Dan Mullen Names Challenge Oklahoma And Texas Will Have To Overcome In SEC
The SEC expanded this offseason by adding the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners. Other conferences like the Big Ten expanded with the Oregon Ducks, UCLA Bruins, USC Trojans, and Washington Huskies.
Dan Mullen recently appeared on the "Cube Show" to discuss the state of college football. Mullen coached for the Mississippi State Bulldogs from 2009-17 and Florida Gators from 2018-21.
He shared his thoughts on Texas and Oklahoma joining the conference and talked about how tough the grind of an SEC schedule can be. Mullen clarified that the Longhorns and Sooners can play with anyone in the SEC.
"Well, I think you look at those teams," Mullen said. "Texas and Oklahoma, start with them, so much success through the years. ...They're gonna come in now to the SEC league where I think they're going to look, and that talent it's not just the one game, it's the week in, week out. ...Can they play with anybody in the SEC? Absolutely."
To further help explain how hard an SEC schedule can be, he talked about how difficult it was for him at Mississippi State in 2014. Mullen coached players like Dak Prescott and Chris Jones that season.
![Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables and Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian.](https://athlonsports.com/.image/c_limit%2Ccs_srgb%2Cfl_progressive%2Cq_auto:good%2Cw_700/MjA3NTQzMTYzMDk3Nzg1Nzk5/sark-venables-1.jpg)
Oklahoma Sooners head coach Brent Venables and Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian talk before the Red River Showdown between Oklahoma and Texas.
Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman / USA TODAY Network
Mullen faced the No. 8 LSU Tigers, No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies, and No. 2 Auburn Tigers in three consecutive weeks. He also faced the No. 5 Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 19 Ole Miss Rebels in two of his last three games during the regular season.
"...We had a year at Mississippi State in 2014, we played the number six ranked team in the country," Mullen said. "The next week, we played the number four ranked team in the country, and the following week, we played the number two team in the country. ...It's the multiple week after week and the grind of the talent you have to play."
The Bulldogs went 10-3 that season, losing to Alabama, Ole Miss, and the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. It will be interesting to see how Texas and Oklahoma handle their new surroundings.