On Texas Football: SEC move dynamics, 2023 Texas schedule transfer portal notes
On the latest video edition of On Texas Football, Bobby Burton and Paul Wadlington of Inside Texas discuss the timeline for Texas’ leaving for the Southeastern Conference, the Longhorns’ football schedule for 2023 and transfer portal news.
[Get Inside Texas Plus until the start of the 2023 season for $29.99!]
News reports came out this week said that the Big 12, the SEC and their television partners have not come to an agreement that will let Texas and Oklahoma leave the Big 12 earlier that 2025 and that the sticking point in the negotiations is the Fox television contract.
Wadlington said Fox will not let Texas and Oklahoma leave early without a “wad of cash.”
“I don’t think it’s good news if you’re a Texas fan, and you thought this might be our last year (in the Big 12),” Wadlington explains. “Ultimately the TV folks can just put the kibosh on this. It also speaks to I think what Fox is starting to realize the Big 12 is worth post-Texas. They want to get every bit of contractual money that they can and every bit of TV ratings they can before they say goodbye to their golden goose.”
Burton said he negotiations are all about money. “I did get a text from a high-ranking Texas official on Friday morning, stating that it’s a big game of chicken,” he added. “They want a pound of flesh. That’s essentially what it amounts to.”
Burton said he doesn’t perceive a need to hurry the SEC for the recruiting aspect.
“Two years ago, I thought they needed a move to the SEC for recruiting purposes because the SEC was becoming the “IT” conference,” Burton opined. “They were getting pounded over the head by not only Alabama – they’re getting pounded on the head by Ole Miss and Arkansas and it was just ridiculous. Now, that’s by the bye, that’s no longer the case.”
Wadlington agreed, pointing to this year’s recruiting class as evidence that Texas is no longer in that chase mode.
“If you’re coming in as a freshman, you’re like, ‘hey, I’m not going to be on the field until that when that happens anyway, so that works for me. I don’t care,’” he said. “And you know, Texas is fortunate that they can sort of sell the Texas brand.”
Wadlington said the conference had difficulty constructing a “tough” schedule for the Longhorns.
“How could you design a really hard schedule for Texas?,” Wadlington asks. “Yeah, I mean, other than trying to load up like four row games in a row or you don’t allow Texas to play OU – now that would be hilarious.”
Burton said the Longhorns still need an edge and a “big” running back when the transfer window reopens in May. Wadlington agreed and added that linebacker is also on the wish list.
“I think we need a linebacker and an edge,” he said. “I’m not convinced at linebacker yet. I Look, Jaylan Ford, I’m very happy with, solid. I’m not happy with linebacker No. 2. I want a traditional No. 2 linebacker because I think that’s gonna really help this defense.”
