Does it shock anyone else how irrelevant Texas seems at the moment?

[Xenomorph]

Grant it* I don't watch sports center and other news shows like I did before chillun and a real job but Texas is a complete after-thought for me right now. Wasn't it just 5 years ago they were shunning the Pac 12 and contemplating going independent because they were cruising along so good with the Longhorn Network? I wonder if they're having buyer's remorse...

I'm not saying they won't be back. It's just amazing to me how much they don't matter right now.

 

[Sutterkane]

Texas has a chance to have a huge year. Seems like Okie State and Baylor are possibly coming back down to earth. They were still good enough even last year to knock off Oklahoma. Strong is a good coach and they are loaded with talent naturally. Just gotta get some head cases straightened out.

 

[Xenomorph]

Completely forgot Strong is HC there now. Damn.. I should get out more.

 

[coach66]

They will be relevant again and it won't take long.

nm

 

[Hammer Down]

Texas is a huge brand that any conference would love to have. They are still very relevant.

Problem for them is their network, coupled with what Texas A&M has done. I am sure the LHN is popular among the Texas fanbase, but nobody nationally wants to watch that. This isn't 1070 Notre Dame. The SEC has banded together and multiplied its viewership and is reaping the rewards. Texas tried to get greedy, and they found out their brand isn't that strong outside the borders of Texas. They killed a conference in the process. Then on top of that Texas A&M grabbed the SEC brand and won a Heisman, so Texas seems like an afterthought.

They aren't an afterthought, though. Win a little and they will be back. However, they do need to figure out how to brand the Big 12, or ride it out with the LHN and go independent. I would choose the Big 12 if I was them. Add a few more teams and split the revenue.

 

[AssEndDawg]

Tagging on hammers point, Texas' biggest problem is their own ego. When you start screwing over your own conference members (demanding more money from the conference split, creating your own network, and just generally acting like an *******) you are placing yourself in a tough spot. You are having to carry all your own weight at all times. One of the blessing of the SEC is that everyone has seen enough hard times to know that you can't carry all the weight alone. And maybe it's just because we Southerners are a little bit more polite and respectful of each other. Texas has tons of money and that's great but this is the age of the conference and Texas has weakened their own brand (and strengthened ours). Problem is they are too conceited to care and they think they can pull this thing out.

Texas will always be relevant much like Notre Dame but they have killed off the Big 12 and it's just a matter of time before they will have to join another conference. Will their Texas-sized egos fit in where they are no longer the big dog? Time will tell.