New year, new me. No matter how these teams fared in 2024, there's always room for improvement.

Here is one NYE resolution for each Texas team in 2025.

Baylor – Find Balance for Dave Aranda 

Hidden inside Baylor's turnaround eight-win season was one stressed-out Dave Aranda. A college head coach already has a worse work-life balance than a President, but Aranda added defensive playcalling to his docket to save his job last offseason. He compared juggling both tasks to having a phone with many unread messages. Broadcasters mentioned him drinking six to seven cups of coffee daily and getting three hours of sleep.

And for all that effort, Baylor's offense was the unit that showed stark improvement. Aranda's side of the ball ranked in the double digits in the Big 12 Conference in scoring and total defense. Here's to Aranda finding more balance - and better results - in his second year of calling plays.

Houston – Help Conner Weigman Help You

Former five-star Conner Weigman transferring after losing the starting job at Texas A&M to reinvigorate the nation's second-to-last ranked scoring offense could provide mutual healing for both parties.

Weigman showed flashes of NFL-caliber play through three seasons in College Station that were hampered by injury, but was far too inconsistent when healthy in 2024. His PFF ranking was the lowest of all SEC QBs. Houston head coach Willie Fritz cut bait with first-year offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay after ranking last in the Big 12 in scoring, total and passing offense. New OC Slade Nagle spent eight seasons at Tulane and helped mentor former AAC Offensive Player of the Year Michael Pratt.

North Texas – Stop the Run (For Real This Time)

Who among us hasn't had to try a NYE resolution again after we petered out midway through the year? North Texas head coach Eric Morris sat in on every defensive meeting in spring football after that side of the ball ranked dead last in the NCAA in rushing yards allowed per game in his inaugural season. Defensive coordinator Matt Caponi's unit didn't improve enough in 2024, resulting in his firing after a late-season loss to UTSA. 

Morris hopes new defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity can build up a Mean Green defense that hasn't been so mean. Cassity coached Sam Houston to Conference USA's top total defense rank in one season.

Rice – Get Scott Abell a Texas-shaped belt buckle and cowboy boots

New Rice head coach Scott Abell has never coached in Texas, but he's received a crash course in the Lone Star State's football culture. On one December afternoon, Abell met with the Texas High School Coaches Association, went to Buc-ee's, and promoted legendary North Shore High School coach Jon Kay to defensive coordinator. Abell's staff also offered Smithson Valley athlete Cade Spradling, a quarterback/linebacker hybrid who became a TXHSFB folk hero after leading his team to a state championship.

Sam Houston – Avoid a second-half offensive slump

Like most NYE resolutions, Sam Houston's offense started strong and petered out midway through the year. 

After averaging over 30 points per game through the first half of the season, the Bearkats managed just 14.5 in the thick of Conference USA play, winning the two lowest-scoring games in the FBS in back-to-back weeks against Florida International and Louisiana Tech.

New head coach Phil Longo was Sam Houston's offensive coordinator from 2014-16, when the Bearkats won the Southland Conference twice. He coached quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe to the Walter Payton Award in 2016, the FCS's version of the Heisman Trophy. Longo hopes for similar success in his second go-round with the program.

SMU – Host a Playoff Game 

Hosting a First Round Playoff Game (or earning a bye) by winning a conference championship would solve two problems for SMU: no need to worry about the Committee leaving them out for an SEC/Big Ten team with a worse record, and no need to worry about the airport not having enough space for their fans' private jets.

SMU and Indiana's inclusion over Alabama ignited serious online debate on everyone's favorite topics - strength of schedule and the difference between the 'best' and 'most-deserving' teams. SMU and Indiana's first-round blowouts didn't help their side of the argument that the Committee should bet on teams like them next year. If SMU wins the conference championship, the decision will be taken out of their hands.

Texas A&M – Learn how to play zone coverage

Mike Elko said after Texas A&M's Las Vegas Bowl loss - it's fourth in the final five games - that he had apprehension all season whenever the opposing team dropped back to pass because his defense had no concept of how to play zone coverage. Elko's fury, combined with his history as a defensive coach, signals a long but necessary offseason ahead for the Aggies' defensive backs.

Texas – Take a special teams group retreat

Life is good on every inch of the Forty Acres, except for the Longhorns' special teams room. Three-year starter Bert Auburn continued a rocky season with two missed go-ahead field goal opportunities in the Peach Bowl after converting on over 80 percent in his first two seasons. Texas also ranks third-worst in net punting average among all FBS teams. 

Texas added former Utah punter Jack Bouwmeester via the Portal. The two-time all-conference selection will compete with freshman Michael Kern. Auburn announced his return for 2025 to build upon his program record for career field goals made.

Texas State – Be in SBC Championship Contention in mid-November

Texas State in 2024 reminds me of Texas Tech in 2023: preseason conference championship hype under a second-year head coach that was a year or two too early, but still a successful year for building a program. Texas State started strong in each of GJ Kinne's first two seasons, but fell out of Sun Belt Championship contention by mid-November. While winning the SBC should be the goal, being in the conversation down the stretch is a necessity.

Texas Tech – Write donor Cody Campbell a Thank-You Note

In the wake of a disappointing 41-27 loss to Colorado, a Texas Tech fan fired a Tweet to the program's NIL collective co-founder, Cody Campbell, asking Campbell to buy them a new offensive line. Campbell's response, "I Will," has since been made into a T-Shirt after his promise came to fruition. Campbell and The Matador Club gave head coach Joey McGuire the financial backing to sign the nation's No.2-ranked Transfer Portal class.

TCU – Make sure a running back is your go-to running back

TCU didn't have a player finish with over 100 rushing yards in a single game this season. Wide receiver Savion Williams put on the proverbial Superman cape midway through the year and became the de facto running back, taking direct snaps in the backfield, pacing the Horned Frogs in rushing in four of the final six conference games. 

Quarterback Josh Hoover's 3,949 passing yards set a program record, but he also had 11 interceptions, forcing the action because the offense had little balance. TCU added former UTSA running back Kevorian Barnes via the Portal and got promising play from true freshman Jeremy Payne this past year.  

UTEP – Go .500

Scotty Walden's won everywhere off the field in his UTEP tenure, but his inaugural season ended 3-9. However, this rebuild was always going to take time, and Walden's back-to-back top-ranked recruiting classes in Conference USA signal movement in the right direction. Winning half of its 2025 regular season games would be a positive step for his tenure. UTEP has only finished with a winning record twice since 2005.

UTSA – Switch up the road game playlist

UTSA improbably made a bowl game by going 6-0 in the Alamodome and 0-6 on the road in the regular season. While the Myrtle Beach Bowl victory was a de facto road game to secure Jeff Traylor's 20th winning season in 20 years as a head coach, the Roadrunners need different juju on the road next year.