USA TODAY Gives Texas Longhorns Interesting Grade on Final 2024 Season Report Card
The Texas Longhorns capped off their 2024 football season with high hopes and a lot to prove. As one of the most storied programs in college football history, expectations for the Longhorns are always through the roof. However, after an up-and-down 2024 campaign, which included thrilling victories and frustrating losses, many fans and analysts wondered how Texas’ performance would be evaluated once the dust settled.
In the post-season, USA TODAY released its comprehensive season report cards for all FBS teams, offering a detailed review of each program’s performance. Texas was among the teams to receive an evaluation, and the grade it earned generated some interesting reactions. While the Longhorns showed significant promise throughout the season, the inconsistency in certain aspects of their play ultimately influenced their overall grade.
In this article, we’ll break down the various elements of Texas’ 2024 season, analyze the reasoning behind the grade they received, and assess what it means for the future of the program. The Longhorns are poised to join the SEC in 2025, and USA TODAY’s evaluation offers important insights into how the team is positioned moving forward.
Texas Longhorns’ 2024 Season Recap
The Texas Longhorns entered the 2024 season with a lot of buzz surrounding them, especially after their near-miss in the Big 12 Championship the previous year. Head coach Steve Sarkisian had been building a program that was starting to show tangible improvements, and after an offseason of bolstering the roster, the Longhorns looked poised to take the next step.
The 2024 season didn’t start as smoothly as many had hoped. The team faced early tests against high-profile opponents and encountered some early bumps in the road, including a narrow loss to Alabama early in the season. However, Texas responded with resilience, defeating key opponents in the Big 12 and finishing the regular season strong.
One of the most significant achievements of Texas’ 2024 season was the development of quarterback Quinn Ewers, who showed dramatic improvement over the course of the year. After a rocky start to his college career, Ewers demonstrated his deep-ball accuracy, poise in big moments, and overall leadership. His performances, particularly in wins over teams like Oklahoma, Baylor, and Kansas State, were instrumental in keeping the Longhorns competitive in a loaded conference.
However, the Longhorns’ season was far from perfect. Despite their strengths on offense, there were moments when the defense struggled to stop the run, and certain games showcased a lack of consistency on both sides of the ball. Additionally, there were injuries throughout the season that hindered Texas’ depth and ability to close out games decisively. Despite finishing with a solid record, including a strong showing in a competitive Big 12 Championship, Texas still had more work to do before they could truly be considered a playoff contender.
USA TODAY’s Grade for the Longhorns
After evaluating the entire season, USA TODAY assigned the Texas Longhorns a B+ for their 2024 campaign. This grade may seem both fair and somewhat generous to some, while others may argue that it’s not a true reflection of the potential the team displayed throughout the year.
The B+ grade places Texas in the upper tier of teams in college football but also highlights areas in which they fell short. To fully understand why Texas earned this grade, let’s break down the evaluation based on several key components: offense, defense, special teams, and coaching.
Offense: A Step Forward, but Still Room to Grow
The Texas offense was one of the bright spots of the 2024 season, which was reflected in their high ranking among the nation’s most explosive units. Led by Quinn Ewers, the Longhorns featured one of the most potent passing attacks in the Big 12, averaging over 300 yards per game through the air. Ewers showed considerable improvement from his sophomore season, showing more control over the offense, better decision-making, and better timing with his receivers.
The development of running back Bijan Robinson’s younger cousin, Jonathon Brooks, helped balance out the offense, as the team was able to maintain a strong running game to complement their aerial attack. Brooks emerged as a legitimate weapon out of the backfield, and his ability to break off big runs kept defenses on their toes.
However, USA TODAY’s evaluation acknowledged that the Texas offense still had areas of inconsistency. While the team scored in bunches in some games, they also struggled to maintain that same level of execution against tougher competition. There were a couple of games where Ewers looked out of sync, especially in high-pressure situations, and the running game occasionally struggled to establish dominance, particularly against teams with stout defenses.
