College football 2018: Biggest Achilles’ heel for every Top 25 team

22. Texas

Achilles’ heel: Losses on defense

It’s pretty much an annual tradition at this point for the Texas Longhorns to enter the college football season ranked only to struggle right out of the gate and everyone immediately panic and/or cool off about the team. That’s the label that Tom Herman is trying to shed right now and to actually bring the burnt orange back into the national conversation. And he certainly has an offense capable of doing just that this season.

Whether he goes with Sam Ehlinger or Shane Buechele at quarterback to start the season is ultimately not all that important (though he should opt for the former). Both have proven to be able to run this offense and have success doing so, even if they are vastly different players that offer distinct skill-sets to the position. What’s more, whoever is playing quarterback is flanked by a talented corps of wide receivers headlined by the likes of John Burt.

For the Longhorns to truly get “back” this season though, Herman is going to have to milk a great deal out his defense. That side of the ball has long been an issue, but making the 2018 unit successful is a tall task considering the key losses that they suffered from the 2017 team. Gone are Malik Jefferson, DeShon Elliott, Holton Hill and several other leaders and key contributors.

Though Herman has done a fantastic job recruiting in Austin, that still brings the issue of inexperience that this team must contend with. And contend with it they must if Texas wants to, well, contend.