Texas Football: 5 realistic goals for the Longhorns to attain in 2018

When it comes down to it, what should the most realistic goals for the Texas football program be to focus on for the upcoming season?

With most of the mystery for the 2018 campaign during the off-season wrapped up with fall camp in the books, Texas football officially has the focus on Week 1 in practice now. We’re now just days away from the start of the regular season that will take place at FedEx Field in Landover, MD, on Sep. 1. The Maryland Terrapins will be waiting for the Longhorns for the initial test of the 2018 campaign.

Texas will need to get off the on the right foot this fall, compared to the letdown that happened against the Terps at home last year. Last season’s opener with Maryland started off nicely with the interception from former standout safety DeShon Elliott to start the game, and didn’t really go the way of the Horns from then on out.

This season features more skeptical expectations for the Horns given the letdowns in recent years. Texas does have the experience and talent laden across the board to make a successful run in 2018. We’ll need to see that proven on the field before that can be reflected both in the rankings and the beliefs of college football fans.

Two early season tests against Maryland and the USC Trojans will be a good gauge as to where the Horns are at in the second year under head Texas football coach Tom Herman. Those will be key matchups before a long conference slate comes about starting in Week 4 against the TCU Horned Frogs.

Here’s a look at five attainable goals for the Texas Longhorns for the 2018 season.