Steve Sarkisian had one key piece of comments for athletic director Chris Del Conte when he studied his possible roster day interviewing for the Texas training task.

“We need bigger humans in our program, and we need more of them,” he recalled at Heavy 12 media pace in 2022. “The numbers weren’t the way I would’ve liked it and the body structure… there’s just a lot to it.”

Sarkisian’s first moment perceived to endure that out. The Longhorns completed 5-7, and he mentioned more than one instances there had to be a bundle of pristine faces at the roster. And there was once a reason why: The Longhorns’ extremely touted recruiting categories in 2018 and 2019 introduced in 9 offensive linemen. However by way of Sarkisian’s first moment, 4 had been not at the roster.

Now, as Incorrect. 3 Texas sits at 5-0 for the primary pace since making the nationwide name match in 2009 heading into the yearly Purple River Contention showdown in opposition to Incorrect. 12 Oklahoma (midday ET, ABC/ESPN App), it’ll be the most important check to month of Sarkisian’s development undertaking to go back Texas to glory.

Extreme moment, Texas received the yellowish hat for the primary pace since 2018 in devastatingly dominant type, handing Oklahoma its largest shutout loss at school historical past 49-0. It was once the highest-scoring match for Texas within the 118-game line. However inconsistency plagued the Longhorns the remainder of the season, going 4-3 from after on en path to an 8-5 end.

Thus far, the ones large people are making their presence felt in Texas’ sturdy get started. On protection, 6-foot-4, 362-pound T’Vondre Sweat is a run-stopping power who’s helped the Longhorns permit simply 3.07 yards in keeping with raise, their fewest of their first 5 video games since 2010, in keeping with ESPN Stats & Data. At the alternative aspect, an offensive form that returns all 5 starters from a moment in the past averages simply over 6-4 and about 325 kilos. Texas is considered one of seven groups nationally to moderate greater than 190 dashing yards (191.8) and make allowance fewer than 95 dashing yards (94.6) in keeping with match.

Sarkisian’s offense has all the time been the famous person enchantment. It draws ability, along with his first recruiting elegance headlined by way of Ja’Tavion Sanders and Xavier Valuable, who right away changed into two of Texas’ absolute best and flashiest offensive guns. He added some power the later moment with DJ Campbell and Kelvin Banks, two of the ones offensive linemen, who had been essentially the most extremely rated recruits within the ’22 elegance, in keeping with ESPN Recruiting.

However the largest distinction on this moment’s luck over presen years has been the protection, which will likely be examined by way of a Sooners’ offense this is Incorrect. 3 nationally in scoring, averaging 47.4 issues, and Incorrect. 7 in passing at 352.4 yards in keeping with match.

The Longhorns have added large items on that aspect of the ball. In 2023, linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. was once a five-star signee who ranked at the back of most effective quarterback Arch Manning within the Texas elegance. He has already made a large have an effect on with two sacks on third-down performs in opposition to Alabama, together with at the Stream’s ultimate offensive pressure to aid Texas seal the win. Senior switch Jalen Catalon got here from Arkansas and has equipped a bodily presence at isolated protection, together with seven tackles in opposition to Alabama and a large clash on Saturday in opposition to Kansas that resulted in a fumble.

Plugging novices in along stars like Jaylan Ford, the preseason Heavy 12 defensive participant of the moment, has allowed the Longhorns the luxurious of newfound intensity to rotate closely.

“I think it’s been huge,” Sarkisian mentioned this time of the protection. “We’ve gone through first halves of games where we played upwards of 30 guys. Sometimes you don’t feel the effect of that rotation in the first half. But naturally, you look at some of these fourth quarters we’ve been having now. … I think we’re more fresh physically. We’re more fresh mentally.”

In consequence, the protection is stifling combatants. In comparison to their first 5 video games over the presen twenty years, the Longhorns are permitting the fewest yards in keeping with match since 2010, simply 290.8. They’re pressuring opposing QBs on 37% of performs, absolute best for the Longhorns since ESPN has been monitoring the stat in 2011. Opposing QBs are off beam on 18% in their passes and feature finished simply 53.5% in their passes.

