it’s not for playing better teams. both texas and OUs SOS would rank 4th in the SEC over the last 10 years. last year texas’ schedule would rank 1st and OUs 4th in the SEC.

but texas being ranked number 1 and OU getting college gameday is exactly why they moved.

texas went 12-2 with a playoff loss last year and started 3-0 this year and has played nobody. OU did that multiple times in the last 5 years, in fact starting 5-0 and 7-0 with a win over #11 texas, and yet hasn’t been ranked number 1 since 2011. in fact in 2019, after an identical season to texas in 2023, started 4th and went from 6th to 5th after beating texas to go 6-0.

OU hasn’t hosted gameday outside of the covid year since 2012 against notre dame. since then OU has had a handful of top 10 teams come to norman and not gotten gameday. most with OU being ranked much higher as well.

you’ve got the 2nd best and arguably most consistent program of all time that couldn’t get good exposure or good tv slots because instead of playing a top 10 tennessee, OU was playing a top 10 baylor or OSU. at least 2/3 of OUs games last year were 11am central time. 3 of the first 4 this year are at night when the fans are actually awake. and there’s only 2 games that even have an 11am option this year.

the difference between the SEC and big 12 is pretty small on the field. the differences come off the field. instead of playing good teams with tiny stadiums and fan bases and no national pull, OU and texas get to play the same level of teams as they were but schools with much more power off the field because of the size of their brands.