In their inaugural SEC season, the Texas Longhorns are thriving on the field, but their rise has reportedly sparked discontent across the conference.
After rebounding from a devastating loss to Georgia with a much-needed win over No. 25 Vanderbilt on the road, Texas’ record improved to 7-1 on the season.
However, the favorable nature of their schedule has left some around the conference grumbling, according to USA TODAY’s Matt Hayes.
Texas’ recent victory at Vanderbilt marked its first true road game in the SEC this season.
In contrast, their earlier conference matchups consisted of home games against Georgia and Mississippi State, along with their annual Red River Rivalry clash against Oklahoma at a neutral site in Dallas.
Outside of SEC play, the only significant road challenge they faced was against Michigan, a team that ultimately failed to live up to preseason expectations.
These scheduling circumstances have reportedly ruffled feathers among some of the SEC’s athletic directors, who, according to Hayes, feel that Texas has been given an easy path.
“More than a handful” of athletic directors are “furious” over Texas’ seemingly favorable schedule and the “optics it presents,” Hayes noted in a recent column.
But it’s not just the ADs who are upset.
“If you think the league’s athletic directors aren’t happy about the gift road to the SEC championship game, the conference coaches are livid,” Hayes added.
“I spoke to three coaches this week, and each not only confirmed the rift about the laughable schedule given to Texas in its inaugural season, but each also made sure to text Georgia coach Kirby Smart and thank him for making it perfectly clear that Texas may be a member of the conference – but Texas hasn’t come close to experiencing the conference.”
In Hayes’ account, “every team in the SEC” was rooting for Vanderbilt last Saturday and will be cheering on Texas’ upcoming November opponents – Florida, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Texas A&M – to upset the Longhorns and test them further.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian appears undistracted by the external noise. But as Texas finds itself under scrutiny, it’s clear that for many, the new conference powerhouse has yet to prove itself fully.
Having said that, scheduling controversies aren’t unique to Texas … Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin recently aired grievances about his team’s limited primetime slots compared to other SEC teams, particularly LSU, which has received multiple home games at night.
Still, as Hayes pointed out, the Longhorns’ “outsider” status makes them a particularly easy target this season.
What are your thoughts on the report???