Texas football 2024 schedule: 3 games Longhorns can prove they belong in SEC

The Texas football schedule for the 2024 season and first year in the SEC is out, and these three games will help the Longhorns prove they belong.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the fact that Texas and Oklahoma are moving from the Big 12 to the SEC in the 2024 college football season is far from breaking news.

While that has been the heart of conference realignment drama, it also brings about the exciting prospect of new matchups with the Longhorns and Sooners joining, by most measures, the best conference in college football.

Recently, amid the buzz about realignment, the 2024 SEC schedule was released, including what Texas football will have to navigate in their maiden voyage in the conference. But the big task for Steve Sarkisian’s team will be proving they belong in the SEC — and the 2024 Texas football schedule offers them several key opportunities for just that.

Texas football 2024 schedule: 3 games that will be huge

3. at Arkansas

Needless to say, this is a measuring stick game. The blowout loss to the Razorbacks in Steve Sarkisan’s first year leading the Longhorns felt like a disaster. Surely, many Longhorn fans remember the “SEC” chants and memes that flooded everywhere that fall night.

This needs to be a game against Arkansas where Texas doesn’t only look competent but dominates the areas like the trenches on both sides of the ball. The line of scrimmage both offensively and defensively is an area that the Longhorns staff have been constantly looking to make new additions ever since Sarkisian took over. Anything other than the 40-21 drubbing would seem like a sign of growth.

2. vs. Georgia

This one writes itself. The Bulldogs have been the class of college football, winning the past two national championships. With Kirby Smart and Georgia coming to Austin, it will be a great test for the Longhorns. There should be loads of talented players that will have NFL scouts foaming at the mouth to see.

1. at Texas A&M

Of course this game is on the list. The reigniting of this rivalry will be circled on everybody’s calendar come 2024… and beyond. The last time the Longhorns and the Aggies played, it came down to a last Justin Tucker field goal to lift Texas over rival A&M.

Despite the hot seat that Jimbo Fisher is on, which could make 2023 a make-or-break year for the head coach, this game will be a headliner whoever is coaching and whatever the record. Winning against such a heated rival would be a marquee win for Sarkisian and the Longhorns in their first SEC season.

For more College Football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.