(This story was updated to correct a misspelling/typo.)

The Texas football team is one of 19 squads across the FBS that has started the 2024 season unbeaten, but not every perfect start is created equal. Taking a look under the hood at the statistics fueling the success can often provide more insight than a win-loss record is capable of purveying.

So, are these Longhorns (5-0, 1-0 SEC) legit? Here's a look at five stats that tell the story of their season so far.

Texas is No. 2 in the nation when it comes to big plays

Coaches around the country tout turnovers and explosive plays among the two biggest factors in deciding the outcome of a game, and the Longhorns have exhibited particular dominance in the explosive play category.

Texas has ripped off 36 plays of 20 or more yards so far while allowing just nine such plays on defense. That puts the Longhorns at plus-27 for the season, which ranks second-best in the country behind only Miami.

"That was something we talked a lot about this offseason," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Monday. "How do we become a more explosive offense to create those yards and chunks? That has shown up."

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Texas is averaging 5 yards per rush

Sarkisian said this week that he wants more from his running game, adding that he has challenged his wide receivers to devote more effort to their run-blocking.

"Our longest run (against Mississippi State) was by Tre Wisner down our sideline," Sarkisian said. "And if you go back and watch that play, you see the effort from DeAndre Moore. On that play, he went and blocked the safety. Once the ball spit out, he turns and runs and then he goes and blocks the corner, and it springs Tre for a long run."

Texas' running game, Sarkisian thinks, is nearing a breakout — especially if he can get his wideouts to buy in.

But, considering the Longhorns lost the top two running backs on their depth chart to season-ending injuries before they took a snap, Texas' production in the running game is worth highlighting.

The Longhorns are averaging exactly 5 yards per carry — the same average they posted last season on their way to a College Football Playoff appearance.

The Longhorns have scored a TD on 88.88% of their red zone trips

Texas' red zone offense wasn't just bad last season. It was atrocious.

The Longhorns scored touchdowns on just 50.8% of their red zone entries, which ranked 120th out of 133 FBS teams.

This season, Texas has found the end zone on 24 of its 27 red zone entries. Throughout college football, only Navy and Ohio State have been more efficient.

The Longhorns have also played excellent red zone defense. Texas has allowed just one touchdown on six red zone entries, which is the best mark in the country.

Colin Simmons' four sacks helping to carry Texas' pass rush

Colin Simmons, the Longhorns' edge-rushing five-star freshman phenom, has not yet started a game.

He's got four sacks anyway, which would have put him 1½ sacks behind Ethan Burke for the team lead last season.

After a six-sack performance against Mississippi State, Texas is averaging 2.6 per game. That's better than last year's mark of 2.29, which the Longhorns achieved with two top-40 picks in the most recent NFL draft lining up at defensive tackle.

Just a week ago, we were talking about the Texas pass rush as a problem, so it's worth applying some healthy skepticism here. But it's still a notable nugget considering the Longhorns' pass blitz percentages are way down from last season.

A pass rush that impacts the quarterback without requiring extra manpower is a recipe for defensive success.

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90 different Longhorns have seen action on offense or defense

Texas' average margin of vicory through five games is a whopping 38 points, which has provided plenty of opprtunities for Sarkisian to send out his reserve players for developmental snaps. Texas has played 90 different players so far on offense or defense. Of that group, 72 have seen at least 10 snaps, giving Texas some valuable tape to work with as it looks to mold younger players for the future.

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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 5 Texas football stats tell story of Longhorns' season so far