Steve Sarkisian Says 'Adapt or Die' as Texas, Oklahoma Officially Join SEC

On Monday, the Texas Longhorns, along with their arch-rival Oklahoma Sooners, officially joined the SEC. But the question following the former Big 12 members has always been: can they handle the SEC?

The two athletic programs have been preparing for this moment since July 2021, when it was announced they were departing the Big 12 for the SEC.

Texas carries a ton of momentum with them, coming off their most successful season in years, winning the Big 12 title and going on to the semi-finals of the College Football Playoff.

Oklahoma had a bounce-back season last year, finishing 10-3 in Brent Venables' second season after going 6-7 his first year.

That still doesn't truly answer the question of whether either of these historic programs is ready to compete with the big boys of college football.

The last two Big 12 members to join the SEC were Missouri and Texas A&M. They've combined for two SEC Championship appearances, losing both.

Per Fan Duel odds , the Longhorns enter the SEC with the second-best odds of winning the conference (+350). The Sooners come in at ninth (+3300).

Pro Football Focus ranked the Longhorns with the fifth-toughest schedule in the country in 2024, with the Sooners coming in at 14th.

"Adapt or die," Sarkisian told CBS Sports .

That may very well be the case, as even before the Longhorns set off on SEC play, they travel to Ann Arbor to face Michigan at The Big House.

Texas SEC home opponents are Mississippi State, Georgia, Florida and Kentucky. They'll go on the road to face Vanderbilt, Arkansas and Texas A&M. Oklahoma, of course, will be a neutral site game in the Cotton Bowl.

Oklahoma faces potential out of conference threats in Houston and Tulane in early September before they start SEC play.

They'll only host three SEC games against Tennessee, South Carolina and Alabama. Their road games consist of going to Auburn, Ole Miss, Missouri and LSU.

"I wouldn't say a whole lot has changed," Venables said. "I think the easy thing to do is say, 'OK, now I have to get the SEC binder now.' That's not what I learned from Bob Stoops, Bill Snyder or Dabo Swinney. You need a foundation of core beliefs and things you value. You always adapt and adjust. That should never stop.