DALLAS — Texas wasn't scheduled to appear at this week's SEC media days until Wednesday. But that doesn't mean the Longhorns weren't already dominating the conversation this week before they even stepped in front of a microphone.

"Texas media has arrived in the SEC," whined one writer on social media after LSU players were asked several questions Monday about the Longhorns, who aren't even on their schedule.

That Texas remained relevant in absentia wasn't a surprise. This year's SEC media days are being held less than 200 miles away from the UT campus, so plenty of Austin reporters made the trip. Texas boasts a nationally known brand. And as newcomers to the SEC, the Longhorns are also a bright and shiny object for media members.

So that explains why Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin ended up describing Texas' roster as elite Monday. And how Vanderbilt's Clark Lea spent part of his trip to Dallas recalling the time he faced Steve Sarkisian while he was Notre Dame's defensive coordinator and Sarkisian was running Alabama's offense. And why Georgia quarterback Carson Beck and Missouri's Brady Cook talked Tuesday about their UT contemporaries Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning.

On Wednesday, plenty of questions were still asked about Texas. But the Longhorns got to answer some of them.

Longhorns sound hungry to get back to work

Sarkisian was joined at media days by quarterback Quinn Ewers, defensive back Jahdae Barron and left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. Alabama, Florida and Mississippi State also participated in Wednesday's festivities.

Sarkisian was one of three coaches at the Omni Hotel who coached last year in the College Football Playoff. Former Washington coach Kalen DeBoer is now at Alabama. Nick Saban, the legendary Alabama coach, was working as an analyst for ESPN on Wednesday.

Sarkisian was asked what Texas needs to do as it comes off a 12-win season and Big 12 championship. He quickly replied that UT needs to "get right back to work."

"I don't want to give you coach talk and coach cliché, but that's the reality of it," Sarkisian said. "I've been asked a lot about how's it been since the last pass fell incomplete against Washington (in the Sugar Bowl), and I felt like we've had a football team that has been obsessed with wanting to get back. That obsession has led right into hard work, has led right back into who we are culturally, has led right back into highly competitive workouts and practices."

Sarkisian arrived at media days with a burnt orange jacket and matching tie. He told reporters to take note of Ewers' belt buckle and boots. Barron's fashion featured a suit that he bought and had tailored the day before and crystal-decorated mules that were hard to miss. Banks looked sharp in a crisp blue suit.

So, the Longhorns looked good. But will they play good?

During his opening statement, Sarkisian used words like "obsession" and "hungry" to describe his locker room. Ewers said the goals at Texas remain the same, contending for conference and national championships.

"At the end of the day, we're the University of Texas and I think that's what we expect of ourselves," Ewers said. "The standard's the standard. We want to go out there and we want to win games and we want to ultimately make it to wherever those (wins) take us. We're the University of Texas and we want to be up there playing for championships."

How will Texas fare? Opinions vary

The SEC preseason poll won't be released until later this week, but Texas will be listed high on that ranking of the conference's 16 teams. Saban even predicted Monday that Texas and Georgia will meet in the SEC championship game, which was a prediction that may have ruffled some feathers in Tuscaloosa. "I think everybody has their right to their own opinion, and may a best man win," Crimson Tide defensive back Malachi Moore said.

Added Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker, with a laugh: "He always used to say don't let some guy that lives in their mom's basement determine how you feel. So, I'm not going to let a guy who plays golf all day determine how I feel."

Now what? Texas preps for start of fall camp

Texas closed its first-ever SEC media days appearance a little before 4 p.m. The Longhorns won't have to talk much about the SEC again until the conference opener Sept. 28 against Mississippi State. The team has two weeks left until fall camp opens and practices begin. The final week of summer conditioning will wrap up next Thursday. Players will then get five days off to relax and recover. The following Wednesday, it's go time.

"We do need to finish strong here in the summer," Sarkisian said. "We pride ourselves in our conditioning, we pride ourselves on our mental and physical toughness and I think summer allows us to work on that."

Texas opens its season Aug. 31 at home against Colorado State. The Rams went 5-7 last season.

Meanwhile, in an Omni Hotel holding room, Barron got his first chance to play the new College Football 25 video game that features Ewers on the cover. He picked Colorado State as his opponent. He, of course, was Texas. Coincidental matchup or is Barron already getting ready for the opener?

"Oh yeah, it's week one," he said.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Steve Sarkisian, Texas Longhorns appear at 2024 SEC Media Days