Texas still sits atop the AP poll, but ESPN’s College Football Power Index has decided to shake up the top of the sport anyway.
The latest update pushed Ohio State to No. 1 in the computer model, giving the Buckeyes the edge over Texas on the strength of efficiency, strength of schedule, and projected performance the rest of the season. It’s a move that brings the debate right back to the surface, especially because Ohio State already lost head-to-head to Texas earlier this year, coughing up a 20-point lead before falling by one in Austin.
That result is the reason the Longhorns grabbed the top spot in the AP poll in the first place, and they still hold it now with 61 first-place votes. But the ESPN model is built differently.
It’s trying to measure true team strength and forecast what happens next, not simply reward what already happened on the field. That’s why Texas can beat Ohio State and still end up behind the Buckeyes in this particular ranking.
For now, Texas has slipped to No. 5 in the ESPN system, while Ohio State’s consistency and overall body of work have carried enough weight to move it to the top.
The timing of all this makes the weekend even more interesting. The AP voters may not need Texas’ Red River Rivalry game to be swayed as much as they need to see what happens in Tuscaloosa, where No.
2 Georgia meets No. 6 Alabama on Saturday night.
A convincing Georgia win would only strengthen the Bulldogs’ case with human voters and could put real pressure on Texas’ grip on No. 1.
If Alabama wins, or even if Georgia loses, Texas would likely stay comfortably in front for another week. There’s also a path, however slim, for Alabama to surge all the way to No. 1 if the Crimson Tide look strong against Georgia.
So while Texas remains in charge in the AP poll, the broader ranking picture is far from settled. The computer model has already made its statement, and with questions still hanging around Arch Manning’s decision making and the offense’s consistency, Ohio State’s climb only adds another wrinkle to a playoff race that already feels wide open. One big result this weekend could send the hierarchy spinning again.
In Other News...
Texas Let A 2-0 Lead Slip Away In Brutal Road Loss
Texas built what looked like a winning cushion early at Wendell & Vickie Bell Soccer Complex, jumping out to a 2-0 lead before halftime and appearing to have control of the match on the road. The Longhorns got key contributions from Elise Ernest, Rayna Powers, Amalia Villarreal, Ava McDonald and Audrey Bryant, and for a while it looked like the night would extend their recent run and reinforce the progress that had carried them into the contest.
Instead, Kentucky flipped the script after the break and turned the game into a gut-punch finish for Texas. The Wildcats scored three times in the second half, and Kyla Dawn delivered the winner in the 90th minute, sending No. 25/18 Texas to a 3-2 defeat that snapped its four-match unbeaten streak and left the Longhorns with plenty to sort through after a road lead vanished so quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Volleyball May Have Found Its SEC Identity In Arkansas Rally
Texas volleyball spent a good chunk of Friday night in a familiar place, chasing the match before finally taking control in Fayetteville. No. 9 Texas dropped the opening set to Arkansas, then had to survive a long second-set battle before finding its rhythm in a four-set win that pushed the Longhorns to 8-5 overall and 4-1 in SEC play. Torrey Stafford did the heavy lifting on offense with a season-high 29 kills, while the victory also came with a defensive exclamation point from Ramsey Gary.
Gary finished with 33 digs, setting a Texas rally-scoring era record and giving the Longhorns the kind of back-line steadiness that can travel in conference play. For a team still trying to define itself in a new league, the rally against Arkansas offered a useful glimpse of what Texas wants to be: stubborn, balanced and capable of turning a tense night into a decisive finish once the match starts to bend its way. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Opens Red River With Early Drama Beyond The Score
The Red River Rivalry brought its usual edge at the Cotton Bowl, and Texas wasted little time making an early statement. Arch Manning connected with Cam Coleman for a first-quarter touchdown, giving the Longhorns a quick spark in a game that already felt charged before either side settled in.
Even before the scoring play, the opening quarter carried plenty for Texas fans to track beyond the scoreboard, from the pregame warmups to the injury situation that shaped the tone of the afternoon. With key plays coming fast and both teams absorbing the atmosphere of one of college footballs most watched rivalries, the Longhorns had plenty of drama to navigate right away. [Read more 🡒]