Our attention is drawn to a notable aspect: 25 days into October, and Texas, despite being an influential college football team, has not yet competed in an authentic SEC road game. As we reach the eight-week mark of the season, Texas, an elite player in college sports and a key addition in the latest conference expansion, will encounter its authentic SEC road game, finally. Surprisingly, this will be against Vanderbilt, a team usually considered an SEC minnow. Let me take the liberty of revealing my disbelief by holding up an oversized conspiracy banner, giving it a vigorous shake, and firmly rooting it in our collegiate football terrain.
A serving SEC athletic director unveiled that a substantial number of conference athletic directors view this scheduling for Texas with a lens of disapproval due to its pretense. The hidden inference being – it seems as though the Longhorns are already steering the league. Thus, the waters appear to be stirring. The initiation of ‘We’re Texas, And You’re Not in the SEC’ ideology has only been four months, and while it’s too early to voice any regrets, everything isn’t as delightful as it appears.
Greg Sankey, the SEC commissioner, handed Texas a petty fine ($250,000) and mandated the institution to employ all feasible resources to identify and sideline any fans who littered the field from future attendance. Furthermore, the SEC warned Texas that further infractions might lead to adjustments in its authorization to serve alcohol at games.
The SEC operates on the principle of unity, where everyone shares an equal part in the multi-billion media rights and face similar consequences for comparable misdemeanors. However, just as George Orwell essentially stated in Animal Farm, ‘All teams are equal, but some teams appear to be more equal than others.’ In that spirit, it’s time we delve back into the controversial scheduling issue, which subtly hints favoritism towards Texas in its inaugural venture in the big league.
The conference’s athletic directors aren’t the only ones frowning upon this accommodating journey to the SEC championship game; the coaches from the league express equal discontent. Before going against formidable contender Georgia, the Longhorns faced a much overestimated Michigan squad, played against the lowest-ranked team in the SEC (Mississippi State) at home, and played against the weakest Oklahoma team in recent history in a neutral environment, along with three non-conference underdogs at home. Despite the seemingly simplified schedule, it still brought surprising defeat to Texas.
Every team within the SEC is yearning for an additional victory against Vanderbilt this weekend. They aspire for Florida’s coach, Billy Napier, to hold onto his position after two weeks, for Arkansas to clinch a third straight victory over their former Southwest Conference adversary, for Kentucky to discover the magic recipe for big games, and lastly, for Texas A&M to satiate the pent-up frustration accumulated over 12 years against Bevo.
Three of these aforementioned games (with Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Texas A&M) occur away, and it’s a known fact that any road game in this neck-busting league brings its unique challenges, no matter who or where you’re up against. But, you see, Texas encounters Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Texas A&M. Georgia, on the other hand, faces the daunting trio of Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss. It’s only Texas that had the luxury of not playing a true road game till after Oct. 5.
Oklahoma, the other expansion participant alongside Texas, saw its inaugural authentic SEC road game a whole month before Texas did. To fan the flames, Texas is paired against Vanderbilt, arguably the simplest opponent in the SEC. Let’s be clear – we’re not frothing with conspiracy theories here. These are the bare, undeniable realities.
As per the SEC’s decision, the existing schedule for 2025 will stay, meaning Texas will be playing the same opponents in the second year, with home and away venues swapped. It seems that Texas is swiftly striking chords of camaraderie in its novel conference.
Following the SEC’s attempts to discipline Texas fans, an open letter was published by the Longhorns’ president, Jay Hartzell, addressing the fans. Among other items, he admitted that the actions of their fans have cast a poor first impression on Georgia and other new conference colleagues.
In Jay’s words, though, there’s neither need to panic nor worry. The reputation of Texas marches ahead of it. However, the glaring contrast in context now is that Texas is no longer a part of the Big 12. Each game, each decision in this new league will cast a wider shadow that they cannot ignore.