Are Texas, Oklahoma ready for SEC? ‘Adapt or die’ moment arrives as Longhorns, Sooners make historic move

We’ve gathered at this place in history to assess perhaps the most significant migration of programs that’s ever occurred in college football. Realignment has never seen anything like this despite its long, cluttered, painful history. Beginning on Monday, it’s real and it’s spectacular: Texas and Oklahoma are not only playing up a class but playing by a different set of rules in the SEC.  

“It’s probably like one silverback gorilla now running around with a bunch of other ones,” Texas president Jay Hartzell told CBS Sports.

How this romp by apex primates turns out is one of the biggest questions entering the 2024 season and beyond. Way beyond. This isn’t just another two-step out a conference side door. What you see before you are lifetime decisions made coldly, calculating and strategically over a period of years. 

When word leaked in summer 2021 that Texas and Oklahoma were playing footsie with the SEC, it shocked the industry. As it turned out, that was just the opening act for the latest round of conference realignment that has consolidated power, brands and interest in the SEC and Big Ten.

Texas and Oklahoma were destined for the SEC. The geography, the passion, the culture, the smack talk, even the politics — when you get down to it — match. 

Now, what about the football thing?

“They both know the climate they’re jumping into,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. 

Do they? There’s something to be said for the actual grind of playing week-to-week in the Strength Everywhere Conference. The last last two additions, Missouri and Texas A&M, have combined for two SEC Championship Game appearances — both of which featured the Tigers. While Mizzou looks College Football Playoff worthy this season under the new 12-team format, Texas A&M’s…

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Author : Dennis Dodd

Publish date : 2024-07-01 17:49:08

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