Will Muschamp’s move to Texas could end up shaping the SEC race in a big way.
After spending the last stretch of his Georgia run as part of Kirby Smart’s staff, Muschamp is now back in a coordinator chair with the Longhorns, and that switch has put him in position to influence one of the league’s biggest storylines. Texas hired him this offseason as its new defensive coordinator, and Muschamp has said he is very happy with the move because it gives him the chance to run a defense again.
That shift matters because Texas is trying to get past Georgia, and Muschamp knows exactly what that looks like from the other side. ESPN’s Dave Wilson said via ugawire.usatoday.com, “The Longhorns have lost to Georgia three times in 2024 and 2025, and Sarkisian went to Kirby Smart's defensive staff in an aggressive move to reshape the Longhorns' defense.
Muschamp's style has drawn raves from players in spring practice, but he hasn't called plays since 2020. Sarkisian's move was made with a national championship in mind.
Texas is loaded and Muschamp will be able to turn the Horns loose."
Georgia has already handled Texas three straight times since the Longhorns joined the SEC, and Muschamp was on the Georgia side for all of them. He was not the defensive coordinator in each of those wins, but he was still part of the preparation that helped Georgia get through a Texas team that had enough talent to make things interesting.
The most memorable of those meetings came in the 2024 SEC Championship game, when backup quarterback Gunner Stockton entered for the second half and helped lead Georgia to a comeback win in Atlanta.
Muschamp’s five years in Athens already carry plenty of weight. His time there included three SEC titles and two national championships, which makes that stretch one of the most successful in program history. Georgia fans will remember that no matter what comes next.
But if Muschamp helps Texas start beating Georgia, the tone changes fast.
The Bulldogs and Longhorns do not meet during the regular season this year, but they could see each other again in the SEC Championship game. They are also viewed as the betting favorites to reach Atlanta, which would create the first matchup between Muschamp and his former team since he left Georgia.
That would put Muschamp in a spot where he could go from being remembered as a Georgia success story to a major obstacle. And if Texas is the team that finally gets past Georgia and takes the SEC, Muschamp’s role in that result will be hard to miss.
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