What OK and TX bring to the SEC in non-football sports

[AURex 1,983]

With Oklahoma and Texas coming to the SEC, it seems all the talk has been about the impact on football. But these two teams will have a lot to contribute in other sports, and they are going to be competing at the top of the SEC in several sports.

First off, Texas won the Director’s Cup as the best all-around college sports program last year. These two teams grabbed 4 national championships last season.

Baseball – Texas owns 6 national championships in baseball and has gone to the world series 9 times since 2000.

Gymnastics – The Sooners have won 3 of the 5 most recent national championships and finished as runner-up in the other two. Texas does not compete in gymnastics.

Swimming & Diving – Texas Men won the national championship 5 of the past 6 years, including last season. The horns have not been as successful in women’s swimming. Oklahoma does not compete in swimming.

Golf – Both Texas and Oklahoma Men are very strong in golf. Oklahoma won the national championship in 2017 and finished in the top 5 of the past 5 years. Texas has produced golfers on the current pro tour and finished in the top 5 five times in the past decade. They aren’t quite as strong in women’s golf, but the Texas women won stroke play in 2019 and has had 3 top 10 finishes in the past decade.

Softball – The Sooners won the national championship last year – their third during the past decade. Texas has made it to the Super Regional the past two seasons.

Basketball – Both schools have consistently appeared and advanced in the NCAA tournament in men’s basketball. Neither has been as successful in women’s basketball.

Tennis – Texas women won the national championship last season. Oklahoma qualified for the Tournament the past two seasons.

Volleyball – Texas has finished in the top 5 in 14 of the past 15 seasons, and played in the national title game last year.

Track & Field – Texas women garnered 6 top 10 finishes in the past 7 outdoor seasons and have won 2 national titles since 2005. The Texas men finished 9th in 2019 and 6th last year.

Soccer and Cross Country -- Neither school has been dominant in Soccer or Cross Country

Edited July 31, 2021 by AURex

[AUreo 753]

Short-term Outlook (provided both Texas and Oklahoma will join the conference next year):

Swimming (Texas, Men): Texas with strong recruiting classes in 2020 and 2021 but UGA seems to be quite competitive with SEC stars Magahey, Downing, and Urlando + South Africa commit & swimming prodigy Matt Sates (next Michael Phelps) while Florida is somewhat regressing recruiting-wise. Auburn’s 2021 recruiting class is very solid, actually, but let’s wait and see with the new coaching staff. 

Gymnastics (Oklahoma): The Sooners have superstars Maggie Nichols and Ragan Smith but currently only one 5-star gymnast committed (Faith Torrez) + 4-star commit Ava Siegfeldt. The SEC is pretty tough with national powerhouses Florida and LSU as well as blue blood UGA (back on track in recruiting), rising Auburn and current SEC champs Alabama + Mizzou, and Arkansas, and Kentucky are pretty competitive as well. However, since nearby Texas is home to the best elite gymnasts in the country maybe Oklahoma will be able to boost its recruiting by joining the SEC (not sure this will have an effect though). Overall a strong addition but not the future powerhouse some people might think.

 

 

[AU_Canoe 230]

Texas and OU bring an exciting mix of men's and women's programs. Like stated above, I believe both of them will find the SEC competition variety refreshing and a challenge. Big 12 has some good sports but the SEC provides a wide range of talented sports programs across the spectrum.  Off to top of my head, I think there are few sports the SEC sponsors that the conference doesn't do well in. 

Should be a lot of fun to watch as intra conference play. 

[AU_Canoe 230]

On 7/31/2021 at 5:24 PM, AURex said:

With Oklahoma and Texas coming to the SEC, it seems all the talk has been about the impact on football. But these two teams will have a lot to contribute in other sports, and they are going to be competing at the top of the SEC in several sports.

First off, Texas won the Director’s Cup as the best all-around college sports program last year. These two teams grabbed 4 national championships last season.

Baseball – Texas owns 6 national championships in baseball and has gone to the world series 9 times since 2000.

Gymnastics – The Sooners have won 3 of the 5 most recent national championships and finished as runner-up in the other two. Texas does not compete in gymnastics.

Swimming & Diving – Texas Men won the national championship 5 of the past 6 years, including last season. The horns have not been as successful in women’s swimming. Oklahoma does not compete in swimming.

Golf – Both Texas and Oklahoma Men are very strong in golf. Oklahoma won the national championship in 2017 and finished in the top 5 of the past 5 years. Texas has produced golfers on the current pro tour and finished in the top 5 five times in the past decade. They aren’t quite as strong in women’s golf, but the Texas women won stroke play in 2019 and has had 3 top 10 finishes in the past decade.

Softball – The Sooners won the national championship last year – their third during the past decade. Texas has made it to the Super Regional the past two seasons.

Basketball – Both schools have consistently appeared and advanced in the NCAA tournament in men’s basketball. Neither has been as successful in women’s basketball.

Tennis – Texas women won the national championship last season. Oklahoma qualified for the Tournament the past two seasons.

Volleyball – Texas has finished in the top 5 in 14 of the past 15 seasons, and played in the national title game last year.

Track & Field – Texas women garnered 6 top 10 finishes in the past 7 outdoor seasons and have won 2 national titles since 2005. The Texas men finished 9th in 2019 and 6th last year.

Soccer and Cross Country -- Neither school has been dominant in Soccer or Cross Country

Has UTOU found landing spots for their programs that are not sponsored by the SEC? i.e., wresting, men's gymnastics, men's soccer, etc. I wasn't sure if the Big12 would allow some of their programs to remain in the conference. AU and SEC, at one time, sponsored successful wrestling programs but I am unsure if there is much of a stomach to add programs right now that do not generate revenue.