown run at a speed of 20 miles per hour.
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Texas made a powerful statement with a dominant Week 2 victory over defending national champions Michigan and showed no signs of slowing down in their subsequent game against UTSA. The exciting part is that the ongoing debate between the Longhorns and Bulldogs will be resolved on the field, thanks to the recent college football conference realignment.
These two teams are now conference rivals and will clash on October 19th in Austin. However, the week before that matchup, Texas will compete in the renowned Red River Rivalry against No. 15 Oklahoma, who handed the Longhorns their only loss of the 2023 regular season. This may give Georgia a slight advantage, as they’ll be facing unranked Mississippi State the week prior.
Another intriguing aspect of the shifting landscape in college football is the possibility of a rematch in the SEC title game, though this would require the losing team to win all their remaining regular-season games. With the SEC no longer featuring divisions, the championship will be contested between the teams with the best records.
Additionally, with an expanded College Football Playoff, it’s quite possible that both teams could qualify. With a regular-season game already lined up, along with potential meetings in the conference title and playoffs, could these two powerhouse teams become the first in the modern era to face off three times in one season? Time will tell, but considering the parallels to a fierce boxing rivalry, a trilogy seems quite fitting.
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