The College Football Playoff Selection Committee dropped its penultimate rankings last night, and while Texas climbed to No. 13, there’s still a lingering sense that something’s not quite adding up.
Let’s get into it.
Texas, despite a strong season and a résumé that stacks up well against other contenders, remains outside the top 12 - and the committee made it clear why. According to committee member Hunter Yurachek, the Longhorns’ path to the playoff hinges on being one of the seven highest-ranked at-large teams, since they won’t be playing in the SEC Championship Game this weekend.
“The only loss to an unranked team was Texas's loss to Florida at Florida,” Yurachek said. “And really, Florida dominated that game - held Texas to 50 yards rushing, two interceptions. So it's not that Texas played Ohio State; it is Texas' loss to Florida that's holding them back now.”
That’s the committee’s line, and on paper, it makes sense. But here’s where things get murky.
If Texas is being penalized for a bad loss to Florida, then what about Alabama? The Crimson Tide are still ranked significantly higher, even after dropping a game to a Florida State team that’s had its own struggles this season. The logic starts to feel inconsistent - and that’s where the frustration kicks in for Texas fans and college football observers alike.
The Longhorns have faced a gauntlet of a schedule this year, and when you line up their wins and losses next to some of the teams ahead of them, it’s hard not to raise an eyebrow. They’ve done enough to make a strong case for being one of the top seven at-large teams, especially with the committee finally moving them ahead of Vanderbilt and Utah this week. That’s progress, but it’s incremental - and time is running out.
There’s still a path for Texas, though. If a few dominoes fall - say, Alabama loses to Georgia or BYU slips up against Texas Tech - the Longhorns could find themselves in position to crack the top 12. That would be a huge step, especially with the final rankings looming after this weekend’s conference championship games.
For now, Texas sits on the bubble. The committee’s message is clear: that Florida loss is doing a lot of damage. But with one more shakeup weekend ahead, there’s still a chance for the Longhorns to punch their ticket - if the right teams stumble and the committee finally gives Texas the nod their schedule suggests they deserve.
The next rankings reveal is going to be must-see TV.