Texas Stars Reflect on What Could’ve Been - and What’s Next
The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl had all the trappings of a modern college football spectacle - a quirky mascot named Prince Cheddward, a trophy presentation that leaned into the fun, and a dominant Texas win to close out the 2025 season. But for the Longhorns, especially the veterans who had poured everything into the program, the game in Orlando was more of a consolation prize than a celebration.
For outgoing seniors like Ethan Burke, Jaylon Guilbeau, and D.J. Campbell, it’s hard not to look back and wonder: What if?
“We’re playing our best football last game of the season, and we have three top-15 wins in the country,” Burke said. “I don’t think anyone else had that.”
And he’s not wrong. Texas ended the year on a tear, handling top competition and making a compelling case for a College Football Playoff spot.
But when the final bracket was revealed, it was No. 10 Miami - a two-loss team - that got the nod.
The Hurricanes didn’t just sneak in either; they made a run all the way to the national title game. That stung.
Texas, meanwhile, was left on the outside looking in - and the players knew exactly where things went sideways.
“I definitely think it was a tough decision for the committee,” Campbell admitted. “But you also can’t excuse the loss to Florida.”
That midseason collapse in Gainesville turned out to be the anchor that dragged down Texas’ playoff hopes. “No bad talk about that team,” he added, “but we knew we were better than that team, and we didn’t come out on top.”
It’s the kind of loss that lingers - especially when you know how close you were. But despite the disappointment, there’s no sense of bitterness coming from the locker room. These guys aren’t dwelling on missed opportunities; they’re proud of what they accomplished and ready for what’s next.
“Every time you step on the field, you want to give it your all,” Guilbeau said. “You don’t want to go back and say, ‘Oh, I wish I could have did this,’ or ‘I regretted that I didn’t do that.’ So I wouldn’t say that it was a regret or disappointment.”
That mindset - forward-facing, grounded, and mature - is part of what’s helped Texas reestablish itself as a national power under Steve Sarkisian. The Longhorns didn’t just win games this year; they built a culture. And even as players like Burke, Guilbeau, and Campbell move on, they’re leaving behind a foundation that’s stronger than it’s been in years.
Now, the focus shifts to the next chapter: the NFL.
All three are deep into the pre-draft process, training for the combine and getting valuable reps in front of NFL personnel at the East-West Shrine Bowl. It’s a critical stretch - where interviews matter as much as 40-yard dash times, and where every rep is a chance to raise your stock.
“I’m having a good time conversing, getting to learn different organizations and how they do things,” Burke said. That kind of exposure is invaluable - especially when you’ve got a pipeline of former Longhorns already in the league and willing to lend a hand.
Campbell, for instance, has been keeping in touch with Kelvin Banks Jr., another Texas standout who’s already made the leap. “I was checking in with him at least once a week, or once every two weeks,” Campbell said.
“I was kind of telling him that this offseason, the process is now getting real for me. I haven’t needed him yet, but I’ll be reaching out real soon as we kind of get close to the combine.”
That’s the beauty of what Texas has built - a program that doesn’t just win games, but prepares its players for the next level, both on and off the field.
So while the Citrus Bowl might not have been the dream ending, it was still a statement. A reminder that Texas is back in the national conversation - and that its stars are ready to carry that momentum into the pros.