It was the first half, of the first game. What's far more important than opening up the playbook, as if it's midway through the season, while in pursuit of the Big 12 championship game. No need to worry, yet.
The first game of the season is less about perfect execution and more about discovery. Coaches enter with a plan designed not only to compete but to evaluate.
They begin by analyzing the roster—identifying which players stand out in practice and how their skill sets can best be utilized on both offense and defense. From there, the staff builds game plans that account for a wide variety of situations: third-down conversions, red zone efficiency, two-minute drills, and overall game flow. The goal is to stress-test the team under real conditions.
In practice, this means calling plays and using formations that reveal where the team is strong and where adjustments are needed. A defense might rotate coverages to see how well cornerbacks hold up in man-to-man situations. An offense might vary tempo, mix personnel groups, or experiment with different blocking schemes to evaluate the line’s cohesion.
While winning is always an objective, the deeper purpose of the first game is diagnostic. By deploying different looks and schemes, coaches gather invaluable information about the team’s strengths and weaknesses, laying the foundation for improvements throughout the s
eason.