The Texas Longhorns’ days in the Big 12 are in the rearview mirror as Bevo and the gang gear up to take on the SEC in 2024. Even though it departed its former conference as 2023 Big 12 Champions, Texas has a gauntlet ahead of it with a conference slate filled with heavy hitters. Following a 12-2 finish and a College Football Playoff selection last year, can the Longhorns repeat their success against a 2024 conference schedule full of tough SEC opponents?
Texas’ SEC Schedule Full of Tough Foes but Easy Travel
Overall, 11 of Texas’ 12 scheduled regular season opponents in 2024 will be against teams they didn’t face last year, with the exception being fellow Big 12 defector Oklahoma. The Longhorns only play three true road games in the conference with the Red River Showdown against the Sooners a neutral site matchup in Dallas.
Texas’ first three games in the SEC will be in the Lone Star State, debuting in Austin against Mississippi State. After meeting the Sooners, the Longhorns are saddled with a daunting face-off in Austin against the Georgia Bulldogs.
The Longhorns alternate between road and home the rest of the way, avoiding consecutive in-conference road games. Although a new matchup this season, Texas caps the year by reigniting an old rivalry with Texas A&M.
Week 5 vs. Mississippi State
All-Time Series: 2-2
Last Meeting: 1999 (38-31, Texas)
Current Win Streak: 1, Texas
The finale in a three-game homestand for Texas, the Longhorns’ SEC debut will be against a team they haven’t played this century, taking on the Mississippi State Bulldogs for the first time since 1999. Five of the Longhorns’ first seven games will be at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin.
It is a lofty introduction to the SEC, with the Bulldogs coming off a coaching change following a 5-7 campaign last year. It will be a homecoming of sorts for first-year Mississippi State head coach Jeff Lebby, a Texas native who started his collegiate coaching career in various roles at Baylor from 2008-2016.
Week 7 vs. Oklahoma (in Dallas)
All-Time Series: Texas leads 63-51-5
Last Meeting: 2023 (34-30, Oklahoma)
Current Win Streak: 1, Oklahoma
Following the first of two bye weeks during conference play, the Longhorns stay in-state for the 120th edition of the Red River Showdown. It’s a common foe with uncommon ramifications as both programs look to establish themselves among the juggernauts already inhabiting the SEC.
Oklahoma handed Texas one of its two losses last season, but they’ll have a new signal caller, with redshirt freshman sensation Jackson Arnold taking the reins after Dillion Gabriel left for Oregon. In one of the premier QB matchups this season, Arnold will face fellow DFW high school standout Quinn Ewers.
KEEP READING: Oklahoma’s 2024 SEC Schedule
Week 8 vs. Georgia
All-Time Series: Texas leads 4-1
Last Meeting: 2019 (28-21, Texas)
Current Win Streak: 1, Texas
After a soft-opening the first three weeks of its SEC existence, Texas gets its “Welcome to the Show” moment in week 8 with a matchup in Austin against Georgia. The Bulldogs were left on the outside looking in of the College Football Playoff last season, but they’ll have a chance to enact some revenge here.
Arguably its toughest test on the schedule, Texas will have a chance to show the rest of the conference it means business with a win. It will be a QB matchup that features two potential first-round draft picks with Bulldogs signal caller Carson Beck and Ewers.
Week 9 @ Vanderbilt
All-Time Series: Vanderbilt leads 8-3-1
Last Meeting: 1928, (13-12, Vanderbilt)
Current Win Streak: 1, Vanderbilt
An almost 100-year hiatus is dormant no more as Texas will face Vanderbilt for the first time since 1928. With the first game in 1899, Vanderbilt had Texas’ number in the 12 previous matchups, beating the Longhorns eight times, including three consecutive shutouts – 33-0 in 1905, 45-0 in 1906, and 20-0 in 1921.
In modern times, Texas has more than a puncher’s chance to avenge those losses, as a lot has transpired in the last 96 years. The Commodores haven’t won more than three games in conference in over 10 years, finishing last year 2-10 overall and 0-8 in the SEC.
Week 11 vs. Florida
All-Time Series: Texas leads 2-0-1
Last Meeting: 1940 (26-0, Texas)
Current Win Streak: 2, Texas
Another opponent that hasn’t been seen since games were exclusively aired on the radio, Texas will take on a Florida Gators program that hasn’t been to Austin in over 80 years.
Florida has never beaten Texas, and 2024 won’t offer an easy prospect to do so, with the Gators coming off a 5-7 season. Redshirt senior Graham Mertz will at least give the Gators a chance if it turns into a shootout between him and Texas QB Quinn Ewers.
Week 12 @ Arkansas
All-Time Series: Texas leads 56-23
Last Meeting: 2021 (41-20, Arkansas)
Current Win Streak: 2, Arkansas
Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman has beaten Texas before, manning the helm for the Razorbacks in the 2021 win over the Longhorns in Fayetteville, 41-20. In fact, the Razorbacks have won the last two over the Longhorns, beating Texas in the AdvoCare Texas Bowl in 2014, 31-7.
However, a lot has transpired since those meetings, most notably Arkansas’ 4-8 finish last year. The Razorbacks finished second to last in the SEC in team offense last season, averaging 327 total yards per game.
Week 13 vs. Kentucky
All-Time Series: Texas leads 1-0
Last Meeting: 1951 ( 7-6, Texas)
Current Win Streak: 1, Texas
For the first time in 73 years, Texas and Kentucky will see each other on the football field this season. Texas won the lone previous matchup in a one-point barnburner in Austin, 7-6.
It will be a tall task, but the Wildcats have a chance to redeem that loss this year. Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops has the Wildcats on three consecutive winning seasons and was even a dark-horse candidate to take over for Jimbo Fisher at Texas A&M before the Aggies snapped up Mike Elko.
Speaking of the Aggies…
Week 14 @ Texas A&M
All-Time Series: Texas leads 76-37-5
Last Meeting: 2012 (27-25, Texas)
Current Win Streak: 1, Texas
While conference realignment can generally be a real bummer most of the time, every now and then it bestows a great gift upon the college football faithful. Well, get your 10-gallon hats and overalls ready because this game is one of those gifts.
One of the more visceral and electric rivalries in any sport was left in a coma following the Aggies’ departure to the SEC in 2012. Texas and Texas A&M haven’t played on the gridiron since, but that changes this year as the Longhorns finally join their most hated foe in the SEC.
KEEP READING: 2024 SEC Strength of Schedule
Texas is coming off a Big 12 Championship and a College Football Playoff selection, while Texas A&M is looking for a resurgence under Elko following the fallout of Jimbo Fisher’s firing. No matter the circumstances leading up to it, you can throw out the record books for this one as bad blood will take president over personnel.
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