Texas showing SEC scores on jumbotron in final Big 12 home game
Friday night’s game is one for the history books for Texas. It marks the Longhorns’ final home game as a member of the Big 12 as they prepare to make the leap to the SEC next year.
To mark the occasion, Texas showed scores from “around the nation” — or, in this case, around the SEC.
The Longhorns jumbotron put up nine games, all of which involved SEC teams. They did so with Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark in attendance and amid a 50-7 blowout of rival Texas Tech at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Yormark made waves earlier this year when he spoke at the Red Raider Club with Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire in attendance. He confirmed he’d be in Austin for the game, but he also had a message for McGuire and the Red Raiders in the process.
It’s safe to say, the Longhorns didn’t forget about that — especially considering they showed the video later in the game.
“Candidly, we were able to get Texas and Oklahoma out of here early. That was a big deal for us and I think all of you,” Yormark said. “And Coach [McGuire], I’m not going to put any pressure on you, but I’m gonna be in Austin for Thanksgiving, okay? And you’d better take care of business like you did right here in Lubbock last year.”
Yormark later attempted to clarify that remark, pointing out his audience.
“The only thing I would say about my comment last week is I learned many years ago, you speak to your crowd and you have fun,” Yormark said. “And that’s what I was doing. I was speaking to the crowd at Lubbock, they were excited about the season. And I think college football’s all about having fun, and I was having fun with the fans at Texas Tech. That’s pretty much it.”
Friday’s game was quite the statement for Texas in its Big 12 swan song. As the game wrapped up — and after Arch Manning made his debut — fans started chanting “SEC” with time ticking away on a 57-7 drubbing.
Yormark will officially get to see Texas play at least one more time. The Longhorns clinched a spot in the Big 12 Championship for the first time since 2018, and they’ll now await their opponent as Saturday’s games go along.
One thing’s for sure, though. Steve Sarkisian and Texas will be in Arlington next week with Yormark as they get ready to bid the Big 12 farewell and head to the SEC.