Craig Way Compares Current Longhorns to Past Championship Teams | Texas Football

Summary

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On Texas Football: Craig Way Compares Current Longhorns to Past Championship Teams

Podcast: On Texas Football
Host: Bobby Burton
Guest: Craig Way (Voice of the Longhorns)
Date: July 25, 2026
Episode Theme: Drawing historical comparisons for the 2026 Texas Longhorns, assessing the landscape of SEC football, and sharing road warrior stories from decades of covering Texas football.

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Episode Overview

This episode features Bobby Burton and longtime Texas broadcaster Craig Way as they dissect expectations around the 2026 Longhorns, compare the current roster and season anticipation to previous championship-caliber years, and discuss broader SEC dynamics for the coming season. The discussion also delves into Craig’s unique perspective on travel and venues as Texas integrates further into the SEC.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Comparing the 2026 Longhorns to Past Texas Teams

• Parallels to 2005 & 2009 Seasons

  • Craig compares the current anticipation for Texas with excitement in 2005, highlighting both player rosters and preseason expectations.
  • Craig Way [01:09]: “They have the most talent they’ve had in a long time. Some might say as much as '05 or '09 or '08...to pinpoint it as, you know, that much anticipation? Yeah. But a lot of that is fans and media.”

• Media Perceptions & SEC Hype

  • Both discuss the narrative around Texas being “picked to win the league,” clarifying that most outlets still see Georgia as the favorite.
  • Craig Way [01:50]: “Is Texas probably in the top two? Probably. And do they have a legitimate shot? Yes, they do. But they’re not the preseason pick to win the conference.”

• Expectations Are Through the Roof

  • There’s consensus that this level of hype mirrors previous years when Texas was expected to compete nationally.
  • Bobby Burton [02:52]: “Expectations were through the roof. That’s the bottom line.”

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SEC Landscape: Contenders & Upstarts

• Georgia Sets the Bar

  • The duo agrees Georgia’s finishing ability and championship pedigree make them the team to beat.
  • Craig Way [03:40]: “The finish is the key...Georgia and Texas might be on a little bit of a ledge above several others. But you could take several others in that group—Ole Miss, Alabama, Texas A&M, Oklahoma...But I do think Georgia and Texas might be just a little ledge above.”

• Other SEC Threats

  • Discussion of up-and-coming teams, notably Ole Miss, Oklahoma, and Tennessee, as potential disruptors.
  • Craig Way [04:57]: “Everybody’s going to be curious to see what Lane Kiffin does down there...I think Ole Miss is one of those as well, especially when you have Trinidad Chandler back at quarterback.”

• Quarterback Comparison

  • Craig rates quarterbacks across the league, noting Trinidad Chandler of Ole Miss as perhaps the top returning QB, while still confident in Arch Manning’s potential.
  • Craig Way [05:23]: “If there is one quarterback in this league who I think...might have a leg up on Arch Manning right now, it would be Trinidad Chandler—only because of the skins on the wall and what he proved last year and being able to come back as an experienced guy.”

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Life on the Road: The SEC Experience

• Craig’s Excitement for New Stadiums

  • With Texas moving into the SEC, Craig shares his excitement about calling games at storied venues like Knoxville, Baton Rouge, and Athens.
  • Craig Way [07:03]: “I’ve always wanted to see a game in Knoxville and now to get to call one. It’s going to be tremendous...I enjoy going to places I haven’t been to.”

• Anecdotes from Decades of Travel

  • The conversation turns lighthearted as Craig and Bobby compare travel stories, including airport codes and the lengths Craig goes for coverage.
  • Craig Way [10:28]: “Texas fans bought up just about all the available flight tickets to New Orleans and months ago to Baton Rouge. In New Orleans, I’m flying into Lafayette...I might be pulling the all night drive. Wouldn’t be the first time I did Baton Rouge...Auburn to Gainesville men’s basketball to women’s overnight drives because it was easier...”

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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Longhorn Prognosis

• Season Prediction

  • Craig projects Texas will make it to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta and, at minimum, reach the expanded playoff field.
  • Craig Way [12:11]: “I think they’ll be in Atlanta and I think they’ll be playing for the SEC championship...If nothing else, I see them in the playoff, but they’ve got a real shot...”

