DALLAS, Texas — The Texas Longhorns were a big topic of discussion during SEC Football Media Days on Monday.
While the conference discussed how it's researching ways to use artificial intelligence in officiating, recruiting and gameplaning, it was comments from legendary coach and current ESPN analyst Nick Saban that turned some heads in Austin.
While the coach picked Texas to face the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC Championship Game, Saban threw cold water on Texas having their way in their new conference on and off the field.
"You know what kinda tickles me is all these people asking these questions about how Texas always ran the conference they were in," Saban said. "They're not gonna run the SEC ... Forget all about that."
Saban added Texas would be a good team and that Coach Steve Sarkisian would do a great job. Oddsmakers currently have the Longhorns with the second-best chances of winning the SEC.
SEC Commissioner's opening statements
Kicking off the four-day event was SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, who spent 30 minutes talking about the conference's first season with 16 teams.
Following realignment, the Big 12 has 16 teams, the Big Ten has 18 and the Atlantic Coast Conference has Dallas and California Bay Area schools.
"It's time to update your expectations for what college athletics can be," Sankey said. "We know who we are, and the Southeastern Conference, we're the one conference at this level where the name still means something."
"The 16" was a phrase that Sankey used a lot on Monday. When asked about UT's "influence and impact" on the field and "in the boardroom," Sankey held firm.
"Both [Texas and Oklahoma] are now part of the conference with peer athletic programs and peer universities," Sankey said. "They'll fit in and we'll fit together ... The 16."
Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin on Sark
Texas finished last season with the ninth most yards in the nation, three spots ahead of another new conference opponent, Ole Miss.
Head Coach Lane Kiffin, who spent time on USC's coaching staff with Sarkisian in the early 2000s, shared what makes Sark so special.
"There's no weakness," Kiffin said. "I think he has really good player relations. I think he hires really well and evaluates coaches in that process really well and recruits great. He's really innovative offensively. When I look at him, he has really great balance."