Josh Pate criticizes the SEC schedule makers for creating a disparity between Oklahoma and Texas, highlighting the unfair advantage.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has long been the gold standard in college football, and its expansion with Oklahoma and Texas joining in 2025 has brought even more excitement and anticipation to the league. However, the integration of two of the most prestigious programs in college football has not come without controversy. One of the most vocal critics of the way the SEC has structured its scheduling since the addition of Oklahoma and Texas is college football analyst Josh Pate.

Pate, who is known for his candid and insightful analysis of college football, has raised concerns about the disparity in the schedules assigned to Oklahoma and Texas as they make their transition into the SEC. His criticism has focused on how the conference has set up the two programs, with a particular emphasis on what he perceives as an unfair advantage for Texas over Oklahoma in the scheduling process. Pate argues that the SEC schedule makers have been more lenient and favorable toward Texas, while putting Oklahoma in a more challenging position.

In this article, we will explore Josh Pate’s criticisms of the SEC’s scheduling decisions, the disparity he perceives between Oklahoma and Texas, and the broader implications these choices might have for both teams and the conference as a whole. We will also take a closer look at how this scheduling issue could impact the Sooners and Longhorns in their first seasons in the SEC and examine whether Pate’s critique is justified.

The SEC Expansion: Oklahoma and Texas Enter the League

The SEC’s decision to expand by adding Oklahoma and Texas to its ranks in 2025 was a move that sent shockwaves through the college football world. The expansion was seen as a response to the growing power of other conferences, particularly the Big Ten, and a way to further solidify the SEC’s dominance in the sport. For both Oklahoma and Texas, the move represented a new chapter in their storied histories, as they prepared to join a conference filled with elite competition.

For Oklahoma, the transition to the SEC is a monumental shift. The Sooners have been a dominant force in the Big 12, consistently competing for conference championships and national titles. However, the SEC is a different beast altogether. With teams like Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Florida, the SEC is home to some of the most successful and talented programs in college football history.

Texas, on the other hand, has had a more tumultuous recent history. While the Longhorns are one of the most recognizable programs in college football, they have struggled in recent years to return to the elite level of play they once enjoyed. The move to the SEC is seen as both a challenge and an opportunity for Texas to rebuild its program and compete on a more consistent basis with the best teams in the country.

The SEC Scheduling Controversy: Pate’s Criticism

With Oklahoma and Texas officially joining the SEC in 2025, the league had to adjust its scheduling to accommodate the new members. The SEC had previously operated with a balanced schedule, but with the addition of two teams, changes were necessary. However, Josh Pate has been vocal in his belief that the SEC has not created a fair and equal playing field for both Oklahoma and Texas in the new schedule format.

Pate’s primary criticism centers around what he perceives as an uneven distribution of tough matchups between the two teams. In his view, Texas has been given a more favorable schedule, with fewer challenging games compared to Oklahoma. This disparity, according to Pate, could have serious consequences for both teams, potentially skewing the SEC’s championship race and giving Texas an unfair edge in their first years in the conference.

Key Points of Pate’s Critique

1. Favorable Matchups for Texas

One of the central aspects of Pate’s criticism revolves around the matchups that Texas has been assigned in the SEC’s new schedule. According to Pate, Texas has been given a more manageable set of opponents compared to Oklahoma, which could make their transition into the SEC smoother. Specifically, Pate points out that Texas has been assigned a schedule that features a mix of teams that, while still formidable, may not present the same level of challenge as the teams Oklahoma will face.

Texas, under the current schedule, faces relatively less difficult teams in the early part of the SEC season, which could help them build momentum and confidence as they adjust to their new surroundings. Pate argues that this could lead to a smoother transition for the Longhorns, allowing them to get comfortable with the competition before facing the most difficult teams in the conference.

In contrast, Oklahoma, according to Pate, faces a significantly tougher slate of opponents in its inaugural SEC season. The Sooners are expected to face some of the conference’s powerhouses early on, putting them at a disadvantage as they try to acclimate to the intensity and depth of the SEC. Pate believes that Oklahoma will be forced to face off against the top teams in the league right away, potentially hurting their chances of success in the early part of the season.

2. The Aggressive Nature of Oklahoma’s Schedule

Pate further emphasizes the aggressive nature of Oklahoma’s schedule in comparison to Texas’. The Sooners, according to Pate, are being set up to face several difficult road games in their first year in the SEC, including trips to places like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU—three of the most historically dominant programs in the conference. For a team that has been accustomed to dominating the Big 12 but has yet to experience the grind of an SEC schedule, these tough road games could be a significant hurdle in their quest for success.

Oklahoma’s schedule, according to Pate, places a heavy burden on the Sooners early in the season, which could make it difficult for them to gain traction and build the necessary momentum for a championship run. The combination of facing top-tier teams on the road and having a less forgiving schedule overall could leave Oklahoma with fewer opportunities to recover from losses and set themselves up for postseason contention.

3. The Long-Term Impact on Oklahoma’s Position in the SEC

Pate is also concerned about the long-term implications of the SEC’s scheduling decisions for Oklahoma. By giving the Sooners a more difficult schedule right out of the gate, Pate fears that Oklahoma could find itself playing from behind in the SEC standings, potentially hindering their ability to compete for a spot in the SEC Championship Game in future seasons. The SEC is an extremely competitive conference, and any early struggles for Oklahoma could have a ripple effect throughout the rest of the season, leaving them with little room for error in the later stages.

Furthermore, Pate worries that the disparity in schedules could result in a skewed perception of Oklahoma’s performance in the SEC. If the Sooners struggle against tougher competition early on, it could lead to questions about their ability to compete at the highest level, even though they might be facing a disproportionate share of the SEC’s elite programs.

4. Texas’ Potential Advantage in Recruiting

Beyond the immediate season, Pate also notes that a favorable schedule for Texas could have long-term benefits in terms of recruiting. If Texas performs well in their first few seasons in the SEC due to their easier schedule, it could position them as a more attractive destination for top recruits. Winning games early on in the SEC could give Texas a significant recruiting boost, which would further enhance their ability to compete with the conference’s best teams.

Oklahoma, on the other hand, may struggle in their initial years in the SEC, which could hurt their recruiting efforts and ability to attract top-tier talent. Pate argues that this could lead to a disparity in resources and talent between the two programs, further widening the gap in competitiveness between Oklahoma and Texas in the long run.

The Response from the SEC and Oklahoma/Texas

While Pate’s criticism has garnered attention, the SEC has defended its scheduling decisions, asserting that both Oklahoma and Texas are being integrated into the league in a fair manner. The conference has pointed out that the inclusion of these two programs is part of a larger effort to balance competitive fairness across the league while maintaining the integrity of the schedule.

Oklahoma and Texas have both expressed excitement about the move to the SEC, emphasizing that their primary focus is on competing at the highest level and proving themselves in the nation’s toughest conference. Both programs have stated that they are prepared to face the challenges that come with playing in the SEC and are eager to test themselves against the best teams in the country.