Following a wave of conference reorganization that has resulted in the elimination of a strong conference in the West, college football now has two extremely competitive conferences. The Texas Longhorns were part of the original wave of migration that started it all, and they will officially join the Southeastern Conference in 2024.
Because they are now in the same conference as Alabama, LSU, and Georgia, among other powerhouses, fans may expect some insane regular season matchups. Texas already had a full schedule in 2024, but the move means they will now participate in three of college football’s most crucial games, according to 247Sports.
While the move to the SEC added one of these important matchups, the Longhorns were scheduled to play two crucial games regardless. Brad Crawford of 247Sports ranked the Red River Showdown as the 10th most significant game of the season. Even though Oklahoma is not expected to make the playoffs, this is a matchup that college football fans usually look forward to. Not to mention, the Sooners might spoil Texas’ season by putting a stain on their record, much like they did in 2024.
Crawford ranked their Week 2 matchup at Michigan as the fourth most important game. Texas will travel to Ann Arbor to compete in one of the most hostile settings the sport has to offer, hoping to send a message by defeating the champions. This would be a significant win for Texas’ resume regardless of whether they win the SEC or not, and a loss for any team this early might seriously harm their playoff hopes.
The second most important game was Texas’ SEC meeting with the Bulldogs. The Longhorns will host the predicted No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs just one week after their game against Oklahoma, which could be the most important two weeks of their season. Assuming both teams emerge unscathed, the winner will very certainly take the top spot if they do not already hold it.
Texas, ideally, would win all three of these games, but even a 2-1 record would keep them where they need to be. If they lose two or, worse, all three games, the early-season panic button will be pressed. This would compel them to win out and hope to be considered for an at-large bid, which is still feasible.
