The Oklahoma Sooners and the Texas Longhorns are both officially joining the [autotag]Southeastern Conference[/autotag] in on July 1. Both football programs are looking to make a great first impression in the SEC, but who will be able to put their best foot forward?
Well, according to one ESPN college football analyst, the Longhorns will have the better season.
Paul Finebaum made an appearance on “McElroy and Cubelic in the Morning” and said that Texas would be better than Oklahoma in 2024.
Here’s what Finebaum told Greg McElroy and Cole Cubelic when asked who would win more in year one in the SEC:
“Texas. They’re better prepared for it, and I think their roster is probably inherently better. I’ll defer to you guys, but I think it’s pretty obvious [with] what they have across the board. I think there’s some unknowns at Oklahoma,” Finebaum said. “The schedules could be the equalizer because Texas’ schedule is challenging. Oklahoma’s is tricky.”
Finebaum’s opinion isn’t an unpopular one. Most analysts nationally have Texas a step or two ahead of Oklahoma heading into the SEC. After all, Texas won the [autotag]Big 12[/autotag] and went to the [autotag]College Football Playoff[/autotag] last year. OU had to settle for a trip to the [autotag]Alamo Bowl[/autotag], even after beating Texas in the [autotag]Red River Shootout[/autotag]. Losses to Kansas and Oklahoma State took the Sooners out of the College Football Playoff and the conference title game races.
[autotag]Steve Sarkisian[/autotag] has also been at Texas one year longer than [autotag]Brent Venables[/autotag] has been at Oklahoma. Sark has had more time to build his roster.
On the other hand, Texas’ 2023 season was the first true sign of life in a half-decade for the Longhorns. It was also the first time they were truly contenders since 2009.
Oklahoma, meanwhile, continued to run the Big 12 while UT floundered. This was before a coaching change in Norman shifted the momentum of the conference. Now, the Sooners are trying to build back better than before. However, none of Texas’ perceived advantages mattered last year in OU’s 34-30 instant classic of a win in the Cotton Bowl.
Both teams lost talent and production from 2023. Both coaching staffs have done well to replenish their depth charts in recruiting and the transfer portal.
October 12 will be a huge day for both programs, the SEC, and for the landscape of college football. But looking even further, the entire 2024 season will do a lot to shape the national perception of OU and Texas as they embark on their respective journeys in a new conference.
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