Between September 20 and November 1 — the span in which the Texas Longhorns hosts Sam Houston and, finally, Vanderbilt the day after Halloween — the football program will play six consecutive away games.

After coaches voting in the US LBM-sponsored poll tabbed the Longhorns as the nation's top team last week, Texas was voted as the No. 1 team in the first AP Poll of the campaign released Monday. Since 2000, only USC and Alabama have won the national championship after starting the season ranked first.

What type of pressure are the Texas Longhorns feeling after receiving top preseason rankings? Better yet, what headspace has it left head coach Steve Sarkisian in? “It doesn’t matter. It’s irrelevant to the way the season is going to go.