Texas got absolutely reemed by Arkansas. If anything, the 41-20 final score flatters the Longhorns. They were manhandled by the Razorbacks from start to finish. And let’s not pretend Jerry Jones’ alma mater is good. They may be scrappy and physical, but this is one of the worst teams in the SEC.
And after watching what just happened, you can’t help but think that Texas and Oklahoma face an irrelevant existence in the SEC. No amount of money will change that despite what the leaders at both schools claim.
Nebraska. Missouri. Texas A&M.
Longhorn and Sooner fans believe they are inherently better than that trio. Meanwhile, I think I’m just as sexy as most Hollywood hunks. Both sentiments are wildly misguided.
Anyway, let’s get back to the trio of schools that left the Big XII for greener pastures. Texas A&M enjoy the most success having gone on to become a good SEC school. They are probably on the same level as Florida but still behind Alabama, Georgia and LSU. Although that 2019 LSU National Championship is looking more and more like a one-off occurrence.
Nebraska is the worst out of those three programs. They were unhappy being a middle of the road team in the Big 10 and are now in a spiral of disarray that sees them flailing desperately to stay above Rutgers. The Cornhuskers thought they could throw extra money at their problems but doing so has only contrived to create more issues.
A quick note on Colorado who moved from the Big XII to the Pac-12. The Buffaloes’ trajectory hasn’t really changed since making the switch. You can make a strong case that the Longhorns and Sooners would have been better served linking up with the west coast schools.
Instead, Texas and Oklahoma are heading for what looks to be an irrelevant existence in the SEC.
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The case for Texas and Oklahoma having an irrelevant existence in the SEC
Oklahoma
Ceiling: Texas A&M
Floor: Missouri
Oklahoma is better placed for success in the SEC, but they probably won’t be in a conference championship game any time soon. The Sooners will most likely be in that 9- to 11-win range Texas A&M has found themselves in.
Now if Lincoln Riley leaves and isn’t successfully replaced, the yearly floor sinks. Anything between 6-6 to 10-2 would become realistic possibilities.
As we have seen time and again, Oklahoma can’t hang with the Alabama’s and LSU’s of the world. Sure, switching conferences may allow them to pay assistant coaches a little more and perhaps get a few more PS5s for the player’s lounge. But the risk is swapping a good chance at being a top-5 program each year to hanging around the top 20 most seasons.
Related: What’s Gaylord Family – Oklahoma Memorial Stadium stadium like?
Texas
Ceiling: Missouri
Floor: Nebraska
As Texas learned during its humbling at the hands of Arkansas, it’s staring into the abyss of irrelevance with Vanderbilt and, maybe, South Carolina being the only schools preventing them from falling into the SEC cellar.
Money is not the Longhorns’ issue. Neither is exposure. The problem with Texas is that they can’t stop stepping on their own dick. How do they not end up as a carbon copy of Tennessee?
The powers that be in Austin think their brand is strong enough to win games. This is a fantasy. Texas doesn’t have the mental fortitude or understanding of their lot in life schools like Kentucky and Arkansas possess. Those programs hold a clear identity and are happy winning seven or eight games in a season.
That being said, the Longhorns will fit in nicely with the aforementioned Tennessee and Auburn as schools who believe their reputation and history is reason alone for future success.
You don’t know what you got until it’s gone
Texas and Oklahoma face an irrelevant existence in the SEC. The Big XII is far from perfect, but it’s a much better home for these two programs. They will realize that but only once it is too late.
The real loser here is the fans as big schools and notable matchups are taken away from us so Mississippi State can afford Mike Leach’s eventual buyout. Instead of epic showdowns, like that Baylor/Oklahoma contest in 2019, we’ll be stuck with a 6-3 Oklahoma team at Auburn to take on a 5-4 Tigers’ side on the SEC Network Alternate.
Cinderella sang, “You don’t know what you got until it’s gone.” Well, we know what we have now and it’s better than what we are going to be getting. Yet, we are powerless to stop it. College football screws fans once more.
But hey, I wish Texas and Oklahoma all the best during their irrelevant existence in the SEC.
