The University of Texas and the University of Oklahoma are on their way to the SEC, with news breaking earlier this summer that both historic football powerhouses would be departing the Big 12 by 2025. (if not sooner). That decision sent shockwaves through the college sports landscape, notably in football, with thoughts of a super-league in the Southeast containing the majority of the country’s best institutions. Oklahoma, on the other hand, has recently eclipsed Texas in terms of on-field accomplishments, as college football icon Steve Spurrier reminded us this week.
Spurrier expressed his thoughts on the move when talking on the SEC Network with Paul Finebaum. Spurrier’s initial reaction was astonishment, leading him to believe it was only a rumor, but he went on to criticize Texas for their previous squabbles.
“Texas, they struggle to win the Big 12. I guess they’ve only won it twice in I don’t know how many years,” Spurrier said. “It made sense for them. If you’re going to struggle in the Big 12, you might as well struggle in the SEC. Can’t do any worse.”
Spurrier isn’t entirely wrong about Texas, as the state’s brand has recently outstripped its effectiveness. The Longhorns do, however, have a sizable operational budget, a strong recruiting base, and a formidable infrastructure, and they may be able to turn things around under Steve Sarkisian’s direction. Spurrier’s response, though, seemed to hint that he regarded Oklahoma differently from Texas when judging from the SEC’s perspective.
Oklahoma and its fans, according to Spurrier, are “looking forward to the challenge” and have a “strong football tradition.” That could be true of Texas as well, but this is a kind of a “Welcome to the SEC” moment for the Longhorns, as Spurrier is known for making headlines across the conference with his unfettered beliefs.
