Just saw that ESPN 100 days piece and people are going to sleep on what Texas is doing in the red zone. The Longhorns converted at 68% last season inside the 20 which is solid but not elite. That number needs to jump to 75% plus if this offense wants to take the next step in Sarkisian's system. The difference between a good season and a playoff run is almost always found between the 20 yard lines.
What nobody is talking about is how the spring emphasis on red zone efficiency is going to pay off. Texas spent almost every live period working condensed formations and the QB run game in short yardage. That's the stuff that wins tight SEC games when the field shrinks. The 2025 team left too many points on the board in the red zone and it cost them in at least two conference games. The margin between a field goal and a touchdown in this league is the difference between 10-2 and 12-0.
The new personnel in the rotation should help too. Texas has the bodies to run power concepts and the receiving threats to stretch defenses horizontally. If the coaching staff can get the red zone touchdown rate above 70% this offense becomes a nightmare to defend. That's the number that separates playoff teams from everyone else.