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ESPN’s Sam Acho gives controversial opinion on Texas’ toughest matchup of the season
By Sean Labar
Published:
ESPN’s Sam Acho — who shined as a linebacker for the Texas Longhorns from 2007-2010 before getting selected in the 4th round of the NFL Draft in 2011 — has a controversial opinion on his Alma Mater’s toughest matchup of the 2024 season.
Acho joined Desmond Howard, Pete Thamel and Victoria Arlen on ESPN’s College Football Live on Tuesday and was specifically asked which matchup would be the toughest for No. 2 Texas between now and the end of the season.
“Texas’ biggest test is going to be the last game of the season when they go to Kyle Field and play A&M, a game in which they haven’t played in over a decade,” Acho confidently declared.
Acho choosing the season finale against Texas A&M raises eyebrows for obvious reasons.
The Longhorns have to play against No. 15 Oklahoma in one of the biggest rivalries on college football on Oct. 12. One week later, they host No. 1 Georgia on Oct. 19.
But Acho believes Texas will be prepared for those two matchups and might overlook the Aggies to close out the year.
“Texas is going to be ready for Oklahoma — that’s a rivalry game, both teams are going to be up for that game,” Acho continued.
“Georgia, there’s no questions about that game. But if A&M ends up having not as great of a season as you would expect and all of a sudden Texas does toward the end of the season start reading those newspaper clippings, you may go into Kyle Field and get a result you don’t expect.”
Howard immediately chuckled at Acho’s controversial take, pointing out the obvious fact that Georgia will be the hardest matchup for Texas this season.
“I think that’s a far stretch,” Howard said.
“You are talking about the Aggies, who lost at home to a team who just lost to a MAC team and you think that’s going to be Texas’ toughest test when they have to play Georgia, the No. 1 team in the country?”
Howard is referring to Texas A&M’s Week 1 loss to Notre Dame at home. The Irish then lost to Northern Illinois over the weekend, which could easily go down as the biggest upset of the college football season.
Regardless, Texas clearly looks like one of the top teams in the country and even with tough tests ahead, Steve Sarkisian’s squad appears to be a legitimate College Football Playoff contender.
Sean Labar is an SEC football contributor for Saturday Down South.
