Despite Talent and Depth, Texas Longhorns’ 2025 Playoff Dreams Could Be Derailed by One Unsettling Concern on Offense
The Texas Longhorns are riding high heading into the 2025 college football season. With a deep roster, elite quarterback play, and one of the most powerful recruiting classes in the country, the program looks poised to finally live up to its long-awaited championship aspirations. They’ve made strides under head coach Steve Sarkisian and are fresh off a College Football Playoff appearance that gave fans a glimpse of the program’s immense potential. However, no matter how bright the future looks on paper, one nagging concern continues to cast a shadow over the team’s title hopes: the offensive line.
In an era where offensive success starts in the trenches, Texas’ offensive line remains its most vulnerable unit. It’s not that the Longhorns don’t have talent—they certainly do—but a combination of youth, inconsistency, and unproven depth at key positions make the line the biggest question mark heading into 2025.
Sarkisian’s offensive system thrives on rhythm and tempo, requiring precise timing from both the quarterback and the offensive line. Any breakdowns in protection or inability to generate push in the run game throw off the entire offensive flow. Last season, Texas had moments of dominance up front, but those were offset by stretches of underperformance—especially in high-pressure situations.
One of the biggest issues stems from turnover. Three key starters from last year’s line are now gone, either to the NFL or graduation. Kelvin Banks Jr., the All-American left tackle, is the cornerstone of the unit and a potential first-round pick, but he can’t do it alone. The interior of the line is undergoing a major reshuffle, and the right side remains unproven, with questions about who can step up and bring consistency to the unit.
The Longhorns have done well recruiting top offensive line prospects in recent years, including five-star players like DJ Campbell and Neto Umeozulu. But high school rankings don’t always translate into college dominance—especially not immediately. There’s a learning curve, and when you’re aiming for a national championship, there’s little room for growing pains.
Adding to the complexity is the schedule. Texas isn’t easing into the season with a soft opening. The early slate includes matchups against SEC defensive juggernauts that boast some of the most talented and aggressive front sevens in the country. Alabama, LSU, and Georgia are just a few of the programs that will look to exploit any weaknesses up front. If the offensive line can’t protect quarterback Arch Manning—or whoever ends up leading the offense—it could be a long and painful start to the year.
Another issue is depth. Injuries are inevitable in college football, and depth is what separates contenders from pretenders. Texas has talent in the two-deep, but most of the backups are either redshirt freshmen or players still finding their footing. That’s a risky position to be in when going up against elite defenses every week. If a starter goes down, the drop-off could be significant enough to alter the course of a season.
Inconsistency was another theme last season. Even in games where Texas pulled off big wins, the offensive line struggled with penalties, blown assignments, and communication issues. That’s a chemistry issue as much as it is a talent issue. Offensive lines take time to gel, and the cohesion needed to perform at a high level isn’t guaranteed. Returning offensive line coach Kyle Flood has a big job ahead of him—not just teaching technique, but creating unity among a group that has yet to truly play together under pressure.
The Longhorns’ high-powered offense, with weapons like Xavier Worthy, Johntay Cook II, and running backs Jaydon Blue and Tre Wisner, needs time and space to operate. The skill players are championship-caliber, but without a stable front to protect them, the unit’s explosiveness will be muted. It’s the age-old truth in football: you can’t make plays if you can’t block.
The quarterback situation also adds another layer of pressure. While Arch Manning has all the tools to be a star, he’s still relatively untested in big-game environments. If he’s forced to constantly scramble, evade pressure, or throw under duress, the offense may never reach its full potential. A shaky offensive line puts him in danger—not just of mistakes, but of injury.
Sarkisian’s offense isn’t built to function with a porous line. It’s predicated on timing, spacing, and the ability to stretch the field both vertically and horizontally. That only works when the quarterback has time to operate and the running backs have lanes to run through. If the offensive line struggles, everything collapses—from the game plan to the scoreboard.
There’s also the psychological impact to consider. Teams that know they have a weak offensive line often play differently. They become hesitant, conservative, and easier to predict. Sarkisian is known for aggressive play-calling, but even the best-designed plays fail without protection. If the coaching staff loses confidence in the line, it could change the entire identity of the team.
Recruiting, as always, offers long-term solutions, and Texas continues to do well there. But winning in the SEC—especially when aiming for the College Football Playoff—requires dominance now, not in two years. Development matters, but the pressure is immediate. The fans want results this season. The administration expects them. The roster is built for them. But if the offensive line can’t hold up, it could all come crashing down.
It’s worth noting that Flood is regarded as one of the better offensive line coaches in the country. He’s developed NFL talent before, and he’s tasked with doing it again. The challenge will be turning potential into performance—quickly. There’s no margin for error when facing the gauntlet of SEC defenses, and no patience for excuses from a fan base hungry for a national title.
In spring practices, the reports were mixed. There were flashes of dominance—especially from Banks and a few rising stars—but there were also moments where the defensive line overwhelmed the offense. That’s not necessarily a bad sign, considering the talent Texas has on defense, but it doesn’t inspire confidence either. Until the unit proves itself in a live-game environment, the concern will remain.
The coaching staff has emphasized competition throughout the offseason, hoping to find the right combination of players that can give the offense stability. But if the right group hasn’t emerged by Week 1, Texas could be forced to shuffle linemen on the fly—a dangerous game when stakes are high.
To be clear, Texas isn’t doomed. The program is stacked with talent and driven by a coaching staff that knows how to win. The Longhorns could absolutely win the SEC and make another playoff run. But that scenario depends heavily on whether the offensive line becomes a strength rather than a liability.
That unit doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs to be solid, dependable, and cohesive. If they can give Manning time, open up running lanes, and stay disciplined with penalties, then Texas could very well be playing in the national championship game come January.
But until then, the offensive line remains the Achilles’ heel of a team otherwise loaded for a title run. It’s the one area where hope and hype haven’t yet been matched by performance. And in a conference where every weakness is exploited, that’s a dangerous place to be.
For the Longhorns to finally reclaim their place among college football’s elite, the offensive line must rise to the occasion. Because no matter how many five-stars are on the roster, no matter how electric the skill players look, none of it matters if the foundation isn’t solid. The fate of the 2025 Texas Longhorns rests on the shoulders of their most questioned—and most important—unit.
