Prove his offense translates
No team was better on offense over the past two seasons than Steve Sarkisian’s Alabama. During their national championship-winning season, the Crimson Tide averaged 48.5 points per game and their lowest point total was 31 against Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl. Nobody could stop them.
Alabama’s roster was undoubtedly the best in the country. NFL first-round talent was littered from top to bottom – two quarterbacks, four wide receivers, a running back, and two offensive tackles. Texas has talented players on their roster as well, but nothing like the Crimson Tide has sported over the past two years.
Wide receiver is where Sarkisian will have a major drop-off. Joshua Moore, Jake Smith, Jordan Whittington, and Xavier Worthy will be nothing like Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs DeVonta Smith, and Jaylen Waddle. The offensive line will take some time to develop as well.
Expecting numbers from Sarkisian we saw over the past two seasons is unrealistic. His type of offensive players are not in the program yet. There will be an expectation for a more cutthroat type attack in year one, though. If Sarkisian can prove his offense works at Texas, the future of the program is in good hands.