Texas takes the No. 1 ranking into its SEC debut at home against Mississippi State

Texas is finally ready to play SEC football.

Three years after announcing its move from the Big 12 to the Southeastern Conference, the No. 1 Longhorns open their first league schedule Saturday at home against Mississippi State.

“It’s here,” senior defensive back Jahdae Barron said. “It’s going to be amazing.”

Steve Sarkisian was just about to start his first season as Texas coach when the deal was struck and the move itself was still years away. The original plan had Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC in 2025. Their entry got bumped up a year through an agreement with the Big 12, and Oklahoma’s SEC debut last week was a 25-15 loss to No. 5 Tennessee.