Senior Jahdae Barron mentioned the gamers can believe that whoever is within the match can get the task finished.

“When we look to the left and right of each other we know that we are all brothers, and we’ve all been through so much throughout the summer, and we know that we are a family,” Barron mentioned. “We’ve built a bond on and off the field so we know how to play for one another and we just keep playing.”

It additionally has allowed the offense to hold from panicking. Extreme Saturday, the Longhorns led Kansas simply 13-7 at halftime. By means of the tip of the sport, it was once 40-14.

A moment in the past, it was once most probably both operating again Bijan Robinson or receiver Valuable will be the stars quarterback Quinn Ewers needed to incline on in key moments. On Saturday, Georgia switch Adonai Mitchell had a profession pace, catching 10 passes for 141 yards and a landing, with Valuable including seven catches for 93 yards.

Sophomore operating again Jonathon Brooks has eclipsed the 100-yard mark in 3 directly video games, together with a 218-yard, two-touchdown efficiency in opposition to Kansas. Sanders, who was once injured in opposition to the Jayhawks, must go back and already has two 100-yard receiving video games this moment as an extraordinary ability at tight finish, with 5 catches for 114 yards in opposition to Alabama.

Mitchell was once fast to mention how a lot having Valuable at the alternative aspect is helping him.

“It’s crazy how much attention he gets and how the defense just has to respect who he is,” Mitchell mentioned. However Sarkisian mentioned the presence of Mitchell is a difference-maker for Valuable, too.

“For Xavier to catch seven balls last year, it would take about 14 or 15 attempts in his direction because everybody knew we have to throw it there,” Sarkisian mentioned nearest the Kansas match. “Now all of a sudden, when you have a complimentary receiver on the other side, sooner or later people are going to start paying more attention to No. 5 [Mitchell] and with JT [Sanders] and with Jordan [Whittington] and now the running game with Jonathan the way he’s running, now we’ve got a really good variety of players that the ball can get spread around to.”

In fact, all of that is helping Ewers, who has a humiliation of riches however doesn’t must do all of it. He’s averaging 271 yards in keeping with match passing with 10 touchdowns to only one interception. Warring parties have got drive on simply 24% of dropbacks, Texas’ lowest charge since 2016.

Ewers additionally has began to believe his operating talent when all the ones offensive blackmails draw in protection, dashing for 30- and 29-yard touchdowns within the presen two video games, two of his 4 dashing ratings this moment.

“He’s figured out, ‘Man, maybe I’m a little faster than I thought.'” Sarkisian mentioned.

It’s all a part of what Ewers mentioned was once a pristine willpower this offseason to moving into higher state.

“This is where I want to be,” Ewers mentioned. “I think I took a lot of time analyzing myself last year and I want to be able to do stuff like this and I think I really worked on it this offseason. For it to start working out, it’s pretty cool.”

Sarkisian mentioned on Monday he’s getting ready for somewhat of a chess fit in opposition to Oklahoma’s Brent Venables, who he mentioned has “been doing it too long at too high of a level to think they weren’t going to get that thing fixed” nearest utmost moment’s 6-7 meltdown the place they completed 122nd in general protection, permitting 461 yards in keeping with match.

“They’ve got a lot of defense,” Sarkisian mentioned. “They’ve got a lot of coverages. They’ve got a lot of pressure packages. So, you know, it’s definitely challenging on that front. Especially when it’s all on the same accord and working well together.”

However Texas has been development for this future. Within the two titans’ ultimate season within the Heavy 12, they’re each 5-0 for most effective the 1/3 pace within the competition’s historical past.

“We know it’s going to be a great challenge,” Sarkisian mentioned. “We’re looking forward to it, looking forward to seeing our fans in Dallas for, in my opinion, the best setting in college football. This is going to be an awesome environment.”