Auburn football: 5 potential negative side effects when OU and UT reach SEC

Potential Auburn football negative side effect #2: Strength of schedule

Auburn football already has it pretty damn tough in the SEC West, with Alabama, LSU, and Texas A&M establishing dominance on the recruiting trail. Depending on the year, those three opponents could be daunting, but Ole Miss and Mississippi State have had their breakout years as well.

Assuming they stay in the SEC West to compete directly with in-state blood rival Alabama and their neighbors west in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas, the gauntlet is about to become gruesome in an almost unfathomable way.

Oklahoma has remained a steady power, and Texas will always be in on top recruits from the Lone Star State because of branding alone. Those would be two scary additions to the conference.

Potential Auburn football negative side effect #3: Losing headliner status

Oklahoma and Texas are two of the most recognizable brands in the nation when it comes to college athletics. Their move to the SEC could single-handedly change college football forever.

With the two programs in tow, the shine will inevitably be taken from one of the founding members of the conference. While the Iron Bowl will forever remain a sacred college football staple, the other divisional rivalry games will be a tad watered down due to the number of big games there would now be.

Given the Tigers’ recent struggle to finish in the Top 10 at the end of the season, the two new powers could surpass them quickly in SEC relevance.