The Texas Longhorns’ 2024 football season was paradoxical. One of the nation’s most explosive offenses was plagued by glaring weaknesses. Fans and analysts alike wondered how a team so inconsistent on third down and so lacking in a traditional running game could still contend at the highest level.
Expert Thanks Explosive Plays Claiming Texas Had No Running Game and Struggled on Third Down
In a recent edition of “On Texas Football,” Rod Babers dissected Texas’ unusual path to the final four, highlighting that the Longhorns were “one of the worst third-down teams in the country.”
Over the past two seasons, Texas converted just 42% and 38% of their third downs, ranking them 42nd and 70th nationally, hardly elite numbers for a playoff contender. The struggles extended to red-zone efficiency as well, with Texas finishing 101st and 90th in that category, further underlining their offensive inconsistencies.
The absence of a reliable running game was especially evident in marquee matchups. Against Ohio State and Arizona State, Texas simply “didn’t have a run game,” a fact that could have doomed their season.
Instead, it was their penchant for explosive plays that kept them afloat. The expert commentary emphasized, “If not for the explosive plays, you lose that game- you didn’t have a running game and you couldn’t really consistently move the ball throughout.”
Despite these setbacks, Texas’s offense was anything but stagnant. Play-caller Steve Sarkisian leaned into the team’s strengths, dialing up big plays that repeatedly bailed the Longhorns out of trouble.
“Explosive plays saved the season for Texas, and they were essentially the… central theme of the season,” Babers concluded. Without these moments of brilliance, Texas’s offensive woes on third down and in the run game might have spelled disaster.
Explosive Identity: How Texas Survived The Numbers?
Texas’ 2024 campaign was defined by its identity as an explosive play offense. While their inability to sustain drives on third down and their struggles in the red zone were well-documented, the Longhorns consistently found ways to flip the field and score quickly. These high-impact plays masked deeper issues and kept hope alive in games where conventional offense failed.
Against Arizona State, Fresno State made key plays early, including a successful fourth-and-13 attempt, and Gunnar Helm’s touchdown decided the game.
Similarly, Jaydon Blue’s impressive wheel route catches helped the Cyclones surprise Ohio State due to their limited ground attack. These plays were put in action to take advantage of Texas’s strengths while reducing areas where they could be exploited.
Ultimately, Texas’ season serves as a case study in the power and limits of explosive offense. While the Longhorns’ inability to run the ball or convert third downs consistently would doom most teams, their knack for big plays kept them in contention.
It’s a testament to both the coaching staff’s adaptability and the players’ ability to execute under pressure.
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This season, Texas was stronger than most experts predicted. Regardless of being labeled as the worst team on third downs and having little rushing success, the Longhorns’ star players kept them in the running for the championship.
In the end, a few key successes can overcome all the hard times during a season.
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