Is Texas football reshaping the SEC?

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Texas football officially joined the Southeastern Conference nearly two years ago, in August 2024. Now two seasons in, the program has made its point after a SEC Championship appearance at the end of the Longhorns’ inaugural season, as well as a respectable 9-3 regular season finish this past season.

In fact, after two seasons in the SEC, Texas already boosted itself into one of the league’s top brands (again.) That’s in no small part to the program’s recent showings in attracting recruits, its continued live and streaming appeal to viewers, and on-the-field success.

Here’s three points on Texas’ ongoing surge amidst its fellow SEC members.

Recruiting success rings loudly.

Texas has consisted recruited well in head coach Steve Sarkisian’s era, as his tenure heads into its sixth season. Thanks in part to the program’s strength in name, image, and likeness through its brand-power and its financial backing with the university, the Longhorns have consisted ended up with top-five recruiting classes, including Arch Manning (perhaps a watermark for the program’s recruiting expectations) and, more recently, Auburn transfer Cam Coleman.

Texas is just different—bigger

Beyond brief early success experienced by Texas A&M and Missouri following their joining the conference back in 2012, the SEC has historically proven difficult for its newest members. Even so, that hasn’t so far proven true for the Longhorns. And thanks to money, recruiting history, and an enormous population of fans across the globe, the brand was already there—and, frankly, it could be argued that Oklahoma has always just been along for the ride.

Wins have helped Texas demonstrate potential for future success

You win, or you don’t win. But at Texas, you just must win. That’s always been the ethos throughout the Austin-based program and the SEC alike. And these days, it’s a matter of appear in the playoffs, or perish. However, season three will be the real litmus test for Texas, as Manning returns as a starter and is expected to have a surplus of fully throttled weapons around him as part of Texas’ offensive unit.

Clearly, Texas has so far earned its keep as one of the league’s latest additions. The SEC move has proven that, for the Longhorns, home is where you make it.

Next step? Consistency.

Then… championships.

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