One of the most anticipated seasons in Texas football history will kick off with a nonconference contest that could start to answer a few questions about the Longhorns.

Will they contend for a conference title in their first foray into the SEC? Do they have what it takes to reach the expanded CFP playoffs? We’ll finally start to get some answers Saturday.

Here's a full scouting report for the Texas Longhorns vs. the Colorado State Rams in both teams' season opener:

No. 4 Texas vs. Colorado State

When: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin

TV/radio: ESPN, 1300, 98.1, 105.3 (Spanish)

Line: Texas is favored by 32½

Weather: It won’t be blistering hot, but it certainly won’t be football weather. It'll be muggy with temperatures in the low 90s all game and a chance of scattered showers. Maybe pack that poncho.

RELATED: Texas football Steve Sarkisian is ready for Colorado State, the band, the popcorn

Texas history: Colorado State

All-time: Texas leads 1-0

Last meeting:  Texas 46, Colorado State 0 (1975)

Most memorable meeting: Texas 46, Colorado State 0 (1975). There’s not much to remember from a nondescript nonconference game that became part of an 11-2 season for Texas, but fans in attendance recall the continued blossoming of future Heisman Trophy winner Earl Campbell. Then a sophomore, the running back rumbled for 103 yards on 13 carries, including a 46-yard touchdown gallop.

Know the foe: Colorado State

Last week: N/A.

Players to watch: Even though the Longhorns now play in the SEC, they mighty not face a better receiver than Tory Horton, a 6-foot-2 downfield threat with 167 catches, 2,267 yards receiving and 16 TDs over the past two seasons. … Senior OL Jacob Gardner will start his 46th straight game and has never missed a start, which includes two years as a tackle at Nevada and the past two seasons as an All-Mountain West center for the Rams. … LB Chase Wilson, who earned all-conference honors last year, is a 230-pound ballhawk who excels against the run, as evidenced by his 107 tackles and 8½ stops for a loss last season.

Central Texas connections: Sophomore edge Whitefield Powell, an all-state parochial player during his time at Regents, redshirted last season. … Former Westlake player Nate Weyand is a walk-on TE.

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When Texas has the ball

With starting running back CJ Baxter and promising freshman Christian Clark out for the season because of injuries, the Longhorns are likely to lean on Jaydon Blue and freshman Jerrick Gibson against a run defense that ranked just 98th in the nation last season.

The Rams were even worse against the pass a year ago, and that means a revamped Texas receiving corps led by Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond could find some room to roam.

Colorado State is a bit light up front. The Rams’ starting defensive line averages 274 pounds and their defensive tackle rotation includes just two players listed at 300 pounds, and that doesn’t bode well against a Texas line that includes 320-pound G Hayden Conner, 330-pound G DJ Campbell and 320-pound C Jake Majors.

When Colorado State has the ball

The Rams like to throw with redshirt sophomore Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, a Texas native who played at powerhouse Aledo. Fowler-Nicolosi, who reportedly turned down multiple NIL offers in the portal to stay at Colorado State, threw for 3,460 yards and 22 TDs a year ago and will test a Texas pass defense that ranked 117th in the nation in 2023.

Horton isn’t the only talent at receiver for the Rams. Baylor transfer Armani Winfield, a former four-star recruit from the Dallas suburb of Lewisville, once held a scholarship offer from Texas and is trying to get his collegiate career on track after two inconsistent seasons in Waco.

Colorado State head coach Jay Norvell, an all-conference defensive back during his playing days at Iowa in the 1980s, has long embraced lots of Air Raid tenets, including at Texas as the wide receivers coach under Charlie Strong in 2015. Rams quarterbacks coach Matt Mumme is the son of Air Raid coaching pioneer Hal Mumme.

RELATED: Game-by-game predictions for Texas' 2024 schedule

The key matchup

Horton against Texas DB Jahdae Barron: We’ll find out quickly how Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski plan to use Barron, a fifth-year senior who primarily plays the slot but is the Longhorns’ most proven defensive back. Will he shadow Horton? That’s not usually in the Longhorns’ defensive scheme, but it might be necessary against Horton.

Texas vs. Colorado State predictions

Danny Davis: Texas. Since Texas hopes that this season lasts 16 or 17 games, it must build depth and get the second- and third-string players some playing time in an actual game. This weekend is an excellent opportunity to do that, so expect the participation report for this blowout to read like a CVS receipt.

Cedric Golden: Texas, 45-10. Get ready for a large second-half dose of Arch Manning as Texas lands the early knockout. The Rams will be game but overmatched. Bring on the Michigan Wolverines after a 45-10 blowout.

Thomas Jones: Texas, 48-16. The Longhorns’ offensive line should be able to shove the Rams around. For one game at least, all is well with a running game missing two key players.

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Longhorns vs. Colorado State football: Scouting report, prediction