Much has been made of Oklahoma’s 2024 move to the SEC.
Some are projecting a rude awakening for OU and Texas upon their arrival. While there may be a transition period, the Sooners and Longhorns are going to be big additions when the move becomes official in July of 2024.
“Oh, I think it’s a great addition to the SEC,” Alabama head coach Nick Saban said during his Q&A session at SEC media days. “You have two great programs that have great traditions that have great fan support.
“I think it just continues to sort of — the map of the SEC, it is stronger than ever. I think the competition is going to be — it’s always been difficult. It’s going to be even more challenging because you’ve got two really, really good programs who have consistently, if you look at the past, have been, you know, Top-10 programs for a lot of years, won national championships. So they are going to add a lot to the competition.”
Nick Saban on Oklahoma and Texas joining the SEC in 2024 pic.twitter.com/S2RxrsYl8f
— Cayden McFarland (@caydenmc) July 19, 2023
Oklahoma and Texas will be in the tier below Alabama and Georgia when it comes to contending for the SEC title. But the Sooners and the Longhorns will be part of a strong second tier of teams that could push the SEC’s dominant powers.
The Sooners will welcome the Crimson Tide to Norman for the first time since a 37-27 Oklahoma win in 2002. Bob Stoops and Dennis Franchione were the head coaches, and the teams were quarterbacked by Nate Hybl and Tyler Watts.
The two sides have come a long way since. Alabama experienced a run unlike any seen in modern college football with six national championships since 2009. Oklahoma’s still looking for its eighth national title; it last earned one in 2000.
By moving to the SEC, the Sooners’ leadership believes this will enhance what they’re able to do on the recruiting trail to help them keep pace with Alabama and Georgia.
Additionally, the move to the SEC brings titanic matchups on a week-to-week basis. Adding Oklahoma and Texas improves what was already the best conference in the country.
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