Former Alabama HC Nick Saban takes subtle shot at Steve Sarkisian's Texas ahead of debut in Greg Sankey's conference: "They're not gonna run the SEC" 

The Texas Longhorns entered the SEC with much fanfare as part of the conference expansion and realignment games. Retired coach Nick Saban was adamant that this sort of dominance would be impossible for the Longhorns in the Southeastern Conference.

Saban was speaking during the SEC Media Days event on Monday.

"What tickles me is all (the media) asking questions about how Texas always ran the conference they were in," Saban said. "They're not going to run the SEC. There's a whole lot of arrogant people all over the SEC. You can't forget about all that. They will be a good team and are a great program, and Sark will do a great job, but (the Longhorns running the SEC) isn't going to be a problem."

Coach Steve Sarkisian's team will be more closely watched than ever before after joining the country's premier football conference. This comes immediately after a run to the college football playoff semifinals last season.

The Longhorns have a history of being one of, if not the, most dominant programs in almost all the conferences that they have competed in. In the Southwest conference, they won 27 championships between 1916 and 1995, while they won four conference titles in the Big 12 between 1995 and 2023.

Texas predicted to be in SEC championship game

The expectations on Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian have risen exponentially. This is especially so after last season's stellar showing which saw them win the Big 12 championship game and reach the college football playoff semifinals.

Retired coach Nick Saban was not all the way down on coach Steve Sarkisian's team during the SEC Media Days. He surprisingly picked them to be in next season's SEC championship game against another of his former proteges, Kirby Smart's Georgia Bulldogs.

"I got Georgia and Texas (in the SEC Championship)," Saban said. "If Texas can replace some of the interior defensive linemen they lost and their defense comes through. They're really good offensively. Quinn Ewers has missed time the last couple of years, but Arch Manning was lights out in the spring game. That depth at quarterback is really important for them. I really like Texas."

The SEC is one of the most unforgiving and punishing football conferences in the country. To be able to make the championship game during Year 1, the Longhorns will have to adapt quickly.

Luckily for them, Steve Sarkisian, who coached in the conference as a part of Nick Saban's staff, will be familiar with the unique rigors and demands of the conference.