For the first time since 1998, Texas will begin the season without a number next to its name.

The Longhorns are unranked in the Amway Coaches Poll, which was released Thursday. It’s not surprising given that the team finished 6-7 in 2014, capping Charlie Strong’s first year as head coach with a 31-7 loss to Arkansas in the Texas Bowl.

Texas had its worst season in recent history in 2010 when it followed a national championship loss to Alabama with a 5-7 record. The program hasn’t been the same since, going 36-28 the last four years without a single 10-win season. Still it always found a way into the preseason poll in that span, averaging a 19.5 ranking.

Not this year. Texas only received eight points, putting them at No. 38 outside the poll.

This season is an opportunity for Strong to put the program on steady ground and give it a new identity. But in order for this to happen, there’s a checklist of improvements. For starters, there’s not a true answer at quarterback yet. Tyrone Swoopes had the second-worst passer rating in the Big 12 last year (116.46) and it’s unclear whether he, redshirt freshman Jerrod Heard or true freshman Kai Locksley will end up being the guy.

It must be someone who can be more productive and move the offense downfield. Texas was outscored 79-17 in its final two games last season and needs to be more explosive and find playmakers like running back Johnathan Gray and wide receiver Daje Johnson. It also gave up 28 sacks for 221 yards, so building an offensive line that knows how to protect a quarterback is paramount.

Whoever wins the quarterback job will get No. 11 Notre Dame in South Bend for their first game on Sept. 5. A few weeks later, back-to-back away games against No. 2 TCU and against 19th-ranked Oklahoma in Dallas await. The Longhorns finish the season in Waco with No. 4 Baylor, a team that’s beaten them four of the last five years, and two in a row.

There’s rebuilding and teaching to be done defensively after the Big 12’s second-best defense lost six starters. Younger players like linebacker Malik Jefferson and cornerback Kris Boyd will have to assume large roles, which is fine with Strong because he isn’t afraid to start freshmen.

Texas won its last national championship in 2005 and Big 12 title in ’09, but has only beat four Top 25 regular season opponents in the last five years.

Fix these issues and the Longhorns could find themselves where they’re not now — in the Top 25.