The 2024 college football season presents an entirely new landscape. Texas is in the SEC. SMU is back in a power conference as ACC members. The College Football Playoff now includes 12 teams and an automatic bid for the best G5 team in the land. For most, the start of the season is in Week 1 on August 30, though SMU starts in Week 0 and TCU plays its first game on Aug. 29. 

To celebrate us making it through another off-season, we’re counting down the 50 most important players in Texas as we inch closer to kickoffs. This list isn’t necessarily about which players are the best in terms of NFL draft stock. It ranks players in order of importance to their team's success. 

NO. 1: TEXAS TECH RB Tahj Brooks

The History: In another era, Tahj Brooks is a mid-to-late round NFL Draft pick fighting for a roster spot right now. With NIL, he's a fifth-year senior chasing Texas Tech history. Brooks needs 1,167 rushing yards to break the program's rushing record set by Byron Hanspard from 1994-96. He's also 196 carries shy of the career attempts record set by Texas Tech's Ricky Williams. If Brooks repeats his output from 2023 (290 carries, 1,538 yards), he'll be the best back in program history. 

The Skillset: Brooks, at 5-foot-10, 230 pounds, is a thumper who wears opponents down as the game progresses. He has excellent vision and balance, which allowed him to average 5.3 yards per carry last season. While an able receiver out of the backfield, he's more valued as a blocker on passing plays. 

The Impact: Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire will tell anyone within earshot – Brooks is going for the rushing record and will be a focal point of the Red Raiders' offense. Texas Tech is known for the Air Raid, but expect Brooks to carry the rock more than any other running back in the Big 12. Tech's wide receiver group is the strongest of the McGuire era, so Brooks shouldn't have to face too many stacked boxes.