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. 33: SMU C Justin Osborne

The history: Osborne, a Flower Mound Marcus alum, is one of many DFW area TXHSFB stars now leading SMU's quest to become Dallas's team. He spent a sole season at Auburn, then developed into a star offensive lineman on the Hilltop over four seasons. Osborne started 11 games between right tackle and right guard last season and earned both First Team All-AAC and Dave Campbell's Texas Football First Team All-Texas honors.

The skillset: SMU picked Osborne to slide from tackle to center for the departing Branson Hickman because it's Osborne's best chance at an NFL career. The Mustangs brought in Power Four transfers such as Oklahoma tackle Savion Byrd and Arkansas's Andrew Chamblee, who have more length to play tackle. Aside from physical tools, Osborne is at center because of the position's leadership requirements. 

The impact: Osborne, along with left guard Logan Parr, are the proven veteran leaders who'll determine how SMU's offensive line holds up in a jump to the ACC. SMU's offense was electric against Group of Five competition (43.1 points per game), but pedestrian in three P5 games (14 ppg). The transition to center will be a mental lift as much as a physical one, as Osborne needs to help identify defensive fronts while learning the intricacies of a new position.