• Key to Success: Stay Healthy & Get Hot at the Right Time

  • Both stress the importance of keeping the team healthy, especially with a tough nine-game SEC schedule and non-conference clash with Ohio State.
  • Craig Way [12:40]: “It can happen. You keep people healthy and keep them improving and it’s an incredibly high ceiling for this team.”

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Preseason Hype & Reality:
  • Craig Way [01:50]: “Do they have a legitimate shot? Yes, they do. But they’re not the preseason pick to win the conference.”
• On SEC Road Venues:
  • Craig Way [07:03]: “But listen, I’m a sick puppy...I enjoy going to places I haven’t been to.”
• On Making the Leap:
  • Craig Way [12:11]: “I think they’ll be in Atlanta and I think they’ll be playing for the SEC championship.”
• On Importance of Health:
  • Craig Way [12:41]: “You keep people healthy and keep them improving and it’s an incredibly high ceiling for this team.”

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Comparing 2026 Texas to Past Teams: [00:04–02:55]
• SEC Perceptions & Georgia’s Status: [03:04–04:25]
• Potential SEC Surprise Teams: [04:34–05:42]
• Craig’s Road Stories & Stadium Excitement: [05:58–08:33], [10:08–11:59]
• Season Prognosis & Playoff Hopes: [12:01–13:05]

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Podcast's Language, Tone, and Closing

The conversation is candid, humorous, and deeply informed by decades of Texas sports media experience. Both hosts blend nostalgic storytelling with acute analysis, all delivered in an easy, conversational style appreciated by long-time Longhorn fans.

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Summary prepared by On Texas Football Summarizer

Transcript

[A]

Welcome in on Texas Football, I'm Bobby Burton, joined by the voice of Longhorns, Craig Way.

[B]

Craig.

[A]

39 years now with the Longhorn Network. 26th year play byplay 2026 though big year for the Texas Longhorns at you have a perspective not everyone has about the Longhorns over a period of time. Can you recall a year that reminds you of this one going into it? Is it 2005, 2009? Any, any similarities there?

[C]

Well, the first thing we need to point out is yeah, this is my 39th here on the Longhorn Radio network. But it, Bobby and I have known each other almost 39 years, about 35, I'd say something like that. When we started in the mid-90s doing shows together, I, I, I understand where a lot of folks are quick to pull the trigger on the anticipation when the 05. I think the important thing to remember about that 05, you remember it well. What they were coming off in 04 and you know, had had the one lost ou, but they haven't had the thrilling win over Michigan in the Rose bowl by had I think an even better performance in the Michigan Rose bowl than probably the usc. That's, that's up for debate. They were both ridiculous. But so you had all that stuff and you had all these other players and you had preseason all Americans. So I think great things were expected. And remember they were starting the year at number two. Whenever the AP4 comes out next, you know, next month, we'll see where they start. I don't think they'll start number two in the country. They have the most talent they've had in a long time. Some might say as much as 05 or 09 or 08. You know, those, those years to pinpoint it as, you know, that much anticipation. Yeah. But a lot of that is fans and medium. While we're on the subject, Bobby and I were talking about this. It's, it apparently became very fashionable this week at the SEC media days for people to say, well, you know, Texas is picked to win the league. Texas picked to win the league. And I'm like show me, show me where every single outlet, every single agency I saw pick Georgia. If and, and I totally understand and it makes logical sense. Is Texas probably in the top two? Probably. And, and do they have a legitimate shot? Yes, they do. But they're not the preseason pick to win the conference.

[A]

No, they're not. I think it's that, I think that's Georgia folks trying to help Kirby Smart get some momentum behind probably so.

[C]

And I understand all that, but as it rolls around to it, what it does do to get back to your questions, it does demonstrate that Texas is highly thought of and I think that's correct, that they have that shot depending on how they perform and how healthy

[A]

and several other factors, expectations were through the roof.

[C]

Sure.

