September 28, 2024 marks a new era in college football. For the first time, the University of Texas will play conference play in the SEC, the conference it officially joined on July 1 of that year.

After four weeks of tough non-conference competition, including a trip to Ann Arbor, Michigan to face the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines, Texas hosts Mississippi State in Austin to kick off its 2024 conference schedule.

The two teams have never met in the 21st century, but the Bulldogs will be desperate to start the Longhorns' first SEC season with a loss. The Texas Longhorns will now be out of the Big 12 for the first time since 1995.

However, Mississippi State has many new faces that will have to perform in 2024. After head coach Zach Arnett was fired following a 4-6 start in his second season with the program, the Bulldogs finished the season 1-7 in the conference and 5-7 overall, making them one of the three worst teams in the SEC in 2023.

But the Bulldogs rebuilt in the offseason. They named Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby the school's 34th head coach in school history and hired former Baylor quarterback Blake Shapen to lead the school into a new era of SEC football. This offense will be brand new, with eight starters expected to come out of the transfer portal on offense. Lebby has worked quickly to build an offense he wants, and it could be secretly strong in 2024.

Shapen is already familiar with the Longhorns, as the senior started the 2022 game between Baylor and Texas. Thanks to Bijan Robinson, Texas won 38-27, with Shapen completing only half of his passes for 179 yards.

Now at Mississippi State, the quarterback is out for revenge, and with a coach whose roots lie in Oklahoma, the start of Texas' SEC schedule is sure to be a tough contest.

Record 2023: 5-7, 1-7 in the SEC

Head coach: Jeff Lebby

Pass: QB Blake Shaping

2023 Stats: 184 completed passes on 298 attempts for 2,188 yards, 13 touchdowns and three interceptions at Baylor.

Rush: RB Seth Davis

Statistics for 2023: 59 carries for 356 yards and one touchdown.

Reception: WR Kelly Akharaiyi

2023 Stats: 49 catches for 1,033 yards and seven touchdowns at UTEP.

Tackles: SAF Corey Ellington

Statistics for 2023: 30 solo, 36 assisted, 66 total

Intercepted balls: LB Stein Blanton

Statistics 2023: one interception in South Carolina

Bags: SAF Corey Ellington

Statistics 2023: two sacks