One of the most surprising and seemingly out-of-nowhere headlines in recent college athletics history became official last week. Texas and Oklahoma will become the 15th and 16th members of the SEC no later than 2025, with a chance of the schools joining before then if their lawyers can negotiate a buyout from the Big 12.
Like just about everyone else who follows college athletics closely, UF coach Dan Mullen initially dismissed the reports as nothing more than one of those crazy realignment rumors that float around every few years.
“I was at our lake house,” Mullen said. “I was surfing or doing something, hanging out there, and I saw some report. I’ve heard that report before. It happened a couple of years ago that there was a report that all this different stuff happened.
“When it came up the second day [of SEC Media Days], I called Scott [Stricklin] and asked him if there was any reality to that. He kind of gave me the scoop of what was going on a little bit.”
As expected, the news was met with controversy. Those against adding Texas and Oklahoma to the league often cite the importance of preserving traditions and geographical boundaries in the college game. Scheduling also becomes a nightmare to try to figure out. Will the league stick with the current two-division format or go to a four-pod structure? If it’s the latter, how will the league crown a champion?
What kind of ripple effect will SEC expansion have on other conferences? Are we trending toward a 12-team playoff with multiple three-loss teams on an annual basis, and is that good for a game that prides itself on having the most meaningful regular season in sports?
Mullen obviously doesn’t have the answers to all of those questions, but he does like the additions of Texas and Oklahoma from academic, athletic and cultural standpoints.
“You’re looking at two academic schools, two schools with very strong football traditions,” he said. “Two excellent football programs, very passionate fanbases that really fit what this league is all about. And so, [it] makes sense. I think I’ve said this, college football in the next couple years will look differently than maybe what it’s looked like in the past. That’s just going to be another step of it, and [it’s] exciting to have those two great schools and great football programs coming into our league.”
The SEC has been considered the toughest league in the country for nearly two decades or so. During Alabama’s dynasty, they’ve twice won the national championship without even making the SEC Championship Game.
Recruiting is perhaps even more challenging. SEC teams filled five of the top-12 spots in the 2021 247Sports Composite rankings and 11 of the top-27. Oklahoma and Texas usually recruit at a high level, so recruiting’s going to become even more competitive once the Sooners and Longhorns recruit Florida and Georgia more.
Mullen, though, doesn’t shy away from the added competition. He’s excited to take on the challenge that the newcomers will bring.
“You’re really looking at, since the turn of the century now, teams that are going to be in this league have been some of the most powerful teams in college football,” Mullen said. “You look at OU’s run of going to College Football Playoffs over the last several years. I know the term is there aren’t megaconferences yet, but, if you look, we’re as close to being to that now, and then you add those two teams, and certainly it is the strongest conference in college football.”