Grade for Offense: A-
The offense’s explosive capabilities and growth throughout the year earned a solid A-. While they certainly displayed potential to be one of the nation’s best, they still had to work on consistency and finishing drives in critical moments. This leaves room for improvement as they head into the next season.
Defense: Inconsistent Play and Missed Opportunities
The Texas defense had a bit of a roller-coaster ride during the 2024 season. Early in the year, the Longhorns’ defense looked susceptible to the run, allowing big plays in several games that kept opponents in the contest. Their ability to stop explosive offenses was inconsistent, and this became a significant concern in matchups against high-scoring teams like Alabama and Kansas State.
However, the defense made strides as the season wore on, particularly in the secondary. Players like Jerrin Thompson and Jaylan Ford emerged as leaders on the back end of the defense, and the pass rush improved with the emergence of defensive end Barryn Sorrell, who was a constant threat in the backfield. The defensive line began to gain momentum as the season progressed, and Texas showed the ability to limit opposing offenses when it mattered most.
Despite these improvements, the defense still had too many breakdowns that allowed opposing teams to capitalize on big plays. Against better competition, the defense’s inconsistency in tackling and gap assignments cost the team in close games.
Grade for Defense: B
Texas’ defense was solid but far from elite. There were promising signs, but the Longhorns had too many lapses in coverage and missed opportunities to put teams away. As Texas prepares for its transition to the SEC, strengthening their defense will be critical.
Special Teams: Stability, but Lacking Big Playmakers
The special teams unit for Texas was one of the more stable aspects of the 2024 season. Kicker Bert Auburn provided reliability in the kicking game, and punter Ryan Sanborn helped the team pin opponents deep in their own territory. However, there weren’t any major standout performances in the special teams unit. While the team didn’t experience many catastrophic failures in the kicking game, there were few big plays or game-changing moments from special teams.
Grade for Special Teams: B
The special teams were solid but lacked the dynamism needed to flip momentum in big games. Going forward, Texas will likely look to add more explosive players to this unit in hopes of providing an extra spark when needed.
Coaching: Positive Progress with a Few Gaps
Head coach Steve Sarkisian was in his third year with Texas in 2024, and the team showed signs of growth under his leadership. Sarkisian’s ability to develop the offense, particularly in getting the best out of Quinn Ewers, was a highlight of the season. The Longhorns appeared well-prepared and motivated to compete week-in and week-out, and Sarkisian’s play calling was generally effective, especially in high-pressure situations.
That said, there were moments where the coaching staff seemed to struggle with adjustments. In some of the bigger games of the season, Texas’ inability to finish strong or maintain momentum during critical moments left some questioning the coaching decisions. Additionally, the defense, while improving, did not always have the same level of preparedness or strategy to slow down explosive offenses, particularly against teams that excelled at the run.
Grade for Coaching: B+
Sarkisian showed significant growth as a head coach, and there were more positive than negative moments. However, as Texas enters its new chapter in the SEC, improving on certain in-game decisions and refining the defensive strategies will be essential.
The Road Ahead for Texas
Despite the mixed reviews from USA TODAY, the future is bright for the Texas Longhorns. The team made considerable strides in 2024, and while they weren’t able to capture a Big 12 title, they remained competitive against the league’s top teams. The development of Quinn Ewers, the emergence of star players, and the strengthening of their defense all point toward a promising future.
Looking ahead to 2025, Texas will face even more challenges as they move to the SEC, which is home to some of the toughest teams in the country. To remain competitive in their new conference, the Longhorns will need to refine their overall consistency, improve their defense, and make the necessary adjustments in key moments.
With a solid recruiting class coming in and a talented roster returning, the Longhorns are poised to take the next step. Texas fans have every reason to be optimistic as they prepare for their transition to the SEC, and with a strong foundation already in place, they could be a serious contender on the national stage in the near future.
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