3 reasons why the Texas Longhorns may struggle in the SEC after moving from the Big 12

Texas completed its move to the SEC on Monday as a new academic year commences. The Longhorns are joining the most competitive conference in college football as one of the best in the landscape. However, it won’t be a walk in the park in the SEC and Steve Sarkisian knows this.

"We need to build a team that come January can beat Alabama, LSU and Georgia, and I'd throw in Ohio State and Clemson, too, because those are the teams that in some shape or form are in the playoff just about every year," Sarkisian said, via ESPN.

Ahead of Texas’ first season in the SEC, here’s a look at three reasons why the Longhorns will experience some struggles in the highly competitive conference.

Three reasons why the Texas Longhorns may struggle in the SEC

#1, Tougher opponents

Texas was a dominant team in the Big 12 last season, finishing 8-1 in conference play and went on to claim the conference title against Oklahoma State. The Longhorns' only loss came against fellow SEC newcomer Oklahoma with a last-minute passing touchdown.

However, the transition into the SEC means the Longhorns will have to face some of the best teams in the college football landscape in conference games. Without a doubt, this won't be an easy ride for the team despite their recent resurgence under Steve Sarkisian.

#2, Struggles over the years

Over the past decade, Texas has been a shadow of itself in the world of collegiate football. The storied program has experienced significant struggle over the years, hardly securing a winning season and bowl qualification, which affected its reputation in the landscape.

While the Longhorns have experienced significant progress since the arrival of Steve Sarkisian, they remain a program still climbing to reach where they were before. At this stage, they are bound to face some significant challenges transitioning into a league like the SEC.

#3, Potential complacency

Following Texas’ performance in the 2023 college football season, a lot of analysts are expecting something big from them in the SEC. Many see them going all the way to claim the conference title in their very first season in the league, with a strong chance at the national title.

This could create some sense of complacency in the Longhorns team, which could hinder them from realizing very early the tests that come with the new conference. Although they won the Big 12 championship last season and reached the College Football Playoff, the SEC is a whole new challenge where ‘it just means more.’