While Texas’ issues inside the red zone have drawn scrutiny, head coach Steve Sarkisian might face a deeper problem. An ESPN analyst pointed to a pressing issue nearly unraveling Texas’ 2024 campaign.
Despite the Longhorns reaching the SEC Championship and advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals, their 28-14 loss to Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl reignited criticism. Some argue that the defeat was partly due to late-game decisions involving special teams. Sarkisian’s strategic blind spot has become a growing concern.
Steve Sarkisian’s Red Zone Woes Mask Bigger Concern Ahead of 2025 Season
As Texas opens training camp with championship aspirations for the 2025 season, the narrative around the Longhorns revolves around red zone inefficiency. However, according to ESPN analyst Erin Hogan, that concern may overshadow a more pressing issue: special teams.
Hogan, speaking on his show, made it clear that despite Texas reaching the SEC Championship Game and advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinal, their inability to execute on special teams may have cost them a shot at the national title.
“The fact the Longhorns got all the way to where they did to the SEC title game last year, to the doorstep of, you know, a 28-14 game against Ohio State, of maybe playing for a national title, with atrocious special teams,” Hogan said. “They really had bad special teams last year.”
The breakdowns weren’t isolated. Hogan noted specific failures in the kicking and punting game that plagued Texas throughout the season.
“Their kicker and their punter, Bert Auburn, lost his confidence, and the punter was not good all year,” he added. “Field positioning was a problem. They weren’t great in the return game. All these things.”
Despite being ranked 112th nationally in special teams, per Hogan, Texas still managed to win big games and reach the CFP. But the flaws were glaring.
“They just were not a good [special teams unit],” Hogan said, emphasizing that such a weakness in a high-stakes postseason environment is a recipe for collapse.
The inability to flip the field or secure points through kicking often left the offense in poor situations and the defense under pressure. To address the issue, Texas has brought in reinforcements. Hogan pointed out two key additions: kicker Mason Shipley from Texas State and punter Jack Bouwmeester from Utah.
“Shipley a kicker… Bouwmeester, a legit senior punter who’s been around the block in the Division I level,” Hogan said.
Hogan warned that poor special teams’ performance could be even more costly if not corrected. With Texas stacking top-tier recruiting classes and fielding athletes across the board, Hogan said the special teams unit needs to be better.
“Your special teams, you got athletes across the board on the coverage teams… you should be seriously improved in special teams. If you’re not, something’s really wrong.”
For a program seeking a national title, Sarkisian’s path won’t just depend on solving red zone inefficiencies. If the special teams unit fails to rebound, the same “atrocious” issues from 2024 could again become the Longhorns’ undoing.
