2009 record: 13-1, 9-0 (1st in Big 12 South)
2009 bowl: Lost to Alabama 37-21 in BCS title game
2009 final AP/coaches' ranking: 2/2
Coach: Mack Brown (128-27, 12th year; 214-101-1 overall, 25 years)
Offensive coordinator: Greg Davis (13th year)
Defensive coordinators: Will Muschamp (3rd year)
Returning offensive starters: 5
Returning defensive starters: 7
Location: Austin, Texas
Stadium: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (FieldTurf; 94,113)
Last league title: 2009
2010 schedule: [view]
2010 roster: [view]
2009 statistics: [view]

Offensive: The Colt McCoy era ended with an NCAA record 45 victories. What’s next? We got a preview in the BCS title game when McCoy was injured and Garrett Gilbert was forced into a pressurized situation. Gilbert, a sophomore, got better as the game progressed, and coaches feel he will develop into an excellent leader. He will have lots of help. The Longhorns have four returning receivers with at least 30 catches, including junior Malcolm Williams and senior James Kirkendoll. Sophomore running back Tre’ Newton, last season’s leading rusher, returns to a backfield with lots of possibilities. It might work best by committee. Two starters return to the offensive line, but the three departures combined for 111 career starts, so it’s definitely a new look.

Defensive: The Longhorns have lost plenty of muscle up front the past two seasons, but senior defensive end Sam Acho, who had 10 sacks last year, is more than capable of becoming an All-American. Likewise, junior linebacker Keenan Robinson will be among the Big 12’s best defensive players. The secondary features excellent lockdown cornerbacks in seniors Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown.

Specialists: Junior Justin Tucker, who handled kickoffs and punting last season, is the new place-kicker, and he has a difficult act to follow (the Longhorns were 24 of 27 on field-goal attempts last season). Senior John Gold becomes the new punter. The Longhorns had six special-teams touchdowns last season, including three on kickoff returns.

Coaching: Mack Brown is 128-27 and just missed winning his second national championship. The Longhorns are one of the most solid programs in America right now — and who can see that changing in the foreseeable future?

Heisman hopefuls: The Longhorns are in transition with players at the skill positions. Someone might emerge, but a Texas/Heisman campaign doesn’t seem likely right now.

Game of the year Oct. 2 vs. Oklahoma at Dallas As usual, it’s the biggest game in the Big 12 South, a potential springboard toward a BCS bowl and maybe even a shot at the national title. Texas has won four of the last five games in the series.

Overview: It seems natural to expect the Longhorns to take a small step backward this season, perhaps retooling for a future run at the national title. Ah, but that’s not how they view things in Texas. If Gilbert is up to the task — and other young players mature quickly — the Longhorns could be in the thick of things. More likely, the Longhorns will be a tough out in the Big 12 and a good bet to again reach a BCS bowl.

Next up: No. 12 Virginia Tech