By Wendell Barnhouse
Big 12 Sports.com Correspondent

2007: 10-3 overall, 5-3 in Big 12 South, tied for 2nd.
Bowl game: Defeated Arizona State, 52-34, in Holiday Bowl.
Coach: Mack Brown, 103-25 in 10 seasons at Texas.
Returning starters: 6 on offense, 4 on defense.

Staff changes: Will Muschamp takes over as defensive coordinator after holding the same title at Auburn last season. Former quarterback Major Applewhite is in his first season as running backs coach.

Offensive outlook: The Longhorns have a talented, veteran quarterback in junior Colt McCoy. The offensive line should be talented and deep. Texas must replace leading rusher Jamaal Charles, tight end Jermichael Finley and receiver Limas Sweed. Senior wide receiver Quan Cosby should become the go-to pass catcher. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis is scheming to find ways to use talented sophomore quarterback John Chiles.

Defensive outlook: Muschamp is firey and that attitude usually translates to his players. The Longhorns should be much more aggressive, particularly in putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Blitzing puts pressure on the secondary and Texas is breaking in two new safeties.

Player on the spot: Colt McCoy. If the junior returns to the form he flashed as a freshman, the Longhorns have a solid shot of winning the Big 12. If he forces passes that wind up as interceptions, the offense and the team will struggle.

Player on the rise: Sergio Kindle. If he stays healthy, the junior linebacker should start fulfilling the promise he had as one of the nation's top recruits in 2005. Kindle's size and speed should be a perfect fit in Muschamp's game plans.

Number of note: The Longhorns have won 10 or more games in seven consecutive seasons, something no other Division I-A team has done.

Date book: The non-conference schedule is deceptively challenging. The opener against Florida Atlantic could be a flashback to 2007's nail biter with Arkansas State. A trip to UTEP in week two is a rare in-state, non-conference road game. Arkansas' visit to Austin on Sept. 13 rekindles the old Southwest Conference rivalry but the Razorbacks are reloading under a new coach. The Big 12 schedule features the annual Red River Rivalry game with Oklahoma in Dallas plus contests with North Division upstarts Kansas and Missouri. The Longhorns' biggest conference game might be their Nov. 1 game at Texas Tech.

* - Conference Game