The Texas Longhorns and Texas A&M Aggies had themselves a day in the transfer portal on Sunday, landing receivers Cam Coleman, via the Auburn Tigers, and Isaiah Horton, via the Alabama Crimson Tide, respectively.
It was a statement. When it comes to the rev-share/NIL era, though, it wasn't the statement most figure two Lone Star State schools with deep-pocketed boosters would've made by taking the best receivers on the Yellowhammer State's two Power 4 programs.
No, it wasn't the money that led Coleman from the Plains to Austin and Horton from Tuscaloosa to College Station. It was the situation.
With Texas, Coleman is joining the leading preseason Heisman Trophy candidate two preseasons in a row, Arch Manning. With Texas A&M, Horton is joining a veteran quarterback, Marcel Reed, and an offense that'll be run by Holmon Wiggins, who's been working extensively with receivers for the better part of 13 years.
The Longhorns and Aggies didn't need to outbid the Tigers and Tide. There were simply enough reasons for Coleman and Horton to leave Auburn and Alabama. That should be mortifying for both fanbases moving forward.
Auburn and Alabama need to be close to perfect to win in rev-share era
Throw a dart on the nearest U.S. map outside the southeast, and there's a good chance you'll land in a region that has a program that can dwarf the Tigers and Tide's spending. The sport no longer tips the scales in the SEC's favor.
The margins of error are extremely thin for most SEC teams. Auburn and Alabama included. That'll be the case as long as the Cody Campbell's, Larry Ellison's, Mark Cuban's, Phil Knight's, and Les Wexner's of the world are throwing their wallets around to buy rosters.
Every school needs to find their Kirby Smart. The Georgia Bulldogs are still cruising on the recruiting trail and winning the SEC Championship despite not having the most money to spend because he's successfully selling the brand and the NFL potential.
No more messing around with Bryan Harsin or Hugh Freeze-type hirings. Tide fans are just about ready to say the same about Kalen DeBoer.
SEC teams outside of Texas, and perhaps Baton Rouge, need to have efficient, culture-setting head coaches and position coaches who can actually develop talent. A Curt Cignetti and Indiana Hoosiers-type setup, if you will.
Otherwise, the high-roller champions' club is now more exclusive, and it appears neither Auburn nor Alabama got the invite.