[A]

That's, that's the bottom line. And that is similar, I think 2, 5 and similar to 09, 08 because oh, 8 they kind of surprised some folks.

[C]

That's right.

[A]

09 they, they really, they were, they were expected to do well. I, I, I think about this, Greg, and you talk about Georgia. I probably talked to 30 plus people this year, this week and you did too. And I think the only two teams I heard were Georgia and Texas and it was by 9 to 1 margin. Georgia, everybody expects it because we had Rusty Manzel on a good guy from Georgia site and he said they know how to finish. That's what separates Georgia maybe from every other team in the sec. Do you agree with that contention for

[C]

the moment here in late July? Yes. There are others who've shown moments. I mean, for everything that they said about Georgia, they lost Ole Miss and Sugar Bowl. Now they beat them during the regular season, that marvelous comeback and everything. So the finish is the key, obviously, because so many of these teams and I agree with you, I think that Georgia and Texas might be on a little bit of a ledge above several others. But you could take several others in that group. You could put Ole Miss, you could put Alabama, you know, you could put Texas A and M, you could put Oklahoma, you know, as, as teams that have a shot, that are in that, in that sphere, in that, in that group. But I do think the Georgia and Texas might be just a little ledge above it. And Georgia's had the skins on the wall to be able to make that claim.

[A]

Yeah, I'm very high on Oklahoma this year. I think they've got a wonderful defense and if they can just make do on offense, they got a chance to win every game.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

But let me, let me take you this of the guys you've heard this week and things you've heard around here, is there a team that's an upstart team that's, that's in your brain? You say, hey, let's watch for this team and how they perform in 2026?

[C]

Well, listen, it's going to be absolutely logical and fun to see what happens in Baton Rouge.

[A]

Baton, yeah.

[C]

Everybody's going to be curious to see what, what, what Lane Kiffin does down there and I think. I think that's gonna be. I think Tennessee might surprise folks depending on what happens, and they've got some of their key gangs at home like LSU as well as Texas, but, you know, there's that clump of schools in there that have a chance to do real damage, and I think Ole Miss is one of us as well, especially when you have Trinidad Shambles back at quarterback. If, if there is one quarterback in this league who I think at the end of July might have a leg up of Arch Manning right now in this moment, it would be Trinidad Chandler, only because of the skins on wall and what he proved last year and being able to come back as an experienced guy. All the other guys, listen, I think John Mateer is a really good quarterback. I think Arch Manning's better.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

But, you know, and I know it wasn't a fair assessment of material against Texas because of coming off the injury a year ago. We'll get a much better take on that, and I think he's a fine quarterback. It's just, if you're asking me which one I'd take on my team, I would take.

[A]

Yeah. So this is another question you. We talked about you being with Radio Network 39 years, play by play for 26, color analyst for 10. So you've been to a lot of places. What do you think about your tour of the sec? Now, I looked at your. Your list of games on the road this year. Going to Knoxville. Fun place. Right. Play. Right. Going to Baton Rouge, going to Columbia, Missouri, and going to A M. As a guy who gets to go everywhere. I mean, how many times you've been to Manhattan. Yeah, right, right. You know what I mean? As. As a guy that's been there, how much more fun is it for you with. I mean, with all due respect to Ames, Iowa, it ain't Baton Rouge.

[C]

Right.

[A]

It ain't 100,000 plus in Knoxville, it ain't Athens, it's. Yes. So how much more fun is it for you as someone who does this for their livelihood and for so long and look, we're not spring chickens anymore. We're getting ready to.

[C]

We're.

[A]

We're getting a little age with us. How is it, how fun is it for you to finish kind of your career in the sec in some ways?

