When Texas announced plans to enter the SEC, the Longhorns immediately embarked on a 5-7 season in 2021 that was historic for all the wrong reasons. Since that moment, Texas has truly brought itself back from the brink and now stands alone as the only SEC team remaining in the first 12-team College Football Playoff.

The two other semifinalists, Notre Dame and Penn State, are traveling more than 1,200 miles each to the Orange Bowl this week. Ohio State and Penn State each traveled more than 2,200 to their quarterfinal. Texas’ 928-mile trip to Atlanta will be the furthest the Longhorns must go.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 2: Fireworks go off during the playing of the National Anthem before the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal game between the Georgia Bulldogs and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at the Allstate Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome on January 2, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)