With Longhorns and Aggies sagging, college football is in an uneasy state in Texas

Ronald Jones II was sitting way too close to the television in his living room when USC and Texas played one of the most memorable games in college football history.

It was the 2006 Rose Bowl, and both teams came in with 12-0 records. Four players in that game became top 10 picks in the next NFL draft.

Jones, a McKinney, Texas, native who is now a sophomore running back for the Trojans, remembers it as the day Reggie Bush made him dream of playing for USC.

However, he still rooted hard for the Longhorns, who won, 41-38, that day. It was impossible not to.

“When I was growing up, Texas was it,” said Jones, who received scholarship offers from Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor and Texas Christian but chose USC. “I think other schools were starting to catch up to Texas and the talent spread out, and that’s why there isn’t that powerhouse anymore. I don’t know if it was bad for the state, necessarily, but it changed things.”

That change was obvious when the preseason rankings came out this season. For the first time since 2012, there is no Texas team ranked in the Associated Press preseason top 10. Texas and Texas A&M, both traditional powers, didn’t even crack the Top 25.

Texas Christian was the highest ranked team, at No. 13. Upstart Houston was next at No. 15. The only other Texas team in the top 25 is Baylor, at No. 23, which is coming off a tumultuous off-season in which it lost its university president, football coach and several blue-chip recruits.

A look at the state’s top programs and story lines:

Baylor

The Bears are typically talented, but the issues they face heading into the season transcend football.

Baylor fired head coach Art Briles on May 25 after an internal investigation revealed university-wide misconduct surrounding multiple sexual allegations against some football players. University president Ken Starr resigned, and recently cut all ties with the school. And more recently, a video of Baylor wide receiver Ishmael Zamora abusing his dog went viral.

So while Baylor is coming off a 10-3 season, and is guided by an experienced coach in Jim Grobe, this season won’t entirely be defined by wins and losses.

Texas

The Longhorns are 11-14 in two seasons under Charlie Strong, and their mediocrity has partly stemmed from spotty quarterback play.

Now Texas is expected to trot out freshman Shane Buechele at quarterback in its opener against No. 10 Notre Dame. On the bright side, the Longhorns return eight starters to a defense that showed promise last season.

Texas missed a bowl by one win in 2015, and hasn’t had a 10-win season since 2009.

Houston

The Cougars were No. 8 in last season’s final AP poll, their best finish in 36 years, and they have a possible Heisman Trophy candidate in quarterback Greg Ward Jr.

What’s causing worry in Houston is the bigger picture.

After guiding the Cougars to a 13-1 record in his first season, Coach Tom Herman is a rising star and is expected to be a candidate for any big-program openings. Houston has also been in the thick of the Big 12 Conference expansion conversation.

Texas A&M

Judging by wins and headlines, life after Johnny Manziel has been bland for Texas A&M.

That could change with the addition of Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight at quarterback. He provides experience where the Aggies sorely need it. He’ll have playmakers around him, a decent offensive line and an innovative offensive coordinator in Noel Mazzone, who is in his first year at Texas A&M after leaving UCLA.

The questions marks — which will decide whether the Aggies can push past back-to-back eight-win seasons — are depth at running back and whether experience will translate to success in the secondary. Edge rusher Myles Garrett is considered a possible No. 1 pick in the 2017 NFL draft, but he’ll only be so effective if opposing receivers are quickly beating Texas A&M’s defensive backs.

Texas Christian

Oklahoma, with its loaded offense and respectable defense, is the clear-cut Big 12 favorite. But TCU returns seven starters to a defense that overachieved despite a handful of injuries last season and looks to have the only unit that could slow the Sooners’ attack for a full game.

On top of that, Texas A&M transfer Kenny Hill could make the drop-off from quarterback Trevone Boykin not detrimentally steep.

TCU hosts Oklahoma on Oct. 1 for a game that will probably dictate the rest of the Big 12 season.

jesse.dougherty@latimes.com

Twitter: @dougherty_jesse