The Texas Longhorns made the College Football Playoff. And while the program’s ceiling is much higher, it didn’t take long for Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian to make the playoff.
Sarkisian’s third year playoff berth has us wondering how far Texas is from playing in a national title game.
How far was Texas in 2023? On Monday, the Longhorns were 12 yards away from playing in the national championship. That said, given how it played Texas probably should have never been that close in the first place.
There are several ways in which Texas needs to grow. For starters, its head coach and starting quarterback need to make the leap from great to elite. Steve Sarkisian was one of the four best head coaches in college football. Even so, the difference between the best coach and the fourth best coach can sometimes be vast.
At quarterback, Quinn Ewers is a worthy four-team playoff competitor. Nevertheless, the difference between Ewers and Washington quarterback Michael Penix was noticeable. While Ewers made several great throws with touch, Penix had the zip to fit the football into tight windows that Ewers couldn’t. Washington’s quarterback processed the defense faster.
Here are a few ways Texas can become a title contender and winner in 2024.