Is Texas on the verge of redemption? Let’s talk heartbreak and hype. Last season’s SEC Championship game felt like a dagger in the gut. Texas led late, penalties mounted, and then overtime slipped away to Georgia, 22-19. That loss still burns, and head coach Steve Sarkisian isn’t over it, and not just him. The memory haunts the fans as well. Now, with Arch Manning stepping into the spotlight, Sarkisian faces a fresh test. Can he steer the Longhorns through the ghosts of the Georgia defeat and toward their first SEC crown?

The confidence is real, Texas is flying high in the preseason, ranked No. 1 in the Coaches Poll for the first time, and tabbed as the unanimous favorite to win the SEC at Media Days. But as every fan knows, on-field glory doesn’t always follow clever spreads or preseason hype. And that brings us to a voice who isn’t just talking stats, he’s bringing the heat.

ESPN’s Rece Davis recently broke down the SEC playoff picture, and his take is both cautious and bold. “I think those four as well will go. I don’t know exactly who I’m picking to win the SEC just yet. I’m in all honesty, I think I’m leaning toward Alabama right now to knock off Texas, but wouldn’t surprise me if Texas wins it this year.” Davis admits the SEC race will be tight, and Texas faces stiff competition.

He added that the “weeping and gnashing of teeth” will come from teams just missing out, and he’s got Auburn pegged to be that surprise. “I think it’s going to be Auburn sitting just on the outside of that coming. I think this is the year. If it doesn’t happen this year, I have to wait and see what direction the Tigers go. Auburn, South Carolina, will be the two teams that’ll be right in the mix.” And for a wildcard? Davis says it could be Oklahoma replacing Auburn if things get going. These teams could shake up the College Football Playoff field even more in 2025.

So, while Texas appears to be the favorite, the road to the SEC title isn’t going to be a cakewalk. Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, and maybe even Oklahoma are all lurking in the shadows, waiting to pounce. Sarkisian’s task is obvious. Put the ghosts of heartbreak from last season behind him and guide the Longhorns to the top. But as Texas basks in preseason glory, not everyone in the SEC media universe is drinking the Kool-Aid.

Oklahoma radio host throws shade at Texas’s hype and legacy.

That hype hasn’t gone unnoticed by everyone in the SEC media world. On August 6, Tuscaloosa radio host Ryan C. Fowler didn’t hold back during his appearance on The Plank Show, throwing some serious shade Texas’ way. Fowler praised Oklahoma’s quiet entrance into the SEC, calling it respectful and contrasting that with Texas, which he accused of “inflating something that’s not there,” pointing to Texas’s single national title in 54 years.

Fowler’s blunt commentary also aimed at Texas’s perceived ego, hoping for a dose of reality to humble the Longhorns. “I hope somebody knocks them off pretty quick and they get their ego in check,” he said, “That’s probably not going to happen, I know [Texas] brings a lot of status and money and all this ego stuff.” His remarks reveal the simmering rivalry and skepticism around Texas’s SEC dominance claims.

With this kind of public disbelief adding fuel to the fire, Texas will have to not only prove itself on the field but also quiet the critics off it. Sarkisian and the Longhorns now face more than just their opponents; they’re playing for respect and the chance to rewrite the narrative. The 2025 SEC race promises to be a fierce battlefield where reputations will be forged and shattered alike. What do you think will happen? Let us know!