Razorbacks Will Have to Get Better, but Not Just for Now

Sam Pittman's only focus, but Texas showed it's well aware what coming to SEC means

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Sep 10, 2023 1:18 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For months, we've had to endure the talking heads rattle on that Texas and Oklahoma will find life won't be the same when they join the SEC for next football season. The hope was they would wilt at the pressure and struggle with the line play.

I heard the same things about Texas A&M and Missouri in 2012. It's been the assumption from this corner all along about the same thing was very possible with this expansion. The Longhorns strolled into Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala, on Saturday night and gave a pretty good indication they weren't overwhelmed.

Handing Alabama the first home double-digit loss of Nick Saban's college coaching career led to The Eyes of Texas playing at the end of the game instead of whatever it is the Crimson Tide have become accustomed to hearing at that time. The Longhorns walked out with a 34-24 win.

Arkansas fans were in a confusion position even before the game. They didn't know who to hate more, Alabama or Texas. A lot of folks hate both of them, but probably the majority has a stronger dislike of burnt orange than crimson red, even though they have beating the Horns twice since they last beat the Tide in 2006.

Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman knows things are going to get tougher on the field ... and in the all-important recruiting area. Now Texas and Oklahoma, two programs always ranked above the Hogs in those rankings, now offer the same incentive of playing against the best. Throw SMU into that mix now and things in Texas have gotten a little tighter.

The Sooners won't play any SEC teams this year, but it's probably a good bet they are preparing their teams for the league. Don't base a 2024 projection on what these teams are doing now. That even goes for the Hogs.

You can bet Pittman knows what's coming on the field, too. It will just be another couple of obstacles in the SEC. More than that, it's a sign of changing times in college football and it won't get easier or cheaper. You might want to hold off making any projections about Texas and Oklahoma in the league for a year.

And, just in case you forgot, Texas A&M was 11-2 while Missouri was winning SEC East titles two years in a row. I listened to one talking head after another say it would be a decade before either of them built up the lines enough to compete. That was also before the transfer portal.