[C]

Well, it's awesome. I love. I've always wanted to see a game in Knoxville and now to get the call one. It's going to be tremendous. I. I felt the exact same way about going between the hedges last year and to call the game in Georgia, and it was fabulous. I enjoy going to Texas and I'm glad that's back in the rotation now. Second time in three years. Love going up there for games. I was looking forward to going to baton rouge in 2020 when the, when the pandemic shut that down. So yes, I'm. But listen, I'm a sick puppy. Let me tell you the kinds of things I look forward to. Thanksgiving weekend, the Longhorns are playing Texas A M on Friday. I won't be able to go to San Diego to do the Longhorn basketball is going to be in a tournament. San Diego. So Roger Wallace will fill in for me. He'll go to San Diego, do the men's basketball games against Georgetown, and then whoever they face in the second game. So Roger will go. Keith Moreland, my old broadcast partner who went with me to Athens last year when we had a bat football basketball overlap, will step in for the game there in College Station. So I can't go to San Diego Friday. Saturday, however, Roger will be out there. I'll do the game Friday. Saturday I'll fly with the women's basketball team because I do their games as well when they don't fly to Cape Gerardeau, Missouri for a Sunday afternoon game against Southeast Missouri State.

[A]

That's how sick I am.

[C]

But it's a chance to go to a place I haven't gone to in an arena I haven't gone to. That's the point. I enjoy going to places I haven't been to.

[B]

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[A]

So I once tried to figure out how many different air through my travels throughout the United States, etc for football and recruiting, etc. I once tried to figure out how many different airports I'd been to. Yeah, I think you probably triple me.

[C]

Can you. If we did airport pop quiz and I just gave you airport codes, could you remember some of them?

[B]

Play?

[C]

Yeah, you know, if I, if I, I went, I said bna, we all know that's Nashville of that, you know, there's those, those airport codes. It's like, oh, like for example, and this is how nuts it is about the LSU game, Texas fans bought up just about all the available flight tickets to New Orleans and months ago to Baton Rouge. In New Orleans, I'm flying in the Lafayette. You know the airport code for Lafayette? I have no LFT. LFT. It is for Lafayette. It's 55 miles west there. So I'm actually going to fly it. But adding to the intrigue, this week it was announced Texas is going to play Baylor basketball. The day after that LSU game, they're going to play Baylor at the Frost bank center in San Antonio. So I might be pulling the all night drive. Wouldn't be the first time I did Baton Rouge. I did Tuscaloosa to Baton Rouge, men's basketball to women's basketball last year and I did Auburn to Gainesville men's basketball to women's overnight drives because it was easier than coming home and then trying to fly on day of the game. All right.

[A]

Have you flown to Tyler before?

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Okay. What about Amarillo?

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Those are the only two. Those are the smallest ones.

[C]

I've flipped as the only. I'm trying to think if there's any in the state I haven't flown into you remember from doing high school extra used to go all over. Jeff Watts would send me all over this. Fly into Witch Hall Falls, fly to the Valley, fly to. Fly to Longview, fly in there. Fly. Yeah. Texarkana. So I. Yeah, I've hit all of those little airports in the state at one time or another.

[A]

All right, let's finish it up.

[C]

Yep.

[A]

Real quick as we go. See Sark here. Question for you. Prognosticate where you think the Longhorns will finish this year.

[C]

I think they will be just to the northeast of us. I think they'll be in Atlanta and I think they'll be playing for the SEC championship from there. You know, you win that game then. Then you're really in good shape. If, if nothing else, I see them in the playoff, but they've got a real shot being in that SEC championship game to get that body and then, and then, and then be ready to roll in the playoffs.

[A]

Get. Get in the. My, my take is get in the playoffs.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And roll the dice.

[C]

A lot of that will take care of itself if you get in there on the roll. Look at what Oklahoma baseball did. Yeah, they got hot at the right time. Texas swept them during the regular season, but they got it figured out in time and got healthy and went on a big roll. There's no Texas basketball. What Sean Miller did, he'd get him to the sweet 16. It. It can happen. You keep people healthy and keep them improving and it's an incredibly high ceiling for this team.

[A]

Man, it's going to be more difficult to keep them healthy with a nine game SEC schedule. No question Ohio State and non con Difficult schedule for Texas.

[C]

Craig, as always, Bud, appreciate you time's always funded. My old friend from our. I don't. I even forgot what that recruiting show

[A]

was we did back in the inside Southwest recruiting.

[C]

That was it. Inside Southwest Recruiting. We had a lot of fun with that.

[A]

For Craig Way, I'm Bobby Burton Oka boards.