The Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners announced their move to the SEC nearly three years ago, but when the move is officially announced on July 1, it’s still hard to believe it’s real.
When the move was announced, many assumed the Sooners would make a smooth transition and the Longhorns would struggle, but that perception has since been reversed.
Brent Venables and the Sooners are coming off a 10-3 season, but they’ll face one of the toughest schedules in the country this year. The departure of Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Dillon Gabriel to the Oregon Ducks certainly doesn’t help, while new starting quarterback Jackson Arnold struggled last year, throwing three interceptions in his only start against Arizona.
Meanwhile, Texas is on a roll, having just won a Big 12 title and qualified for the CFP. QB Quinn Ewers returns to the Forty Acres for his third year as a starter, and many NFL Draft experts project him as a future first-round pick. Additionally, the Longhorns acquired one of the best players in the country in former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Isaiah Bonds through the transfer portal this offseason.
But perhaps best for Texas is that head coach Steve Sarkisian is quickly proving himself to be one of the best coaches in the country. After a losing first season, Sarkisian has gone 20-7 over the past two seasons and the Texas Longhorns are widely regarded as a preseason top-five team this year.
Heading into the 16-team SEC’s inaugural season, CBS Sports ranked the top 10 coaches in the conference, with University of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian coming in at No. 3 on the list (No. 5 overall in college football).
“Texas appears poised to make a splash upon joining the SEC. The Longhorns have steadily improved each year under Coach Sarkisian, leading to a Big 12 title and a College Football Playoff appearance in 2023. With quarterback Quinn Ewers once again leading the way and some impressive transfers filling holes on a roster already loaded with talent, the Longhorns have a shot at a national title heading into the 2024 season and, at the very least, a chance to make it to the SEC Championship Game in Atlanta.”
This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire
