Matthew McConaughey on Texas' move to the SEC

Matthew McConaughey is excited for the Texas Longhorns to join the SEC. In a tweet, the famed Longhorns’ supporter voiced his support for the move that’s shaking up the college football world.

“Excited to join the SEC,” tweeted McConaughey. “The pride and tradition of Texas is not for the weak or timid. Here we go. Hook’Em.” 

Excited to join @SEC – The pride and tradition of the @UTAustin is not for the weak or timid – Here we go #HookEm #2025SEC @TexasLonghorns

— Matthew McConaughey (@McConaughey) July 30, 2021

McConaughey is a man of many hats. To start, he’s an Academy Award-winning actor. He beat out actors like Christian Bale and Leonard DiCaprio to win the award for Best Actor in 2013, for his performance in Dallas Buyers Club.

Aside from being one of Hollywood’s most successful actors, McConaughey is also an author. His memoir, Greenlights, debuted at number one on The New York Times nonfiction best-seller list.

Perhaps above all, McConaughey bleeds burnt orange. Aside from being arguably Texas’ most famous supporter, he’s been lending his knowledge to students at his alma mater since 2015.

McConaughey joined Texas as a visiting instructor in 2015. Afterwards, in 2019, he officially became a professor of practice for the Department of Radio-Television-Film at the Moody College of Communication. 

Finally, McConaughey is also Texas’ minister of culture. It’s a title the famed alumnus gained through his efforts to improve the Longhorns’ basketball arena.

Obviously, McConaughey is as dedicated as anyone to their alma mater, celebrity or not. The actor and the university have a unique relationship, one where McConaughey is helping Texas rebuild their image as the Longhorns rebuild their football program.

Famously, McConaughey was there when Vince Young led the university to victory in the 2006 Rose Bowl. The Interstellar star even contributed to the game’s introductory video.

A New Era of Texas Longhorns Football

While the excitement is palpable for Texas’ move to the SEC, it has to be tempered a bit. The move isn’t scheduled to officially take place until 2025, so the Longhorns remain bound to the Big 12 until then.

Furthermore, Texas isn’t joining the SEC alone. Oklahoma is joining their rivals, as they’ll follow the Longhorns in their trek from the Big 12 to the SEC. While a bevy of new matchups and competition await Texas, their biggest rivalry inside the Big 12 isn’t going away.

This season, their eventual move to the SEC isn’t the only thing on Texas’ mind. After moving on from Tom Herman, former Alabama offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian is joining the Longhorns as their new head coach.

Matthew McConaughey is looking for Sarkisian to bring an ‘underdog mentality’ to Texas. In an appearance on Stephen A’s World on ESPN+, he elaborated on just what that meant.

“So in that way, because it’s like no other, you actually are an underdog at UT. Now, who can shine on that stage? I want him to bring – he’s got an underdog mentality. He’s got his retribution story. He’s got his own redemption story. Well, let’s parlay and parcel that into our becoming of who our football program is right now. We want badass with character. Let’s see.”

If Sarkisian can bring the badass McConaughey mentions, the minister of culture can get back to celebrating bowl victories sooner rather than later.

Image courtesy of Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images via Getty Images