Breaking down Steve Sarkisian's offense ahead of Texas at Tennessee
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Steve Sarkisian is in his sixth season, and third in the SEC, as Texas' head coach.
He will return to Tennessee on Saturday for the first time since 2020 when he served as Alabama's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
No. 13 Tennessee (3-0) will host No. 1 Texas (3-0) at Neyland Stadium in a SEC opener for both schools (noon EDT, ABC). Rankings reflect the US LBM Coaches Poll.
Entering Week 4, senior quarterback Arch Manning has completed 60-of-97 passing attempts for 664 yards, seven touchdowns and two interceptions for the Longhorns. The 6-foot-4, 222-pound signal-caller has also recorded 80 rushing yards on 20 attempts.
Senior running back Hollywood Smothers leads Texas in rushing yards (198) and rushing touchdowns (two). Fifth-year running back Raleek Brown has also recorded 129 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.
Four wide receivers have totaled 100-plus yards through three games: junior Cam Coleman (178), junior Ryan Wingo (165) and junior Emmett Mosley V (130). Coleman leads the Longhorns with four touchdown receptions, while Wingo has recorded two receiving touchdowns. Smothers also scored on one receiving touchdown, along with eight receptions for 57 yards.
Emaree Winston is Texas' leading tight end for receptions (five) and receiving yards (64).
Sarkisian’s offense showcases physicality and toughness with the ability to run the football. He is accustomed to having a 1,000-yard running back in a season.
Since his first season as Texas' head coach in 2021, the Longhorns have produced a 1,000-yard running back each season except in 2025. Bijan Robinson totaled 1,127 yards in 2021 and 1,580 yards in 2022, while Jonathon Brooks recorded 1,139 yards in 2023 and Quintrevion Wisner had 1,064 yards in 2024.
Sarkisian's offenses have also produced an 800-plus yard wide receiver in four seasons at Texas. Xavier Worthy recorded 981 yards in 2021 and 1,014 in 2023, while Matthew Golden totaled 987 yards in 2024 and Ryan Wingo had 834 yards in 2025.
His offense is detailed below.
RPOs and slants
An inside zone, man-scheme on the backside that can read the Z-wide receiver. If the strong safety plays down, then an out-pass can be thrown to the Z-receiver.
This can open up two-safety looks to be able to run the football.
Slants are a timed inside break. On some tags, wide receivers can choose their break based on a defender.
Slants within RPOs are opportunity throws, allowing for what is deemed as a free completion. Tight ends are also used to create matchups to throw to within RPOs. A quarterback reading a defender is important for who may be tagged.
Perimeter screens
Perimeter screens are highlighted in a quick-game offense.
Perimeter screens can allow for big-play opportunities against man coverage. A wide receiver in motion can become an extra blocker with two wide receivers already on one side. A receiver that catches a screen then has two blockers 2-5 yards in front of him. This can also open up for a one-on-one slant to the slot, or two slants against man coverage on the field side.
Double move, sluggo, out-and-up
Double moves occur when a wide receiver sells one break and breaks again, having a defender play for the first break.
A sluggo is a double move with a slant-and-go from a wide receiver, having a defender break on the inside.
An out-and-up double move is when a wide receiver goes toward the sideline and then goes vertical, in an attempt for a cornerback to play a short out.
Attacking tight box coverage
When linebackers crowd the box for run fits, 3×1 hitches can occur, along with shotgun play-action to the X-receiver in 10-personnel. If the quarterback cannot make a proper read on a tagged defender, then he can hand the ball off to the running back.
Within the red zone, an inside fade route can occur. Pro-style sets in 12-personnel, throwing a fade into the end zone against press coverage and maintaining pro-style principles can be on display.
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Breaking down Steve Sarkisian's offense ahead of Texas at Tennessee
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