What Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC means for the LSU Tigers

LSU Tigers fans must prepare themselves for more in-conference competition. On Thursday, the SEC announced a deal that will bring Texas and Oklahoma on board in July 2024.

After doing so last season, the LSU Tigers are primed to win the SEC West division in 2023. But, sadly, the SEC West is likely on its last leg. We know Texas and Oklahoma will join the SEC ahead of the 2025 season. Their move pushes the SEC to 16 programs and triggers a massive change to the conference’s football structure.

Much LSU Tigers fan speculation surrounded the initial news of Texas and Oklahoma’s migration. Some believed that realigning Auburn and Alabama to the East division was the solution to adding the Longhorns and Sooners. Others speculated the conference would split into four geographically aligned pods. However, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has stated the conference is considering no delineation.

"“[We] would potentially be one single division the idea that we want to rotate our teams through our campuses more frequently. We have big brands with big interest and large following….” -Greg Sankey"

An SEC without divisions is interesting because the format places the conference’s true best two teams in the title game. But, one can’t help but wonder, what if the SEC was always one big division? Think back to the handful of weak SEC East opponents that stood no chance against Alabama’s best teams. Ironically, many LSU Tigers fans might be unhappy with divisions disappearing in the near future.

Brian Kelly is building a powerhouse program, and it isn’t easy to imagine a road that doesn’t travel through the SEC West. Then again, a single SEC division can increase LSU’s annual odds for a conference title. History has shown the conference’s top pair of teams are most often in the SEC West. However, the current format pits the top team in the East versus the top team in the West for conference glory.

More exciting for fans is the greater schedule variety brought about by Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC. Of course, who wouldn’t enjoy traveling with the Bayou Bengals to Austin or Norman? Love ’em or hate ’em, both cities are home to storied programs rich with lineage and supported by hardcore fans.

One can assume Baton Rouge will soon experience a routine share of ‘horns up’ hand signals and ‘boomer, sooner’ yellers.