Vanderbilt HC Clark Lea gets candid about Steve Sarkisian's ability to lead "challenging" offenses in SEC

The Texas Longhorns head coach, Steve Sarkisian, was heavily talked about at the 2024 SEC Media Days. While former Alabama coach Nick Saban discussed this team's potential impact, Vanderbilt HC Clark Lea talked about how challenging it was to play against a Sarkisian-led side.

Lea claimed that Sarkisian's team is the most difficult to plan or to play against.

"We competed here in Dallas in the Rose Bowl. It was the pandemic year, I was at Notre Dame at the time, and he was running the offense at Alabama. It was one of the most challenging offenses I've ever had to plan for. I have a ton of respect for him and the program he's building. It's taken time for him and he's taken time in the foundation," Clark said.

The offensive line of Texas includes Kelvin Banks Jr., who is the three-year starter, along with the other four starters: Jake Majors, Hayden Conner, DJ Campbell, and Cole Houtson.

Nick Saban takes a subtle jab at Steve Sarkisian-led Longhorns

At the 2024 SEC Media Days, former Alabama Crimson Tide HC Nick Saban gave his honest thoughts about the Texas Longhorns moving to the SEC. As per the seven-time national champion, the Steve Sarkisian-led squad will not be running the conference.

"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."

Steve Sarkisian celebrated the team's move to the SEC because it will be an exciting challenge. But the Longhorns will be closely watched because they have always been the team that has gotten a lot of attention.

After their successful run to the college football playoff semifinals last season, the team will aim to push themselves to clinch a spot again.

They are already favorites among fans and even Nick Saban to win the SEC championship game. Their win will solidify them as a dangerous competition to other teams in the conference.