SEC expansion triggers a major schedule shake-up as Texas ditches future games with Arizona State, prioritizing playoff aspirations over challenging non-conference matchups.
Another domino looks likely to fall in the ever-changing world of college football, as it was reported on Tuesday that Texas was looking to cancel its future home-and-home series with Arizona State.
The move comes after the Southeastern Conference moved to a nine-game league schedule starting next season.
According to Sun Devil Source, SEC teams like Texas, Florida and LSU have clauses in their contracts with the Sun Devils authorizing them to cancel the series "without penalty should the SEC increase its conference slate to nine games."
The Gators notably cancelled their series with Arizona St in September. The Tigers are expected to follow the Longhorns' cancellation, according to Sun Devil Source.
Texas athletic director Chris Del Conte and head coach Steve Sarkisian had both mentioned the possibility of future non-conference series being in jeopardy after the Longhorns were snubbed from the College Football Playoff.
"As far as future schedules look like, we will sit down and look at what that looks like for getting into the postseason tournament," Del Conte said at his Feb. 4 town hall. "I prefer to preserve the regular season by playing great games and not dumbing down your schedule and playing nobody."
"If that does not happen, we are going to be forced into a position: don’t play anybody, let’s give it a go and see what happens at the end to get in the tournament."
Del Conte has confirmed on multiple occasions that Texas plans to honor the return legs at home against Ohio State and Michigan.
However, there's been little talk surrounding the Longhorns' planned series with Notre Dame in 2028 and 2029, suggesting that that clash may be in danger as well.
Why Is Texas Cancelling?
Despite a strong resume, highlighted by wins over two playoff opponents and a top-15 program, 9-3 Texas wasn't even considered for a playoff spot.
When the CFP was four teams, no two-loss team was ever included in the bracket. In a similar phenomenon, it seems the committee is hesitant to include a three-loss team in its final 12-team bracket.
The SEC is already a gauntlet, and a nine-game conference schedule only adds to the possibility of an extra loss that can kill a team's playoff hopes.
If the committee is going to eliminate teams that reach a certain threshold of losses, then why would schools schedule difficult non-conference opponents?
It's not something that programs necessarily want to do, but if it increases their chances of making the CFP, they will do it without hesitation.