Let’s address the issue directly: it’s October 25th, and Texas has yet to play an authentic SEC road game.

We’re two months into the college football season, and Texas – known as the richest and most influential program in college sports and a key player in the latest conference expansions – is set to compete in its first real SEC road game this Saturday.

Against modest SEC competitor Vanderbilt.

Please allow me to raise the alarm and express my thoughts openly.

As one SEC athletic director mentioned to me recently, a significant number of conference athletic directors are upset with Texas’ schedule and the impression it creates. It appears, in a relaxed tone, that the Longhorns may already be dominating the league.

And here we go.

Just a few months into Texas’ integration into the SEC (an adjustment the Big 12 can describe as well), I’m not claiming there’s regret about the decision, but the situation isn’t as rosy as it seems.

This might explain why the SEC office reacted strongly when Texas supporters littered the field with trash during a welcome game against Georgia.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey fined Texas $250,000 for the incident and demanded that the university use “all available resources” to pinpoint the fans who littered and prevent them from attending future games. After all, every good theory needs a scapegoat.

The SEC also warned that any further misconduct could alter Texas’ rights to sell alcohol during games.

Before you think this is overreaching, keep in mind that Sankey and conference officials previously punished Tennessee for similar fan behavior, threatening to restrict alcohol sales as well, which is essential for many fans.

Tennessee officials successfully identified the few fans who misbehaved, and ultimately curtailed any further incidents in Knoxville.

This reflects the SEC mentality: unity in adversity. Each team shares equally in the vast media rights rewards and faces similar consequences for misconduct.

However, as the insightful George Orwell noted in Animal Farm, while “All SEC teams are equal, some SEC teams are more equal than others.”

Returning to the scheduling debate, there’s clear favoritism towards Texas as it attempts to navigate its inaugural SEC season. If you believe that other athletic directors aren’t frustrated with the favorable schedule Texas has in its first year, think again; many coaches in the conference share this sentiment.

I spoke with three coaches recently, and they all noted the disparity in the schedule given to Texas, with many expressing gratitude to Georgia coach Kirby Smart for demonstrating that although Texas is now part of the conference, they haven’t really faced the true SEC challenge yet.

Before meeting Georgia, Texas faced a generally overrated Michigan team, the weakest SEC competitor (Mississippi State) at home, a historically poor Oklahoma team in a neutral game, and three easy non-conference opponents at home.

Georgia rolled into Austin, where their star quarterback Carson Beck had a night to forget, throwing no touchdowns, throwing three picks, and having his receivers drop nine passes. Still, the score was 24-0 before anyone could process it.

While Smart lamented that “no one believed” in his team, it’s clear that every SEC team except Alabama wanted Georgia to demonstrate their strength against any non-Alabama opponent.

Every SEC team is hoping for Vanderbilt to win again this weekend and continue stirring the pot, as well as for Florida’s coach Billy Napier to find success shortly after, Arkansas to prevail over their old rivals, and Kentucky to recapture their competitive edge while Texas A&M works to vent years of frustration against Texas.

Three of those matchups against Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Texas A&M are away games, showcasing the intricate challenges of competing in this league, regardless of the opponent. But the difference is, Texas gets to face Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Texas A&M.

While Georgia selected Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss for their schedule.

No other team in the SEC took longer than October 5th to play their first genuine road game. Texas’ fellow expansion team, Oklahoma, managed to have their first real SEC road match a month earlier at the formidable venue of Auburn.

Texas has the “advantage” of visiting Vanderbilt, the least intimidating venue in the SEC. Just ask Nick Saban.

This isn’t a blunt call to arms.

Here’s another conspiracy theory. These are the facts: Since the SEC has chosen to maintain its existing schedule for the 2025 season, Texas will once again compete against the same teams in Year 2, albeit on a different home field.

Texas is quickly building relationships in its new conference.

Shortly after the SEC addressed Texas fans, Longhorns president Jay Hartzell issued an open letter expressing, among other points, that “these actions created a negative early impression on Georgia and our new colleagues in the conference.”

No need to fret, Jay. Texas’s reputation precedes itself.

What stands out is that you are no longer part of the Big 12.