ESPN just dropped their RB rankings for 2026 and I keep looking at where Texas fits in that conversation. The Longhorns finished last season converting red zone trips into touchdowns at a rate that was solid but not elite, somewhere around 64 percent. That number has to climb if this offense takes the next step.
Kewan Lacy is the name that keeps coming up nationally but here is the actual question. Can the Texas run game generate enough explosive plays inside the 20 to push that red zone TD percentage closer to 70? The data says teams that convert at 70 percent or higher in the red zone win 11-plus games at a much higher rate.
Last year too many drives stalled out inside the 10 and settled for field goals. That is the difference between 10-2 and 12-0 in this conference. The running back room has the talent to fix it but the scheme has to commit to pounding it in tight windows.
If Sarkisian gets the red zone efficiency up to elite levels, Texas is a legitimate playoff contender. I...