Texas is 2-0 and ranked No. 1, but Steve Sarkisian has been clear that the Longhorns are not a finished product. Here are five areas BOA will watch against UTSA before the trip to Tennessee.
Texas has already delivered the kind of win that can define a season.
The Longhorns erased a 23-3 fourth-quarter deficit against Ohio State, won 24-23 and climbed to No. 1.
That does not mean they are playing complete football.
Steve Sarkisian made that clear this week, pointing directly to ball security and third-down defense as areas that are not yet at a championship standard.
UTSA gives Texas one more non-conference game before the Longhorns travel to Tennessee on Sept. 26 for an 11 a.m. CT kickoff at Neyland Stadium.
The goal Saturday should be bigger than simply moving to 3-0.
Here are five things Texas needs to sharpen before SEC play begins.
1. Protect the football
This is the most obvious issue.
Texas had four fumbles against Ohio State. Not all of them became turnovers, but that almost makes the warning more important. Recovering your own fumble does not make the underlying mistake disappear.
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Texas starts with a 59.8% BOA win probability against Tennessee. These three game conditions create some of the biggest swings in the matchup.
Texas starts at 59.8% against Tennessee. BOA’s Win Path Builder identifies three conditions that move that probability by double digits.
Texas enters SEC play 3–0, but the trip to Tennessee will test the Longhorns in three critical areas: stopping the run, getting Arch Manning and the passing game back on track, and handling protection and discipline in Neyland.