The SEC announced this week that it would continue to play an eight-game conference schedule in 2024. That’s not great news for the Lone Star Showdown as an annual rivalry.
Under the eight-game format, the league is expected to feature one protected rival while facing the rest of the SEC every other year. That means Texas would have to choose between Oklahoma and Texas A&M as its featured rival.
It’s clear which rivalry would win out in that battle. Red River is certainly the more important rivalry, so Texas vs A&M would likely be relegated to an every-other-year scheduled matchup. The Aggies have also developed a strong border rivalry with the LSU Tigers over the past few seasons.
It’s possible the teams could still play annually. If the conference were to allow it, Texas could schedule A&M as an out-of-conference game. Unfortunately, that would put the teams at a disadvantage with the rest of the league likely scheduling a late season tune-up game in that place.
We expect to know more about who Texas will play in its first season in the league on June 14. After SEC commissioner Greg Sankey hinted at a schedule reveal, Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman reported that the 2024 scheduled opponents will be announced without specific dates on the SEC Network. Texas will face its last Big 12 schedule in 2023.
Each SEC school’s football opponents for 2024 season will be announced on June 14 on the SEC Network but not specific dates.
— Kirk Bohls (@kbohls) June 1, 2023