The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners announced their move to the SEC nearly three years ago, yet even with the move becoming official on July 1st, it’s still hard to believe it’s real.
When the move was announced, many people believed the Sooners would have a seamless transition while the Longhorns would struggle, but the perception has flipped.
Brent Venables and the Sooners are coming off of a 10-3 season but will play arguably the hardest schedule in the country this year. It certainly does not help that Heisman Trophy candidate QB Dillon Gabriel transferred to the Oregon Ducks. All the while new starting quarterback Jackson Arnold struggled mightily in the lone game he started last year with three interceptions against Arizona.
Texas on the other hand is firing on all cylinders as they are coming off of a Big 12 title and CFP berth. QB Quinn Ewers will be back on the Forty Acres for his third year as a starter and many NFL draft experts project him to be a future first-round pick. Additionally, the Longhorns landed one of the best players in the country via the transfer portal this offseason in former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Isaiah Bond.
However, the biggest thing Texas has working for them is that head coach Steve Sarkisian is quickly proving himself to be one of the best coaches in the country. After a losing season in year one, Sarkisian has gone 20-7 over the following two years with the Longhorns widely regarded as a pre-season top-five team this year.
As we head into the first season of the 16-team SEC, CBS Sports ranks the top ten coaches in the conference with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian coming in at No. 3 on the list (No. 5 in all of college football) saying,
“Texas looks like it’s ready to hit the ground running upon joining the SEC. The Longhorns have steadily grown each year under Sarkisian, and it all culminated in a Big 12 title and College Football Playoff appearance in 2023. With quarterback Quinn Ewers back to lead the charge and an impressive transfer haul filling the gaps on a roster already laden with tremendous talent, the Longhorns have national title upside entering the 2024 season. A spot in Atlanta for the SEC Championship Game is the expectation, at the very least.”