If the UT 2008 team by the end of the season played the 2009 team who wins?I’m taking the 2008 team.  Orakpo and Cosby the difference.

I would give the nod to the 2008 team as well.  2008 team had a much better offense and although the 2009 team had a better defense (less sacks, but more INTs and defensive TDs) the gap in the two defenses is not wide enough for me to put them over the 2008 team.

2008 by about 10.

…Mack has another National Championship if Jamaal Charles stays for 2008 season.

Edited August 19, 2025Aug 19 by horns96

2 minutes ago, horns96 said:

…Mack has another National Championship if Jamaal Charles stays for 2008 season.

If only NIL was a thing back in '06 or '08.  Maybe VY comes back in '06 and wins a Heisman, Big 12 and natty over playing for Jeff Fisher.  If you had Charles in '08 you could run the ball down Tech's throat and keep that explosive passing attack on the bench.  Texas legit could've won 2 or 3 more natties during that 2005-2009 stretch.

1 hour ago, LonghornFan4Ever said:

If only NIL was a thing back in '06 or '08.  Maybe VY comes back in '06 and wins a Heisman, Big 12 and natty over playing for Jeff Fisher.  If you had Charles in '08 you could run the ball down Tech's throat and keep that explosive passing attack on the bench.  Texas legit could've won 2 or 3 more natties during that 2005-2009 stretch.

Back when Vince came out there was no rookie scale. There is no way we could produce enough NIL to prevent that. 

 

Edited August 19, 2025Aug 19 by Hashtag

2008 was much better on offense. The offense really missed Cosby and Ogbonnaya in 2009. Though I wonder if some of the struggle was also a result of opponents doing a lot of film study on the Colt Mccoy offense over the summer and finding a few answers. Both teams kind of sucked on the OL. (McWhorter has to be the worst recruiting assistant coach that we've had).

2009 was probably better on defense, but they also didn't have to play Sam Bradford, Crabtree, Terrelle Pryor, etc, so that helped. (Not unlike our defense last year who also dominated a slate of bad offenses but showed to be a bit more mortal in the playoffs).

Overall IMO 2008 was the better team, though 2009 probably had the better chance to win the NC just because the competition was weaker.

Edited August 19, 2025Aug 19 by whereiend

3 hours ago, whereiend said:

2008 was much better on offense. The offense really missed Cosby and Ogbonnaya in 2009. Though I wonder if some of the struggle was also a result of opponents doing a lot of film study on the Colt Mccoy offense over the summer and finding a few answers. Both teams kind of sucked on the OL. (McWhorter has to be the worst recruiting assistant coach that we've had).

2009 was probably better on defense, but they also didn't have to play Sam Bradford, Crabtree, Terrelle Pryor, etc, so that helped. (Not unlike our defense last year who also dominated a slate of bad offenses but showed to be a bit more mortal in the playoffs).

Overall IMO 2008 was the better team, though 2009 probably had the better chance to win the NC just because the competition was weaker.

I wouldn't say they were mortal in the playoffs, they still kicked ass.

15 hours ago, horns96 said:

…Mack has another National Championship if Jamaal Charles stays for 2008 season.

And Finley