The Texas 20, No. 20: Is there a college sleeper in Texas?

[caption id="attachment_17685" align="alignleft" width="300"]Photo by Mary Scott McNabb Photo by Mary Scott McNabb[/caption] This is the Texas 20, DCTF's countdown of the 20 biggest storylines heading into the 2015 football season.Today, we've reached No. 20: Is there a college sleeper in Texas? Now, when we’re talking college sleepers in Texas, our attention glances quickly past those who may be good and may make a leap, and those who are not great but could bounce back, and straight at the programs the national media often forgets, but we never would. So let’s quickly talk North Texas, UTSA and Texas State, and who is poised to make the biggest leap this year. NORTH TEXAS (2014: 4-8, 2-6)X-factor that could change season: Quarterbacks. Andrew McNulty has earned the vote of confidence from coaches and teammates alike, but he was one of three guys to get snaps last season, and JUCO transfer DaMarcus Smith is coming off quite a year for Butler C.C., having thrown for 2,746 yards and 31 touchdowns to go with being a team captain. If McNulty makes the leap with the extra experience, or Smith emerges as diamond plucked from the lower ranks, the forecast could be sunnier in Denton. Potentially overwhelming hurdle: Scheduling. Holy cow did the Mean Green get no favors this year. They’ll have the distinct pleasure of opening against SMU after the Mustangs have already gotten a game under their belt against Baylor, and with that 43-6 thumping from last year still fresh in their minds. Their home opener is Rice, who has more than a fair shake at the C-USA West crown. On top of those early season gems, there are three dates with cross-division foes Western Kentucky, Marshall, and Middle Tennessee. Their combined 2014 record: 27-12. UTSA (2014: 4-8, 3-5)X-factor that could change season: Offensive line. Say that this year, the unit is not just no longer abjectly terrible, but actually above average or better. It’s not the sort of turnaround that typically happens overnight, but if the unit turns out to be a bunch of bullies, things will flip in a hurry. Potentially overwhelming hurdle: Inexperience. Just two starters return for the Roadrunners, and while it could be a refreshing new group taking the place of the starters who finished 4-8, these things typically don’t work out that way. TEXAS STATE (2014: 7-5, 5-3)X-factor that could change season: All those big players returning. QB Tyler Jones. RB Robert Lowe. WR C.J. Best. The Bobcats keep all the exciting pieces that made the up-temp offense so effective last year. But what if they make another leap? We projected the Bobcats to finish fifth in the Sun Belt in our summer magazine, but if the offense doesn’t just maintain and jumps up a level, it’ll be hard for opponents to keep up. Potentially overwhelming hurdle: Road schedule. The Bobcats could get annihilated by the road or hardened by it. They travel to Florida State, Houston, Louisiana-Lafayette, Georgia Southern, Idaho and Arkansas State. Idaho looks to be the only win you’d feel safe penciling in as a win before a game is played. On the other hand, do something crazy in one of those first two games, and win three conference road games, and you’ve got history on your hands. And the biggest sleeper is: Texas State. With a conference seemingly always in flux, and a roster full of proven returners, the Bobcats seem best positioned of the three teams to make a run. Go get that bowl berth and throw a party.