2023 Season-In-Review

Record: 12-2, Loss in CFP Semifinal (37-31) vs. Washington

Texas impressed early on with a road win against No. 3 Alabama. The Longhorns lost just one game during the regular season, which was home against Oklahoma in a game that they should have won in the end. Texas rode momentum to a Big 12 championship in its final year in the conference. The Longhorns returned to the CFP Playoff and lost a classic to Washington.

Offense: Longhorns Reload With Experienced QB

Key Players: QB Quinn Ewers, WR Isaiah Bond, WR Johntay Cook II, WR Matthew Golden, OT Kelvin Banks Jr., RB CJ Baxter, OT Cameron Williams

Key Losses: WR Xavier Worthy (KC), WR Adonai Mitchell (IND), RB Jonathan Brooks (CAR), TE Ja’Tavion Sanders (CAR)

Quinn Ewers announced he would return to Texas for his third season and wait another year to enter the NFL Draft. Ewers will have an entire new group to work with at the skill positions.

The Longhorns lost both wide receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell to the NFL. Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders and 1,000-yard rusher Jonathan Brooks will also be playing on Sundays this season. Head coach Steve Sarkisian was hard at work this offseason to rebuild his offense and made great strides, especially on the outside.

Texas landed Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond, who proved his worth with the Tide last season. Matthew Golden (Houston) and Silas Bolden (Oregon State) will also come to Austin to bolster the receiving room in 2024. Amari Niblack also came over from Alabama at the tight end position.

The skill positions are strong and Texas is set at the two most important positions on the offense. Of course, we are talking about the quarterback with Ewers and the left tackle position. Texas returns four starters along the offensive line, left by First Team All-Big Ten selection Kelvin Banks Jr., who will return to his post on the left side protecting Ewers’ blind side.

Texas averaged 35.8 points per game last season and it is not surprising when looking at the talent that the team possessed on the outside. This season, Sarkisian will implement some new players but will return leaders at the most important spots. It is the first year in the SEC for Texas and this means a tougher schedule across the board.

Defense: Can Texas Repeat Success Against The Run?

Key Players: LB Anthony Hill Jr., DB Jahdae Barron, LB David Gbenda, EDGE Ethan Burke, DE Barryn Sorrell, DT Tiaoalii Savea (Arizona transfer), S Andrew Mukuba (Clemson transfer), EDGE Trey Moore (UTSA transfer)

Key Losses: DT Byron Murphy II (SEA), LB Jaylan Ford (NO), T’Vondre Sweat (TEN)

The Longhorns moved to the SEC this season and that means taking a step up in competition. The conference has turned into an explosive group but also has teams that have great size and can run the football. Last season, Texas was third in the nation against the run allowing 82.4 yards per game. The Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year Byron Murphy is gone this season. Outland Award winner T’Vondre Sweat and All-Conference linebacker Jaylan Ford are also in the NFL.

Like many teams around the nation, the Longhorns improved in the portal and still return experience defensively. Anthony Hill Jr. was the second-leading tackler with 67 last season as a freshman. He is one of three returning tacklers who were in the top four for the Longhorns. This includes Jahdae Barron (59) and David Gbenda (50).

The team was also aggressive in the portal in attempts to replace production along the defensive line. Trey Moore came over from UTSA, who had 14 sacks last season. Tiaoalii Savea also entered the mix from Arizona as a big body in the middle of the defensive line.

This is the unit that will tell how the season for Texas is going to go. It will play Georgia, Michigan, Oklahoma, and other strong teams within the SEC this season. The Longhorns will have to produce defensive and compete in the trenches.

2024 Texas Football Schedule

• Saturday, Aug. 31: vs. Colorado State
• Saturday, Sept. 7: at Michigan
• Saturday, Sept. 14: vs. UTSA
• Saturday, Sept. 21: vs. Louisiana-Monroe
• Saturday, Sept. 28: vs. Mississippi State
• Saturday, Oct. 12: vs. Oklahoma
• Saturday, Oct. 19: vs. Georgia
• Saturday, Oct. 26: at Vanderbilt
• Saturday, Nov. 9: vs. Florida
• Saturday, Nov. 16: at Arkansas
• Saturday, Nov. 23: vs. Kentucky
• Saturday, Nov. 30: at Texas A&M